Does E-Advocacy Go Into a E-Black Hole?

One of the most common questions I'm asked is about those standardized emails that you can deliver to a long list of government officials directly from the website of one or another business advocacy group. Almost no one ever gets a response. Does that mean cyber-form letters get ignored?
No. It just means you need to be realistic about what they can and can't accomplish.
If you write about a hot topic, like health care, from the site of a national group, the likelihood is that every decision-maker will receive hundreds, possibly thousands, of the identical message. The recipients won't ignore it -- in fact, you can assume their staff will carefully note how many hit the in-box, on both sides of the issue.
But that's all they'll do. Even if you've spent time adapting or personalizing that standardized text, as most sites allow, the chances are miniscule that anyone will notice. Is your goal to be counted in favor or against some policy or piece of legislation? Then you've accomplished it. But if you want to ask a specific question, convey a piece of information, or simply make contact with a particular official, you must compose an original message -- and make clear that you expect a reply.

Fat of the Land

 

        It occurred to me few years ago that the same fanatical, social watchdogs who were then after "sinful habits" would be looking for something or someone else to attack just as soon as that issue had reached its apex?  I also mentioned at the time that it would be obesity, or the few extra pounds you're carrying that would get their attention? Well here we are and that's exactly what's going on. The fat police is here.

The national media is peppered with news from the American Heart Association and Obesity Researchers about the current  'Obesity Epidemic' and its ultimate deadly results.  All this yammering has me convinced that there is a gaggle of kibitzers without a life that want to run yours.

Granted the loss of a few pounds couldn't hurt most of us, but let us not forget that it’s a personal choice.  Loose them if you want to, but don't let yourself be trapped in a state of guilt by people who are just loud enough to get media attention. And what about television advertising? Let your imagination run with this and you will be giggling yourself to sleep at night visualizing a national blubber meltdown.

        Now it's official - Obesity has firmly joined the American Heart Association's list of Major Risk Factors that would be an upgrade from prior lists that mentioned obesity as a 'Contributing Factor'.  What were they thinking for the twenty or so years leading to this point?  Should we be shocked at the news that now it has reached widespread proportions, and that fifty four percent of all American adults are just too fat.  In a country where bigger has been lauded as being better for half a century are we surprised?       

        Aside from the fact that personal responsibility became an endangered species a quarter of a century ago, lets examine some of the contributing factors of this condition:

Ø  Every other television commercial is related to food or gratification through ingestion.  The average adult watches some five hours of television each day.

Ø  Grocery stores have been perfecting their point of purchase marketing techniques for three decades.

Ø  Children as well as adults have traditionally used food as an emotional crutch.

Ø  We're all too ready to accept fat as a disease, that way we won't have to think about or decide on an exercise program for ourselves.

The experts also say that if intervention began today it might be decades before we would see substantial improvements. Intervention?  By whom exactly?  And how do they propose to intervene? Hire guards to stand outside convenience stores to rip snack food out of your hand? The problem is that we cannot point to food as an act of sin perpetrated on us by Betty Crocker and her coffee cake minions. Not even the potato chip commercial “Bet you can’t eat just one”, is guilty of evil intent.

        According to one such expert, "It's really the environment that is causing this epidemic of obesity." He states. Of course it is because we all know that "Fast food places create too many opportunities to eat and too few to promote physical activity."

         How about not stopping to eat there?.  Excess fat is not an infectious disease; you cannot catch it from your relatives or friends.  Fat is the direct result of what and how much you shovel into your own mouth.

        If you want to subscribe to the disease theory, get a good lawyer.  You could be the first person to sue Hostess for perpetrating Twinkies and other convenient junk foods on us for all these years. Just don’t wager your instant mash potatoes on the idea that the food industry will buckle as quickly as the those other companies did.

       

Speak Up!

When was the last time you talked to an elected official? Do you know the names -- let alone the faces -- of the men and women who represent you in city, county and state government?
If not, now is the time to find out. It's campaign season: and whether or not he or she is running, any pol with a brain is getting the message that his success is dependent on yours. Economic resurgence simply won't happen unless entrepreneurs and small businesspeople get heard by those in power.
But there's nothing for them to hear unless you speak up. Unfortunately, most independent businesspeople never even try to connect with officials -- though in study after study, they cite problems with government as among their top ten headaches. A lot of them tell me they're convinced all politicians are stupid, corrupt or unresponsive. Others say it's too time-consuming to reach out.
There's no doubt that some politicians are a disgrace to the offices they hold. But plenty of others are decent, hardworking people who will bend over backwards to help you -- if you ask.
No one, however fancy her title, is omniscient. If you want her assistance, you need to educate her about your issue. You must also be specific,and realistic, about what she can do. For example, your mayor can't singlehandedly reverse a longterm, general falloff in downtown shoppers. But she can fix sidewalks, improve streetlights, expand parking, and otherwise direct public resources in ways that will benefit the community -- not just your store.
And yes, it does take time to connect with officials, especially if you've never tried before. But if you make that investment before you have a crisis, it will pay off handsomely when you do. It could also lead to a heightened community profile, good buzz, and new opportunities for your business.

Poll Pandemonium

As any businessperson knows, the 2010 election season began long before its traditional Labor Day kickoff. The economic crisis forced candidates to take on tough issues like taxes, regulation, and the credit crunch months earlier than they normally would.
But now the campaigns will really heat up, for better and worse. The good news: You'll have more information than ever before at a time when it's critical to elect pro-business candidates at all levels of government. The problem: You can expect a deluge of political junk mail, stomach-turning attack ads -- and a torrent of confusing, conflicting polls.
Alas, there's not much you can do about the stuff that will clog every imaginable communication pathway between now and election day. But when it comes to polls, you can separate glitter from gold.
Like any form of market research, the validity of a poll depends largely on who answered the questions. In general, you can trust a poll of randomly selected voters to fairly represent the views of engaged citizens. But numbers matter: If there were fewer than 100 respondents, beware. And don't put much stock in those so-called "voter analyses" offered by TV talk show hosts ("Phones are open now! Be heard in our insta-poll!") Any show with a national audience can reel in huge numbers of callers in minutes -- but they will represent only the fans of that show, not a meaningful cross-section of ordinary people.
Also, pay attention to who paid for a poll. That's not to suggest that polls are routinely rigged. But there's no doubt that subtle choices in wording and structure can influence the outcome. For example, you could see a specimen like this:

Question: How important is it to raise corporate taxes so businesses will pay their fair share?
Answers:
(1) Extremely important
(2) Very important
(3) Important

Exaggerated? Well, yes. Aberrant? Unfortunately, no.
Why do polls matter? Every businessperson has a big stake in this election -- so you need to be informed, not misled. At the same time, remember: No poll is a substitute for real time, personal interactions with the men and women who want your vote. Get out there and ask them your own questions.