What can I do to change legislator’s opinions?
Our voices seem to have little effect when going up against the lobbyists that have our politician’s ears, but you may be interested to learn that most politicians are starved for input from their constituents.
By Bruce Westlake, Michigan Electric Auto Association
We can often feel helpless when it comes to having some influence on how our various levels of government make decisions. Our voices seem to have little effect when going up against the lobbyists that have our politician’s ears, but you may be interested to learn that most politicians are starved for input from their constituents. Getting written input from voters has the greatest effect on most legislators because they understand that taking the time to write an email is a measure of the depth of concern you have in the subject.
Best Practices
Most legislators will tell you there is a hierarchy to the way they perceive contact from voters, with written contact like mail and email at the top of the list, voice messages next and comments made in person or at town hall events at the bottom. The reason for this importance is more mechanical than any other reason. An email or letter is easier to refer back to when you are in a busy office and the facts of these messages are often easier to understand. Writers of these emails often take more care to make their points succinctly and with the most convincing arguments. It is easier to lose the ideas people share with you when you don’t have a note to refer back to. A
A Voice of Experience
EV owners often get the chance to hone their arguments with the public at ride and drive events or just chance meetings on the street. We usually know when we have been written off as zealots or even crackpots, and we all know the moment we have lost the attention of people we are talking to because we have strayed too far into the weeds discussing watt hours, or other minutia with no appreciation for people who may not have as much disposable income, or dismissing all other EV’s but the one we are currently driving. Legislators have similar issues. Plus, they feel a need to support the manufacturers that are their constituents or if there are no manufacturers in their districts, they must support domestic manufacturers or the dealerships they represent. It helps to see their position before trying to change their mind.
Butts in Seats
One of the most convincing arguments EV owners can make contains no words. We all know the most convincing argument for owning an EV happens when the butt hits the driver’s seat – that is their butt in an EV driver’s seat. Driving an EV even for a single test drive convinces more people than any other way of introducing people to electric drive. Better yet, allowing people a chance to drive an electric car daily is probably the best way to convince them.
Infrastructure
This brings us to the next point. Legislators often have assigned parking – assigned parking without charging infrastructure. How do we expect them to embrace the EV culture when there is no way they can commute to their jobs using a plugin vehicle? Using your influence to suggest legislators get charging infrastructure in their parking lots in state capitals and Washington helps further our cause by convincing the people who vote on the laws to understand how convenient and important this change is. It is as simple as removing as many obstacles from their way as possible.
Take time and make time
Take the opportunity to talk with your legislator when they interface with their constituents at town hall meetings or invite them to share a coffee, but be sure to organize your thoughts in your mind ahead of time, deleting the blame portions of your arguments and making sure to explain your thesis in its simplest concise form with your most convincing and effective arguments. Offer a solution to another issue the legislator may be facing like parking, for instance. Every town or city center feels they do not have enough parking and building new parking spaces can cost upwards of $5,000 per space for surface lots and as much as $50,000 per space for parking structures.
Suggest municipalities add EV charging to their unused parking spaces well away from their shopping districts. EV owners have been known to drive to places they normally wouldn’t and walk long distances with a smile on their face just to take advantage of a free charge. With very little investment, local governments have solved three very important issues – lack of parking, bringing in new customers to their shopping areas and offering a benefit and enticement to EV owners, known to be one of the most loyal restaurant and shopping customers.
When issues come up for your local, state or national legislators, take the time to voice your opinions. You may be surprised to find out how much influence you have! Or better yet, just meet up with your local elected officials just to let them know where you stand on ‘the EV issue’. They may not be facing any relevant decisions, but they will remember when they are next faced with the same or similar issue.