198 Sundays: Mr Smith Writes Letters To Washington And San Francisco

Gene Sharp writes of Political Intervention in The Politics of Nonviolent Action:

This last subclass of methods of nonviolent intervention includes seven which are clearly political in form.  The first five of these are acts by citizens, individually or in small or large groups, who attempt to intervene by disrupting the administrative or enforcement agencies of the government...All of these in different degrees and ways, intervene to disturb the working of the opponent's government and even to challenge its existence.

Today I decided to cover a method that could easily be an extension of what people might already be doing on a very limited scale: 193. Overloading of administrative systems.  More from Sharp:

Administrative systems of governments may be overloaded by excessive compliance in providing them with diverse types of information which may be directly or indirectly related to their responsibilities, or in making an excessive number of enquiries of them, or by providing them with excessive numbers of suggestions, protests or statements.

I thought of this method as I read this today:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers told progressive radio host Bree Walker (she’s the woman who bought Camp Casey) if three more Congress Members sign on, he will start the impeachment proceedings. Conyers said that all he needs is three more Congress Members backing impeachment and he’ll move on it, even without Speaker Nancy “impeachment is off the table” Pelosi’s backing who by the way, is now busy penning her autobiography.

While I don't want to dilute the simple anti-war message of next month's action (which I really need to get cracking on this week), part of the solution might be to get rid of the folks at the top who executed the debacle in Iraq.  I can certainly see impeachment tied to ending the war, not to mention other travesties of justice. 

So if we're pretty close to having the House start the process, it might be a good time before Congress goes into recess to nudge the leadership, particularly when we see this coming from the Speaker:

Pelosi...reiterated Saturday that she would not engage in what would perhaps be the biggest confrontation possible with the White House -- seeking the impeachment of Bush over the Iraq war [ed note: the Iraq war is only one aspect of the litany of impeachable offensives].

The speaker said she had "no hesitation" criticizing the president about his handling of the war, but said there were more important priorities for lawmakers -- such as health care and creating jobs -- than the divisive pursuit of impeachment.

"Look, it's hard enough for us to end the war. I don't know how we would be successful in impeaching the president," Pelosi said.

She did note that calls for the president's removal are not coming just from San Francisco.

"I'm not unsympathetic to the concern people have -- I hear it all over the country. People here have said to me, 'Well, people on the left want the president to be impeached.' I hear it across the board across the country. It's not just the left," Pelosi said.

As I so delicately noted over at Dohiyi Mir when Senator Feingold waxed obtuse about impeachment, if there are crimes, then impeachment is necessary, and Congress must needs learn to multitask a bit when such important issues are at stake.  So how can we show Nancy the error of her ways?

I was thinking a sort of snail mail sit-in of sorts, using the administrative overload method for a limited period to demonstrate our earnest.  Here's what I'm committing to:

• Sending a real, physical letter--on paper and everything!--every day to both of Pelosi's offices in DC and SFO (see below for addresses).

• Today's a Sunday, of course, but it is symbolic in that it's Parent's Day in the US and so many parents have lost children (and vice versa) in this war, it seems fitting to begin the effort now.  I'll start writing today and pick up envelopes and stamps tomorrow.

• The last day I will send a letter is Thurdsay, August 2nd, which is the date that most delegates in Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

Care to join me?  Here's Nancy's contact information:

• District Office - 450 Golden Gate Ave. - 14th Floor - San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 556-4862
• Washington, D.C. Office - 235 Cannon HOB - Washington, DC 20515 - (202) 225-4965

Say anything you want, but I recommend being civil (yeah, I know, that sounds funny coming from the most foul-mouthed Quaker this side of Richard Nixon).  Perhaps include polling data about Congress' unpopularity or support for impeachment, or a list of impeachable crimes, or a cogent argument for impeachment, or just IMPEACH in big, bold type...make it varied, perhaps looking at this as really a long, multipart letter. 

If you're a constituent, you might also consider making queries/requests of Pelosi's office.  She has a list of constituent services on her website that might spark some ideas. 

What else could be included in our Nancygrams?  Who else could you convince to take part so we can really bog down her staff as they process our messages?

Also, are there other government entities we could target in this fashion?  Are there specific laws we could use as part of a "comply-in"¹?

ntodd

PS--I promise I will have my follow-up to Lysistratic nonaction soon.  Not that anybody really cares at this point, but still...

Covered on previous Sundays:

5. Declarations of indictment and intention
8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications
9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books
19. Wearing of symbols
38. Marches
57. Lysistratic nonaction
71. Consumers' boycott
90. Revenue refusal
137. Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse
178. Guerrilla theater

1 - I wanted to include more about this method, but it's actually tangential to the specific action I'm suggesting, so I put it here below the fold:

This type of action is particularly likely to happen where the law or regulations which the administrative unit is implementing require frequent revision of data concerning personnel or other matters, or when complex systems of rules and regulations to be followed are subject to frequent change.

This method--called the comply-in--was applied in the United States in the spring of 1970 by the antiwar movement, as people were urged to comply with all the usually neglected provisions of the law concerning personal information.  The New York Times quoted Mrs Trudy Young, spokeman for the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, to this effect: "The [Selective Service] law also requires registrants to inform the draft boards within ten days of any change of address or status.  This means changes in religion, mental attitude and everything else." Although almost entirely ignored by the Selective Service System itself, the law applies its regulations to all males born after August 30, 1922, not just to those up to twenty-five years of age.  Mrs Young continued:

We want everyone to take this law so seriously that they inform their board of every single change, even if they're over age or have already completed their service.  This means wives, mothers, and friends as well.  They should submit documents attesting to any change in the status of the registrant.  The Selective Service just cannot stand up, administratively, to absolute obedience to the draft law.

The paper quoted a Selective Service spokesman as saying that if thousands of overage men followed the law to the letter, "Lord help us."

In Massachusetts in June 1970, following the invasion of Cambodia by United States forces and the resultant protests, Colonel Paul Feeney of the SSS in the state in an interview described the flood of mail which had poured into their offices:

Some of the mail says "I've changed my status, I've moved from the first floor to the third floor."  Or we'll get a letter saying, "I'm going to Europe."  A few days later we'll get anohter saying, "I've changed my mine.  I am not going to Europe."

One official estimated that perhaps a thousand man-hours had been lost by handling the excess mail.  Officials ordered seven hundred thousand postcards which could quickly, yet legally, be used to respond to the increased quantity of mail.

I'd submit that even in an age of Carnivore and other automated systems of surveillance and data processing, using traditional paper-bound channels of communication still requires manual, intensive work.

Comments

[Vicki Stein]

NTodd,

I'll help. I'll review your suggestions and get back to you with my plan of action.

Pax out.

[xan]

Well, if Conyers needs any random three Representatives to push the go button, it would seem logical to send, either a CC of the Pelosi letter or a separate original writing to one's own Representative as well.

Democratic or Republican. They're still supposed to be representing you. Republicans might be even more in need of reminders of their constitutents' feelings in this regard, and the more we can peel away from the boRg the better. Think of it as working a reverse Lieberman.

:)

[jawbone]

Love it!

And the Post Office will thank you.

Now, must indeed get that ink cartidge I've been putting off going to the store for--but can start with a brief handwritten note.

This should have begun on the 4th of July--we could have simply quoted portions of the Declaration of Indenpendence.

Which of course I will now do.

Peace, bro.

[jawbone]

Also, lumpenprolitariat found a good Robert Scheer piece, at the CBS web site!, which has several good arguments, with wonderful references to the Founding Father political philosphers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/20/opinion/main3082466.shtml

[Virginia]

Letter printed, envelope ready to address, stamps on hand.

What I wonder is, can Pelosi really engage in this openly? Because she's third in line, and Cheney has to go FIRST, she could be concerned about leading impeachment investigations appearing to be an attempted coup (and you know that's how the admin will spin it).

Would it make more sense to hammer reps in other districts -- both parties -- who might be inclined to support impeachment if they heard enough noise about it? Or do I just not get the point?

[NTodd]

Xan - indeed, spreading the love would be good!

Virginia - she's the Democratic leader, so at least can whip 3 other members even if she can't publicly speak much about impeachment. That said, she should damn well speak about what's right.

But I don't think she'd ascend to the Veep position anyway. You nail Dick and Dubya can pick somebody to fill his spot (pending Congressional approval). The only way she'd take power is if both the Prez and Veep were removed simultaneously--then Amendment XXV would kick in. At least that's what it appears to me.

[ql in ny]

Damn, my printer isn't hooked up yet, but my writing hand works. Have already addressed several envelopes.

[NTodd]

Yeah, I'm actually writing some of these by hand, too! I figure I should vary how they're presented so readers won't see a particular look and feel and automatically toss them...

[Virginia]

The only way she'd take power is if both the Prez and Veep were removed simultaneously--then Amendment XXV would kick in. At least that's what it appears to me.

Oh, yeah, I guess I'm just being amazingly optimistic -- I ASSUME they'll both get the axe!

[Mr.Murder]

To the point it may be considered a quid pro, anyopne who donated money to candidates could consider it false advertisin were Bush not opposed to the fullest measure allowed

False advertising, FTC, FCC, FEC, etc.

Use the structure of law to bring down the edifice of leadership.

[C Lee]

Letters are still subject to anthrax screening which will delay receipt. Send postcards or fax. Pelosi fax:202-225-4188 in DC or 415-861-1670 in San Fran

[Tasha Nelson]

Our local Drinking Liberally chapter is actually sending Pelosi napkins with the words "Put it back on the table". A little humor, while getting the point across...

[NTodd]

C Lee - actually, anthrax screening is okay. One more administrative process that can be slowed down.

Tasha - cool idea!

[wjx]

Mbt zapatoscomo una tormenta se extendió por Europa y el mundo.Mbt zapatoscómo tener tanto poder? Según la investigación,Mbt zapatosno sólo su propio estilo de diseño único, sino también porque hay magia buena forma física, asíMbt zapatosno es coincidencia que es tan popular. Esta es una forma de cambio históricoMbt zapatosson.