In the Senator Allard thread Christian Lheureux asked:
>Or why not hire a lobbyist to support the HPe3000 ?
This may have been a tongue in cheek statement but it has potential. While I
don't think we could afford a full time lobbyist, there is more to lobbying
than hired guns. Lobbying must start from organized grassroots efforts.
If an organization, say OpenMPE Inc.*, were to have a "Governmental Affairs
Committee" could that not serve as the beginning of a lobby? I suggest
OpenMPE Inc only because it is the logical choice. I don't mean to put them
on the spot. There may be and probably are considerations that I know
nothing about. If not OpenMPE Inc. then some other group, presently in
existence or not, can take up the banner.
I am not suggesting that we try to outspend the Silicon Valley lobby. I am
suggesting that we can make our cause known. Members of the House and Senate
are always introducing resolutions calling for special acknowledgement of
people, groups or ideas. "Therefore I would like this august body to declare
today June 27, 2002 National OpenMPE day." They may also read into the
record statements about any topic they wish.
If we all pushed our elected representatives maybe we could get the ball
rolling. Better yet, if we convince a single representative and Senator that
they have a vested interest in our cause they will help us lobby more
effectively. This approach will have at least as much effect upon it
intended targets as a full page WSJ ad, an idea I supported whole-heartedly.

Political activism requires that we be active. It was brought up in the
Allard thread that "snail mail" does not get an automated response. I know
we all abhor the idea of using this media but do it for the cause. Instead
of typing out your letter in your email package type on your word processor,
hit print, fold the letter up, stick it in an envelope, put on a stamp and
mail it. The extra time needed to send the letter by USPS is less than a
minute. The extra cost is less than $.50. If you are willing to donate the
time, I am willing to reimburse you for the cost.
The opinions expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of my
employer.
Yosef Rosenblatt


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