Participating in Democracy
When you participate in your government - by letters, phone calls, emails, and blogs, you are embracing the true concept of democracy. When you don’t participate, you are following visions and goals set by others to a future set by others - one with which you may not agree.
Here is a great resource for getting those addresses at the Federal and State level for which you can sent your opinion. This takes some time to learn how to use, but with a little work you can find out what causes those you voted for represent and how they voted on various bills.
For example, most of my representatives in Congress and Legislature voted against the deficit and pork-loaded Federal Budget. The only exception was Gordon Smith. Senator Smith will get a letter.
During the first term of President Bush, federal spending increased 33% (TIME), and spending in 101 domesitic programs Congress vowed to eliminate increased 27%. Also, $89.4 million disbursed by the U.S. for Iraq reconstruction cannot be sufficiently account for.