The purpose of this prologue is to warn the reader of my unabashed prejudice for bringing, by whatever means possible, the citizenry back onto democracy's field of play. For it is only then that democracy works best. Certainly it hasn't worked, and won't work, on automatic pilot. Obviously, the best way to get a message to an officeholder is to vote. Next in impact comes the letter to the editor.
All officials are sensitive to the editorial pages of their local newspapers.
Then comes the personal letter. Form letters are a waste of time and postage. It registers with the receiver. I know of situations in which just one letter has changed the course of governmental action. Length is not as important as passion.