Poverty: Elected officials listen more than you think

The U.S. political climate is a source of dissatisfaction for many Americans, and yet I’m not sure those who are dissatisfied are doing enough to let their representatives know things need to change.

I first began calling my representatives when I was living abroad in 2016 because after the presidential election I felt the call to be more politically active. Now I call my representatives all the time, letting them know my opinion about proposed legislation.

And they listen. I’ve been called back for lengthier discussions several times. It’s surprising how easy this is when you think of the overall impact

On my agenda these next few months? Poverty-reducing legislation. The U.S. spends less than 1 percent of the federal budget on assisting the world’s poor, far less than the 20 percent the average American thinks goes towards such assistance.

Not only should every human have basic rights, but making allies in this globalized era is critical to economic and diplomatic success.

So join me in calling and letting our representatives know that global poverty won’t go away on its own. Tell them to prioritize the poor.

And tell them whatever else you are thinking, because they do really want to hear.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Poverty: Elected officials listen more than you think."