Political Awareness and Action

Political Awareness and Action

Excerpt from FREEDOM November-December 2005

The President’s Message in the September/October issue of the magazine of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), The Therapist, had a great exercise about Political Action Awareness. He got the idea from CAMFT’s Executive Director, Mary Riemersma, and with her permission, I am presenting it to you.

Please take out a blank sheet of paper and make two columns: one “yes” and one “no.” As you answer the following questions, please mark your answers in the corresponding column:

1. I am registered to vote
2. I voted in the most recent presidential election.
3. I have voted in the last five elections, including those in which a presidential candidate was not on the ballot.
4. I know the names of my federal elected Congresspersons and Senators.
5. I know the names of my representatives in the State Assembly and Senate.
6. I have contacted one or more of my elected representatives regarding a legislative/political issue in the last year.
7. I have contributed to a political party or the campaign of an individual running for office in the last year.
8. I have contributed to the Political Action Committee (PAC) of an organization such as CAADAC PAC.
9. I have regularly contacted one or more of my elected representatives on an issue important to me.
10. I have contributed an in-kind contribution to a party or campaign of an individual running for office in the last year (made phone calls, worked in the precinct, walked door to door, etc.).
11. My elected representatives know who I am and would know to contact me concerning issues in which I have expertise.

So how did you do? The point is that the political process is important to you and your professional interests. CAADAC is the body to be the powerful voice for you and the profession of addiction counseling. However, CAADAC cannot do it alone; each of you has a powerful voice as well. Below I have outlined ways you can turn your “no” answers into “yes.”

1. You can register to vote at your local DMV, City Hall, County Court, or online at http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html.
2. Vote in the next election; the next presidential election is on 11/4/2008, but don’t wait for it. Voting by absentee ballot is the easiest way to vote; once registered as an absentee voter, the ballot comes to your mailbox, and you can vote by mail.
3. Begin voting in all elections, and before you know it, you will have voted five times and counting.
4. You can look up the names and contact information of you Federal elected officials by going on line to www.house.gov. The current U.S. Senators from California are Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The Senate Web site is www.senate.gov.
5. California State Assembly and Senate representatives can be found at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html This Web site also has good information on how the California legislative process works.
6. Please contact one or all of your Federal and State elected representatives about current issues that relate to addiction counselors. We will keep you informed through this publication and through the CAADAC Web site, www.caadac.org.
7. Consider giving monetary support to a political cause or candidate that you feel represents your views.
8. Please consider giving to CAADAC PAC. If every member gave $10 to the PAC, CAADAC would have well over $22,000 to start championing its legislative and political causes.
9. Contact your political representatives regularly. Consistency is the best way for your representatives to know you and your profession. Participate in the CAADAC/CSAM Legislative Day February 1, 2006 in Sacramento.
10. Volunteer to make a difference for a political cause. You can support CAADAC by writing letters and making phone calls to your representatives when CAADAC makes a Call to Action.
11. Make an appointment to meet with your representatives. Gather a group of your fellow professionals to go with you. CAADAC will supply you with a packet of information, at your request, to help you with this process.

Again, I challenge all of you to join me in becoming involved in shaping our professional future through the political process. Please let me or the CAADAC staff know how we can support you in this important and critical process. Please register and attend the CAADAC/CSAM Legislative Day February 1, 2006 in Sacramento.

—Rick Sautter