Effecting Political Change

Politicians are more often mirrors of society than agents of change. Demand change from them, they aren't reading Hacker News. If they refuse change, campaign against them.

Feedback loop is way too long and way too uncertain for people to care. What can you even do to visibly affect decisions being made? There is nothing an individual person can do, because no one in power cares about individual people, whether they go picket or post to facebook.There are tens of millions of people in the US that really want to change, for a lot of . However, without acting as a unified group they don't matter because they're dwarfed by equally disor

Any ideas of What, WE, the individuals can do to make politician and countries change?

Probably not through voting. But direct action can get you to a better reality.

Could also be the absolute futility that "contact your representative" represents now? I think more and more people are realizing that change can't happen that way anymore, particularly as you can't even organize grass roots movements without media and social-media approval these days. The only things that can get critical mass now to enact change from a citizen perspective are popular causes that are essentially "approved". Good to guard against bad movements like

I won't be dismissing it with a trite line like "the world keeps spinning", for a start. Secondly, I am politically active and engaged, which is the most effective way to effect change right now.Encouraging others to actually engage with politics instead of being dismissive, with the goal to build a coalition of people who want to protect our rights against this consolidating dictatorship.You want to do something about it? Call your senator and voice your opinion.Your s

I generally agree, and want to add that you are not powerless. You can band together with others and then create political wind for the change(s) you desire. Many (most? all?) important changes in society were the direct result of people organizing and campaigning. It is an uphill battle which can be rewarding, interesting, very social, and: successful. :-)

And advocating for mass individual consistent behavioral change is less than useless. If you want change you need political organization. The sum of public opinion is more influenceable than the sum of everyone's actions. Unfortunately, in the US it's not so simple as "vote for the party that's against this" as we only have two and neither are. Which means if you want to be effective you should throw your lot in with an advocacy group. In this case probably the EFF, mayb

This is the best answer. Voting and consuming differently are not impactful enough. Only mass labour movements will get the wheels turning. The proof is all there in recent history.

Step 1 - realize that the real world is not a happy-ending Orson Scott Card novel, where a smart-enough character (with no fame, power, nor wealth) has a realistic chance of becoming a VIP through online agitation. Let alone swaying substantial corporate and government decisions, based just on online fame.Step 2 - understand that those in power seldom care much about following any nice-sounding rules which they've published, when it is more comfortable & convenient for them t