Commentary

It’s time for students to get involved with local governmental issues. Standing-up and speaking out is an American right. So why do many people fail to voice their issues to government representatives? After all, they are elected officials, paid by tax-dollars, and it’s their job to listen to the people in the communities they represent.

And with all of the cutbacks to California’s educational system, it is time for students to confront the issue and make their voices heard by state representatives.

But there are many options  to consider before sending a letter to congressional leaders.

First and foremost, people should know who their senators and state representatives are and have their proper contact information. A great place to find this information is www.usa.gov.

From there, a search can be conducted for local senators or members of the House of Representatives.

U.S. representatives hold two-year terms and are divided into districts within each state.

And each state, regardless of its population, has two senators, which are elected to serve six-year terms.

Next in the writing process is constructing a well-thought-out letter. The letter should be simple and address a single topic or issue.

According to the U.S. Government website www.usa.gov, which list tips on writing to congressional leaders, the letter should define an issue and describe reasons that support the issue; provide details that are factual.

The U.S. Government website also lists key things to avoid in a letter and some of those avoidances include gushing vulgarity, profanity and threats.

When ending the letter, propose a solution to the issue. It is best to recommend a way to help provide a course of action and always conclude with a thank you.

With many of the congressional leaders having their own websites, it makes it easy for people to submit online letters or traditional post-dated letters sent through the mail are just as effective.

The state representative within the EC district is Maxine Waters and serves the 35th District, which includes greater South Los Angeles and the cities of Westchester, Playa Del Ray, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood and Lawndale. While the senators representing California are Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.

Our congressional leaders are in office to serve the community. So it’s time to make a difference and be part of a movement.