Jason Putorti, co-founder of Resistbot, shares how his platform simplifies contacting elected officials, making civic engagement accessible. He discusses the power of collective voices in advocacy, particularly in the wake of increased activism since 2016. The conversation highlights how technology has transformed advocacy and underscores the importance of individual actions in driving change. Jason also addresses whether politicians genuinely consider constituents' opinions and emphasizes that every contribution counts, no matter how small.
Resistbot simplifies civic engagement by enabling users to quickly and effectively communicate their concerns to elected officials through modern technology.
The podcast emphasizes collective advocacy, illustrating how united communities can influence policy changes significantly by voicing shared concerns and stories.
Deep dives
Empowering Civic Engagement through Technology
ResistBot is a service designed to simplify civic engagement by enabling constituents to communicate with their elected officials via text messages. Since its launch, it has facilitated millions of interactions, helping Americans process their thoughts and concerns into actionable messages. The platform addresses the intimidation many feel when approaching political representatives, making it easier for all individuals to share their opinions and advocate for change. By streamlining the communication process, it has turned civic engagement into a more accessible and routine practice for users, encouraging broader participation in democracy.
The Evolution of ResistBot
Originally established to connect messages from constituents to Congress via fax, ResistBot has significantly evolved in the last four years. It now leverages various methods to ensure effective communication with elected officials, including email, postal mail, and web forms. This adaptability was driven by the need to meet the changing technology landscape and address feedback from congressional offices on how best to receive messages. The goal has always been to eliminate barriers to participation, ensuring that users can seamlessly send their messages to the appropriate channels.
The Importance of Collective Voices
The podcast emphasizes the power of collective voices in instigating change within the political landscape. It highlights that when communities unite around issues that impact their daily lives—such as healthcare and postal service reliability—they can exert real pressure on their representatives. Historical examples, such as the challenges presented to congressional leadership regarding healthcare during the Trump administration, demonstrate how grassroots movements can influence policy decisions. By fostering a collective civic engagement, ResistBot empowers individuals to contribute to larger movements that resonate with everyday citizens.
Encouragement for Active Participation
An overarching takeaway from the discussion is that civic participation can take many forms and does not require a substantial time commitment to be effective. Individuals are encouraged to engage with local and state issues, which often have a more direct impact on their communities than federal matters. The podcast stresses that every small action counts, advocating for the belief that sharing personal stories and experiences can significantly enhance the effectiveness of communication with elected officials. Thus, citizens are motivated to speak out against injustices in their communities, reminding them that their voices and actions are critical in shaping the future.
Contacting an elected representative is an effective way to make change, but it might not always be clear how to make your voice heard. Our show guest today is Jason Putorti, one of the founders of Resistbot — a free and easy to use messaging service that connects constituents directly with their elected officials. In the four years that Resistbot has been around, they’ve helped millions of people advocate for causes they care about — all in less than two minutes.
In short, Resistbot makes democracy quick and easy. Four years ago, Jason saw a problem in how complicated it can be to get your voice heard by our politicians. In this episode with Jason, we talk about his solution, how Resistbot redirects online chatter about important issues into action, and how numbers in a group really does make a difference in advocating for a cause. He also answers if politicians really care about what their constituents have to say.
Guest: Jason Putorti, co-founder of Resistbot
Text RESIST to 50409 to contact your elected officials — and make a small donation to keep Resistbot’s services going.