Where's the Suggestion Box?

On Sunday, November 23, in the Providence Journal, John Kostrzewa wrote a sobering assessment of the financial challenges facing Rhode Island. My friends, it's more than serious. Mr. Kostrzewa ends with: "Taxpayers can leave it to the elected officials, or they can push for more grass roots influence on how much taxes are collected and how they are spent."

Good advice but just how does the average reader do this? You, yes you who are reading this now, must make a phone call, write a letter, or send an email to lawmakers and the Governor. The 'suggestion box' is the contact information at the State's website's Member Contacts which will let you find whom you're looking for. Use it. And letters to the editor are useful as well.

The truth is that nothing will change unless lawmakers feel pressure. Our responsibility is to assure they feel the pressure from the citizenry at least equal to the pressure they feel from other interest groups.

Talk to friends and define your feelings about what's going on. Compose a position on the issues that matter to you and send this to your legislators. The more names the better.

IT'S NOT UP TO "THEM". IT'S UP TO US.