Actually, Mike, believe it or not, our politicians do pay attention to input from constituents -- OK, more from the rich ones than from the rest of us, but attention nonetheless.   But a phone call counts as much as at least 10 emails, and snail mail counts at least 10 times more than that.   (Those are low estimates. The figures I've read and heard may be greater than that by a factor of 10, but I forget the specifics.   Just remember that a phone call counts FAR more than an email and a letter or post card counts FAR, FAR more.)

But if you want to get a message to them quickly, send a POSTCARD.    Ever since the anthrax attacks back in 2001, envelopes get sort of 'quarantined' until they can be checked out for possible contaminants such as anthrax.