Lobbyists are snickering at us.

While there are signs that participation in the political process is increasing in the US, Lobbyists continue to have a louder voice with public officials than individual constituents. Why? Because, our elected officials see the research that Lobbyists do as a service.

It helps them decide what to think.

Lobbyists prepare well-researched reports that help politicians get their head around issues. Naturally, these reports are often skewed toward the interests of the lobbyists’ employers.

What about the rest of us? Where do we get the well researched report that reflects our personal interests? How can we afford to get in front of elected officials when public hearings are often in far away cities?

We become Booklobbyists.

A Booklobbyist is any individual who communicates their opinion as a constituent to an elected official or candidate supported by the writing of any published author.

Every month, thousands of well-researched books are published. Many of these inform our views on policy, philosophy and responsible governing. Now, we can share these views with our elected officials for the price of a book.

Booklobbyists, Step Into your Power

BookLobby was formed to make it easy to send a book with your personal comments to an elected official or candidate. In one application you can:

1. find out who your state or federal representatives are
2. find the best mailing address for them
3. locate the title you are looking for from the world’s largest online book source
4. compose a summary or commentary for them that will accompany the book and that can be send ahead as an email
5. package it all up and send it
6. make your comments available to the public for additional discourse

Power in Numbers

As a constituent, you have more pull than a lobbyist. As a group of constituents, you wield significant political clout.

All Booklobbies are done publicly. This means that other like-minded individuals can read and comment upon issues you raise with your representatives.

They can also pile on.

A book landing solidly in a politician’s office carries more weight than an email. Ten copies of the book demands their attention. That these constituents spent real money and effort to communicate with them cannot be ignored.

Your Comments are Key

Will a politician read the book you send them? Some will. Sometimes their staff will.

Your summary will get read.

This is why your role as a Booklobbyist is so critical. Your contribution to the communication provides the conviction that will move the hearts and minds of a public officials.

The public discourse around any Booklobbyist’s contribution is critical.

Why Facebook?

We’re launching BookLobby as a Facebook Application initially. We chose Facebook because the crowd there is participative, energized, and representative of a generational shift that makes BookLobby possible.

Facebook members are highly representative of those in America who are changing the political process.

Facebook also provides a platform that allows us to get BookLobby out while the national election is in full swing.

Why Us?

What could be better than implementing a cool idea that can really make a difference? This team has come together through chance and serendipity for little more reason than that.

BookLobby is also enabled by a built-in revenue model. The meager affiliate revenues that we will generate on the book sales will keep the application running and, hopefully, improving.

Our commitment to the community is this: We will never let our personal political opinions influence our decisions about BookLobby. This is a populist movement meaning it is in your hands.

Lobbyist photo used under Creative Commons license, courtesy mimax via Flickr.