Pro-Lifers Embrace Information Age

By Dave Andrusko

It's early afternoon. Out of nowhere comes news that your state house of representatives will take up a crucial piece of legislation.

Turns out at the last moment unsympathetic legislators snuck in a bad amendment that will provide hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars to the abortion industry. You must alert your members to flood the capitol switchboard with calls demanding that their state representative vote against the measure unless the pro-abortion amendment is deleted.

Not so long ago, the only way to communicate in such urgent situations was via a phone tree. But now, thanks to a minimum amount of effort but lots of foresight, you're able to send out an e-mail alert to virtually every member. Three hours later, his colleagues having heard from the people, the sponsor of the amendment reluctantly withdraws it.

As we all know, we now live in an Information Age, a time when ordinary citizens routinely use desktop computers, access and create web pages, and communicate a good portion of the time not by phone but by e-mail.

That is why it is essential that the ultimate grassroots movement, one which depends heavily on everyday people making their voices heard, fully utilize information technology.

To make effective use does not require a heavy financial investment at all. Much of what you need most people already have.

Virtually everyone either has (at least) one computer in his or her home, has a next-door neighbor who has a computer in the family room, or is a hop, skip, and a jump away from the local library which offers free access to computers and the Internet.

The following is just a partial list of all the tasks that can be more effectively completed, provided your group is computer- literate and computer-accessible.

* The aforementioned Legislative Alert. Votes come up out of the blue all the time. Pro-abortionists seed bills with bad amendments or bring up pro-life measures at the most inopportune times. E-mail is the way we can neutralize what would otherwise be a huge advantage for the other side.

* Web pages. Almost all NRLC state affiliates have one, as do an increasing number of local chapters. Students in particular use the Internet to do much, if not all, of their research for papers. Your web page can provide an invaluable cache of information on everything from partial-birth abortion, to stem cell research, to phony "campaign finance reform," to euthanasia. Students may or (more likely) may not write you for information. They're used to getting what they want now! Web pages are an essential outreach tool.

* Influencing the media. I write for a living and, believe me, I don't want to read page after page of faxes. An e-mail text is much preferable. Likewise, when you are trying to get a letter to the editor published, or a notice about an upcoming meeting included in the next day paper, or are just trying to be a good source for the reporters covering your issues, if you send it via e-mail you are much more likely to have the reporter take it seriously. (For one thing, they can edit/select in a blink of an eye, crucial to deadline-burdoned reporters.) A helpful way to be helpful to the informational gatekeepers in your community.

* Using computers means individuals with spare time but not a lot of mobility can undertake a whole range of tasks. This applies especially to retired people and those who work from home or at home. Your pool of volunteers suddenly expands - - always good news.

* Access to information. There are a number of sites on the web where you can go to get up-to-the-minute information. NRLC's web site ( www.nrlc.org ), which carries the popular daily column " Today's News & Views" as well as legislative alerts and analysis, and the latest educational information, is a perfect example. Our address, again, is www.nrlc.org. A great way to keep current.

And this does not even mention uses most chapters already are making of information technology, such as maintaining, updating, and upgrading their lists.

You can be sure pro-abortionists utilize the web in particular, information technology in general. Lacking their limitless financial resources, it is crucial that we do even more so.