Like this: Vote GOP and they won't so much as listen to their constituency. Vote Dem and there's some possibility that calls, letters, etc will get them to do something that favors their constituency. Voting is the first step. Making yourself heard, and being an ongoing nuisance about it is the second step. And you better believe that the conservative constituents are doing both steps. Democracy IS a Verb, in fact it's a Gerund, it's an ongoing process.