Are You Asking the Right Questions?
Are legislators asking the right ones?
December 1, 2024
“You have two ears and one mouth, use them in that order.”
Blanche Lautenschlager (My grandmother)
“Never start a fight but always finish one.”
Richard H Lautenschlager (my father)
Just think about that question and ask yourself if you are. It happens more than you think and on all levels. Think about every conversation that you have with others and the majority of them start with a question.
How are you?
How do you like the weather?
Where are you going?
How is the family?
Is that project done?
Can I help you?
Conversations that begin with a question draw answers out of you or the person that you are talking to.
Logic dictates that is the way to approach a legislator when discussing changes to the law. The old methods that some have claimed advocates should use over the years of “telling our stories” failed then and will fail now.
When talking with a legislator
It doesn’t matter if you are in their office or somewhere else, questions will get them thinking and get you answers or non-answers that lead to a longer and more in-depth conversation.
We use simple questions to draw a legislator in:
Why does the state remove fit parents from a child’s
life every day?
Why are we still using an approach that has not been updated since 1981?
Do parents divorce their children when they end their relationship?
I know I sound like a broken record but if what was done before did not work a fresh look cannot hurt and this is what has worked for me many times. I see younger “advocates” stick with a 20+ year old failed message thinking that beating that dead horse will work this time.
I have used each of those questions in conversations with elected officials and with candidates for office. I have seen some shocked looks and head shaking when I have. That is why I use them. I ask to draw the legislator into a conversation so that they can ask questions and I can explain.
If you start with those questions, you will open eyes and have the legislator questioning what the opposition has been telling[RL1] them. If you want to know what the opposition is saying, go listen to testimony from previous bills. Read their written testimony. One thing you will find is that the opposition is well prepared to counter the “Best parents is Both Parents” argument.
When speaking to a legislator follow the carpenter adage of “Measure twice, cut once” with your words.
Legislators are not immune
Legislators fail to ask the right question the same as others do. They do this in private meetings, interested parties meeting, and when a bill comes up in Committee. They have standard questions that they ask like:
What states have done this?
Who will oppose these changes?
How would this work?
What they don’t ask and should:
Does this affect the budget of the state or the counties?
Are there statistics to back up your claims?
Will this solve things or make things more complicated? Can you explain why?
Do you know the history of past proposed changes?
Of DV: Do you have proof that this will increase domestic violence?
Of DV: Are their domestic violence shelters in Ohio for men and their children?
Your Honor, why do you think the courts and judges are better at raising children than their fit parents?
Your Honor, being that you are representing the judges of the State, did LSC do an analysis of what it will cost the courts?
Your Honor, are you a member of the Ohio Judicial Comference and the person assigned to their committee on this type of legislation? Why are you speaking instead of them when they are supposed to be the “expert” on this type of law?
Change the way the conversation starts and the results will change.
Legislative Director
440-281-5478
legislation@ohiofamilyrights.com
