We live in a representative democracy. Citizens' primary way of making their desires known is to petition their representatives. It is your choice if you write letters or make phone calls to your representatives only after a "screw up." I prefer to communicate with my representatives before they vote on things. Proactive petitioning is an American value. Bitter complaints after the fact--not sure how effective that is. The marches across the country were sending a message to the incoming administration that a roll back on existing legal rights will encounter resistance.