Postcards

[ann_leckie]

So, the approaching inauguration of the President Elect–who even before taking office has distinguished himself as the absolute worst president this country has ever had, and who will, the moment he takes office, be in violation of the Constitution–is one of those “you have to laugh because he’s so ridiculous and also otherwise you’d despair for the future of the nation” things.

I’m not sure there’s anything any of us can do. But then again, the couple times so far that the Republicans have backed off something it’s been largely because of public outcry–they pulled back on their attempt to hamstring the Office of Congressional Ethics, and very recently have delayed hearings on appointees that were set to go before any ethics reviews could be completed (noticing a theme here? Cause I am).

So, will pitching a fit to our representatives do anything? Who knows? But why not do it?

So here’s what I’m thinking. What if every Monday each of us addresses a post card to our Representative (you can find their name & address here, I’m planning to use the DC office), with our own return address (because representatives only listen to their constituents, so we need to let them know we’re in their district) and hand written the word IMPEACH. Maybe a note with a reason or two why if you feel like it, but honestly I think that one word says it all. Put a stamp on it (34c to mail a postcard in the US) and drop it in the mail. Every Monday. Until further notice.

You can get sheets of postcards and run them through your printer if you have one, with the addresses, but I think the hand-written IMPEACH is the best way to do that bit of it.

Every Monday. Like clockwork.

Now, some folks will argue that if Trump ever got the boot, Pence would be worse because he would seem reasonable by comparison and then folks would support him, where Trump will have alienated everyone except the outright deplorable nazi sympathizers & do more damage to the Republican party that way. Thing is, Trump is set to do quite a lot of damage to the entire freaking country as it is, and Pence is still there, able to be his nasty, toxically bigoted self. There is no actual good outcome here, but it seems to me that losing the guy who’ll happily dismantle the country to stuff his own pockets, who’s already threatening reprisals against journalists who report things that he doesn’t like, or who ask him actual questions, and who’s bidding fair to start wars, drop nukes, and turn the country over to whoever he owes money to is maybe a step in the right direction.

At any rate, I invite you to join me in the Monday Post Card Club. Boxes of sheets of 200 post cards are available at most office supply stores for $25-30, a post card stamp is 34c, times 52 that’s about $18 a year. You probably already have a sharpie. It might not do any good, but then, you never know. At the very least we’ve let our elected officials hear from us. What do you think?

Mirrored from Ann Leckie.

Comments

[a-cubed.livejournal.com]

This is only useful for people who live in a district with a Republican Congressperson, or a state with a Republican Senator. Deluging the offices of Democratic Congresspeople with a pleas to do something they'd love to do if they had the votes, would just distract them from opposing and resisting themselves.

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily. Most congresspeople tend to be timid when it comes to things like impeachment. this will embolden them. I don't think that this one works as much.

Maybe but...

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

this is certainly a better idea than not watching the Inauguration (another LJ friend thought that this would do major damage to Trump when he really won't care). However, it's not the same as actually opposing every single thing that Trump has been trying to push through.

The fight began on Tuesday with the hearing for Jeff Sessions and it continues today with five Trump nominees. The two worst offenders are Rex Tillerson (secretary of state nominee with ties to Russia) and Cathy Bezos (Education nominee who de-funds public schools in favor of bogus charter schools).

THESE are the things taht you need to focus on. Pie-in-the-sky scenes like impeachment or getting the electoral college to vote against Trump are not going to do shit.

Of course, politics is boring and long. Unless you are a politician you can't stay on top of every issue, so my suggestion (after these fucking nominations) is to focus on TWO issues that you care about - one that directly affects you and one that directly affects other people. My two are health care (I would be fucked if Obamacare is dismantled) and immigration.

What are yours?

This is way more realistic and effective than sharing stories on FB.

But mostly write to your representative and senators - but focus on issues. You can do the post card trick but it can NOT be the only thing.

Re: Maybe but...

[mount-oregano.livejournal.com]

It's not exactly political, but I made a donation today to the Howard Brown Clinic, an important LBGTQ health service here in Chicago.

Re: Maybe but...

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

That's actually a good one. I am volunteering with an immigration advocacy group. The main problem is the fact that I only speak english with any fluency and they have too many volunteers as it is.

Looks like both your senators are pretty much on the side of anti-Trump, but might as well make sure that they knkow how you feel

http://www.durbin.senate.gov/?

https://www.senate.gov/senators/115thCongress/Duckworth_Tammy.htm


A phone call every week just to tell them that you support ACA or oppose Jeff Sessions' nomination will help. Or a letter. Even a physical letter.

They will be fighting against Trump, but make sure that they do. I loved Paul Wellstone and he was the most liberal senator but even he voted for DOMA when it was up for a vote.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Postcards are a good idea, but I've heard, what really gets the notice of Congress-people (notably more than paper mail and infinitely more than email) is phone calls from constituents.