This will be another post in which I will be transparent. For some readers, what I’m about to say may be upsetting or might even make you mad at me as I’m going to be quite frank and generalize to some degree. I hope you will forgive me in my forthrightness and know that I don’t know what happens behind the closed doors of your home, meaning I could be totally wrong.
This past Saturday I hosted my very first postcard writing party. I have participated in postcard writing for political campaigns the past few years, and recently in-person with my local Indivisible group. Phone banking or door knocking is not within my skills wheelhouse, writing postcards has been a way for me to participate in hopefully helping effect change. Texting from home has also been a way for me to know I may have helped get a least one person to the polls.
Being my first time hosting, there was the fear that no one would show up. I had wanted to make it as welcoming and as organized as possible. There were a variety of baked goods to snack on and some beverages. Printed copies of addresses for local, state, and national elected officials for all the districts of people who may come were available. Scripts of possible things to say and an outline of key items to include if someone decided to personalize their statement. Postcards, postage, and pens were provided. My goal was to make it as easy as possible to participate.
I was both pleased and sad with the turnout. In my mind, if even just one person showed up, it would be a success and worth the planning time. I am grateful for the 14 people (including me) who came and wrote well over 100 postcards to send to our elected officials (both Democrat and Republicans). The purpose was to invite, and strongly urge, those who are elected to serve the needs of the community and to protect the Constitution, to stand with us at the upcoming No Kings Rally on March 28. None of the elected officials in our geographic area, from my research, have ever attended a No Kings Rally as a show of support against autocracy. I felt it was time to hold them accountable for not standing with those of us putting our bodies on the line at protests and rallies. The sad fact is, I could only find one instance in which any of our elected officials had even said anything in support of No Kings rallies other than to say everyone has a First Amendment right to speak. Although this is appreciated, it would mean much more to stand in solidarity against autocracy.
The sad part is the invitation for the Postcard Party went out to over an estimated 500 people. This was roughly 3% of people invited who chose to participate. In terms of statistics from what I can tell, this is on the high end of participation for which we must celebrate. And, I wonder why 5%, 10%, or even a higher percentage of people didn’t make it.
I fully acknowledge that the day, the time, the location, invitees maybe not knowing who I am, some invitees may be on board with the current political climate, transportation, previous commitments, intent of the party unclear, and a multitude of other possibilities may have been present for not attending. Those don’t change my sadness that more weren’t able to make it, nor decrease my joy in those who did.
As you read the following, keep in mind the power you have in a single postcard. Then take that power out exponentially if more people are able to attend and participate in a postcard party near them.
The joy also comes from statistics about what a single postcard represents to elected officials at all levels of government. There is joy in knowing the power and impact of a single postcard.
For a postcard to a U.S. Senator, a single postcard is representative of 500-1000 constituents who feel the same way, but don’t write. This means our group helped represent between 5-10 thousand peoples’ agreed views. That’s powerful.
For a postcard to a U.S. Representative, a single postcard is also representative of 500-1000 constituents who feel the same way, but don’t write. This means our group helped represent between 5-10 thousand peoples’ agreed views. That’s even more powerful than at the senate level since a representative represents fewer people than a senator.
For a postcard to a local elected official, such as a city councilor, a postcard represents the greatest power. This power comes from a sad fact that most people don’t pay as much attention as needed to local politicians (even though they have a greater impact on our day-to-day lives). Sometimes a councilor’s decision on a vote comes from as few as 10-20 postcards (or calls), as this is considered “a lot of mail.” This means our group may have been enough to move some local officials to more strongly consider attending the March 28 No Kings Rally. This is powerful and shows democracy in action.
These statistics gave me more hope as I reflected on my first postcard party. There are some things I will change the next time in terms of clarity and ease of writing. I’ll also send the invitation out to provide more time to plan to attend on people’s calendars. The other thought is to have a standing time and day for the Postcard Party.
In reading more on postcards (and writing to elected officials in general), I found that writing something tangible means more than an e-mail—phone calls are also more effective than e-mails. The reason being is a letter or a postcard, especially when high numbers of people participate, start to stack up on a desk. It is a visual that democracy is working, the topic is important, and that people are paying attention, which also means we are watching to see if they are worthy of being re-elected.
We have power as the people. We have more power when we work together as a community to make our voices heard. Please join me, and others, in using that immense power.
As I close out for today, think about the effects of this power of the people. The power of the people helped women get the right to vote, helped change voting rights laws, helped end the Viet Nam war, helped remove Noem from a cabinet position, and helped to move Congress to pass a law to the release of Epstein files.
Always remember, YOU ARE POWERFUL!
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 