List, As someone who believes strongly in the political process and still idealistically believes in the importance of political speech, my neck has bristled every time I saw the subject line that read "Re: [Mpls] Controversial junk mail (not from Don or Olin, from the MPS)"
Being a geek, I checked the definition of "junk mail". According to Merriam Webster: Main Entry: junk mail Function: noun Date: 1954 : third-class mail (as advertising circulars) that is often addressed to "occupant" or "resident" Now I can't speak for Olin's political mailings. I do know that Don Samuels campaign sent 5 pieces of mail over a five week period. Each was sent first class presort and was addressed to a specific resident at a specific address. By definition it was not junk mail. Now I understand that many people don't like to be bothered with the messiness of political mailings. So, at huge risk (I know all my friends are rolling their eyes right now) let me ask an innocent question: What suggestions do people have for balancing the need and desire of political campaigns to communicate with voters during an election with the desire by many people to not receive material about political candidates? I would appreciate it if responses would take into consideration that during every campaign, candidates and their volunteers hear the following complaints: 1. I never heard of you 2. I never heard from you 3. I don't know anything about you 4. Can you send me some material (this of course was after five literature pieces had been mailed and two had been put on their doorstep) 5. I don't vote because I don't know about the candidates. 6. Don't bothering me at home. I don't take phone solicitations. Over the next month Don's campaign would like to make our case to the voters of the Third Ward why we believe that Don is the best choice to be the next councilmember. It would thrill me to find a way to do this that did not result in accusations and attacks of flooding mailboxes or making unwanted phone calls - and resulted in "view rates" equal to mail or "contact rates" equal to the phone. Suggestions? Joseph Barisonzi Community Knowledge Specialist CommunityLeader, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 612-518-5536 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
