Postcards Are Ready

I decided to participate in the Ides of Trump event. The idea is to send postcards to the White House telling the President that you are not happy with how he's doing so far and why. The point of postcards rather than e-mails or even phone calls is that they are tangible and personal. "No alternative fact or Russian translation will explain away our record-breaking, officially-verifiable, warehouse-filling flood of fury."

I also recommend that you take the time to communicate with your elected officials on policies important to you, whether you agree with this protest action (Ides of Trump? Really? Sounds so stabby!) or these ideas or not.

I love that they recommend writing on any and all issues of concern to you personally. Postcards are so small, though!

The preparation

First I had to get some postcards. Our local post office doesn't sell them. So I tried Creative Reuse (craft thrift store) and got some "vintage" postcards for ten cents each. I decided to get ten and bring them to craft night.

Then I needed stamps. I didn't want to go to the post office but learned that other places also sell stamps. I walked to my local Staples, and they did sell stamps, including postcard stamps, but they only had rolls of 100. But they were not charging more than the value of the stamps. I wondered to myself, "How many postcards will I be sending? Over the next four or more years?" So I bought them. (Just one roll for now!)

At craft night, several people wrote one or more postcards and I now have nine with me ready to send out tomorrow. (The other one is still with another crafter.)

The results

Below are some favorites. The names have been replaced with an X for the authors' protection.

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Please remember that a country is her people, not just her borders--making America great "again" requires securing the needs of all of us who live here.

Thanks,
X

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Please don't break net neutrality! Also, please fire Ajit Pai, who is corrupt, stupid, and not a good person. We need net neutrality for an internet that works properly.

X

Trump,

Do you remember when it wasn't safe to drink the water everywhere in Texas? I do. That was not the good ol' days. Keep our water clean.

X

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Dear President Trump,

I think you are a disgrace to the office of President. I find your cabinet and appointees self-serving, grifty, and dishonest. I don't trust you and your staff to make appropriate decisions for the American people.

Sincerely,
X

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Make America Great Again. Make America great for everyone, including radical Christians and black transsexual females. Make this a safe and healthy place for us to live. Make it safe to breathe the clean air. Make it safe to drink the clean water. Make it safe to be a child of color at public schools. Make it safe to publicly acknowledge my non-Christian religion. Make my high-profile employer's data safe on my computer when I travel internationally for work.

X

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Dear Mr. President,

I don't see how a hiring freeze creates jobs. I don't see how destroying net neutrality and allowing unethical businesses to pollute more makes America great. I don't see how appointing the actual bribe givers protects us from corrupt politicians who accept bribes. Please try strategies that might actually work.

Sincerely,
X