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Over the last few weeks I have been bombarded with garbage mail and unwanted phone calls from both parties for a variety of candidates. I have complained about the unwanted calls from the MN AFL-CIO which claims to be “my” union of which I am not, nor ever have been, a member. I have also been posting photos of the mailers that the AFL-CIO have sent to keep track for a post just like this.
Yesterday I received five political mailers and thankfully, due to changing my mobile phone number very recently, zero political calls. Four political mailers had to do solely with Al Franken. Three were negative ads about him and the other was another pro-Franken mailing from “my” union over at the MN AFL-CIO (which I have now called 10x to ask them to stop all communications with me — they have ignored me every time it seems). The fifth was asking for me to support Shelley Madore and I believe it was the first I have received anything about her.
So being that yesterday was the biggest day for receiving messages about who I should vote for, it got me thinking about the enormous waste of time, energy, landfill space, and money that goes into mass political mailings and/or robo-calls which are basically trying to sway voters’ minds in the short time before the election. I realize that those that read this site a bit more savvy than the general public but I really want to know if you have ever considered what was printed on a political mailer or gave a robo-call more time than it takes to hang up while cursing under your breath? If you do give them your time and attention, why? Are the negative attack ads really that interesting that you feel the need to pay attention? Have any of the ads made you change your mind one way or the other?
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October 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I personally feel bad for the people whose opinions are altered by political mailings. They are about as likely to be truthful as political TV or radio attack ads.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I haven’t been sent a single one. By any candidate at any level. They must not care about Northfield ;)
October 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Josh, I would assume you aren’t registered to vote.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
How do you think the AFL-CIO got your address? That’s weird. You should just call them every night and leave them a message. Better yet, find the board members names and put them as a prospective student at Century College. I hear they send out tons of spam mail.
When I was in high school my buddies thought it was hilarious to give each other’s names and addresses to recruiters. I would get phone calls incessantly from the Army. You could try that too.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Oh yeah, I never did in MN. Hah. I was planning on doing it when I vote :)
October 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Bill, yo ushould try calling the AFL-CIO and just asking them to change your phone number to your old cell number.
I saw a news report where the negative campaigning is actually to turn possible voters off from voting, or something like that. All it’s making me do is want to research Dean Barkley, because Al Franken is a d-bag and Norm Coleman is annoying.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
dawnmarie, actually the calls have stopped after I changed numbers so there is no issue there. The only thing that remains are the stupid fucking fliers they send me in the mail. BTW, as I stated above, I have called them (10x) and left voicemails to tell them to stop. Didn’t work.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I haven’t received anything yet either. I’m sure they will catch up with me!
And, I am registered to vote.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
There must have been a dozen of those things in my mail today. Does anybody even read them? Ours go right into the recycle bin. I couldn’t even tell you who or what they were for or against. More waste.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
All the political ads do is make me like my “guy” more and hate the other guy even more. I’m not sure that is their intent but that is what happens.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:14 am
If the timing is right, I use the mailers as dustpans in the kitchen. Otherwise, I use them to start fires in my chiminea. Once in a while, I’ll use a Franken mailer to clean up after the dog in the backyard.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:22 am
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