DEMOCRACY, ANYONE? Write POSTCARDS to CHANGE HISTORY!

Anybody scared enough yet to write postcards?  

Come Terry's place:

547 Douglass St.

Between 21st & 22nd St.

Buses:  24, 35,48

Wednesday, Nov. 30 7-10pm

TO DO YOUR OWN PARTY OR POSTCARDS, GO TO:  http://bit.ly/2fhNsCY FOR INFO.

I keep thinking about what MLKjr said in that quote I sent, it seems like decades ago. things have gotten worse so fast.  This is the part that rings in my mind:

"Without persistent effort, time itself becomes an ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction."  

This is quite a different statement from Dr. King's very reassuring  "The arc of history bends toward justice."  

Truly I say the arc of history is bending at this moment toward something very frightening.  And it's because we have allowed our country to drift.  We have not put in persistent effort against the insurgent and primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction.  Yes, time is THEIR ally, NOT OURS, absent our persistent effort.  

"This is no time for apathy or complacency.  This is a time for vigorous and positive action," concludes the great Martin Luther King.  There are a lot of actions being taken at the moment.  There are petitions galore to click.  There are the recounts being demanded and paid for by the Green Presidential candidate, Jill Stein.  

I am very excited by these things.  I sign all the petitions.  I donated money to the recounts.  And I believe, if electors receive even 100's of postcards asking them to vote for the winner of the national popular vote, those postcards, combined with everything else, could make them stop and think.  And 1000's of postcards -- Who knows?

I'm talking persistent effort here, folks!  I'm talking positive action!  I'm talking it couldn't hurt and it might help! 

Did anyone else hear Bernie Sanders on Democracy Now?  So clear, so calm.  He's telling us we have to GET TO WORK!  It's not about who you're going to vote for in 2018 or 2020.  It's about what you're going to do to save this country in 2017.  But I'm saying, let's not wait until 2017!  Let's try to save it right now.  Let's just TRY.  That's all.  He said absolutely the electors should vote for the winner of the national popular vote. (I tried to find this interview on the Democracy Now website and I couldn't.  Can anyone help me find a link?)

HILLARY CLINTON WON THIS DAMN ELECTION!  Do you realize that's what happened?  She WON!  Despite all the tweets and misogyny and mistakes by those damn Dems and the racism and the voter suppression and Comey and Putin's interference ----- SHE WON!  This is NOT Brexit!  Our side WON!  Dammit, let's FIGHT for that victory.  

SO WRITE 90 DAMN POSTCARDS TO EACH OF THE ELECTORS WE'VE CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON!  

This is Alexandria Nichandros,a wonderful bundle of dynamite who has thrown herself into P4D.  And of course my dear crony Carolyn Myers, taking care of us by cooking a great meal and throwing herself into the project too.  

--

TERRY BAUM

LILITH THEATER San Francisco

547 Douglass Street

San Francisco, CA 94114

BOOKINGS:  Toll Free: 888 - 372 - 5622

www.liliththeatersanfrancisco.com

www.terrybaum.blogspot.com

THE CRITICS RAVE ABOUT HICK: A Love Story: "Compelling" - San Francisco Examiner  /  "Brilliant" - SF Bay Guardian /  "A meaty play, a fascinating love story" - Broadway World / Valiant, Valuable & Vivid" - Baltimore Sun /  "Baum is captivating in a skilled and nuanced performance" - DC Metro

IT'S NOT OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER! MORE POSTCARD PARTIES!

I know the news is bad out there, but these POSTCARD 4 DEMOCRACY parties are really food for the soul.  And no more authoritative source than my friend, Carol Ruth Silver, who was actually one of the original Freedom Riders in the 60's, later a progressive SF supervisor and always an amazing activist, agrees that IT MAKES NO SENSE TO GIVE UP AS LONG AS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER SLIGHT, THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTCARD PARTIES

FUTURE POSTCARD PARTIES AT 547 DOUGLASS ST., SF (Just Show Up):

WED. NOV. 23, 7-10 PM
WED. NOV. 30, 7-10 PM
SUN. DEC. 4, 1-4 PM
WED. DEC. 7, 7-10
SUN. DEC. 11, 11-2
WED. DEC. 14, 7-10

ATTENTION  PARTY HOSTS:  

• All the Elector Addresses are at the bottom of this blog. 
• Please email me (terry@terrybaum.com), and I will send you a link to our Google dok where you can enter all the info about your party.  We want to keep track of how many cards are written to each state.  
• If you need postcards, I can send you some nice uncontroversial images (or you can use your own), and you can print them on Avery postcards (4 cards per sheet) that you can get at any office supply.  I recommend a mix of images.  We don't want one Elector getting several of the same image.  
• Please send me photos from your party.  I keep forgetting to take them.  

We've got a Facebook campaign going, courtesy of Alexandria Nichandros.  Thank you, cosmos, for sending her. 

WE NEED:  
A Facebook-savvy East Coast person who is excited by this project who will work for pay to get the word out.  Do you know someone?  Are you that someone?  Please PHONE:  415 648-5244. 

We are ordering postcards printed from my photos.  Very uncontroversial pretty images -- garden, stone house.  
  

"POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY" Party Instructions

POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: It’s a party, it’s a movement, it’s…. SOMETHING TO DO!

WHAT IS “POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY”?

We are very concerned (as in “freaked out”) citizens who are writing and sending hand-written messages on postcards to members of the Electoral College in Five Red states where the vote for the Presidency was extremely close. We are to encouraging them to cast their electoral vote for Hillary Clinton because she received 1.5 million votes more than Donald Trump. Here is a postcard I wrote:

 


As you can see, I'm being polite and respectful because that's more likely to get the reader's attention and even consideration. “You idiot, do the right thing!” tends to be counter-productive!

THE SEVEN BENEFITS OF POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY

1.    We might change history.  Admittedly it’s a long shot.  I won’t go into HOW long a shot it is. 

2.    We’re planting seeds for a campaign to rid the U.S. of the tragic effect of the Electoral College by 2020. (Go to nationalpopularvote.com for the best idea).

3.    We’re building a culture of civility.

4.    We’re alleviating our depression and despair through activism.

5.    We’re gathering with like-minded souls to create COMMUNITY!

6.    We’re spreading beauty in the world through picture postcards.

7.    We’re supporting the U.S. Post Office, which could really use a helping hand.

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE, FOLKS?!?

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Currently, as instructed by the Constitution, the President is not chosen by the votes of the people but rather by the votes of each state's Electors. The Democratic and Republican Parties in each state have their own electors. For example, when you vote for the President in Wisconsin, you actually are voting for either the Wisconsin Democratic electors or the Wisconsin Republican electors. 

The President of the United States will actually be elected on December 19, 2016 when the state electors vote. This system can result in someone being elected President who did not actually receive the most votes UNLESS WE CAN CONVINCE ENOUGH STATE ELECTORS TO ALIGN WITH THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE.
If enough Electors switch, we will have a democratically elected President! Want to do something about it? 

TAKE ACTION WITH US! IT'S EASY!
Option 1: Write your own postcards! (Elector addresses are listed here http://bit.ly/2gi7zAb)
Option 2: Attend a Postcards 4 Democracy Party! 
Option 3: Host a Postcards 4 Democracy Party!

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

1. Postcard stamps ("forever" or 34 cents)

2. Five or ten postcards for each guest if you're hosting

3. The address list below

I WILL REIMBURSE ANYONE FOR POSTCARDS AND STAMPS. HONEST. Email me your address and I’ll send you a check to reimburse you.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

Your message should be personal to YOU.  Of course, discuss it with others, have people suggest, critique.  But we are going for NOT standardized here. 

This is NOT about the candidates but about DEMOCRACY!

DON’T criticize Trump or even use the candidates’ names.

I refer to Clinton only as:  The winner of the national popular vote.

“In a democracy, the winner of the national popular vote should be President.”

“One person, one vote.”

“You have the power to strengthen our democracy.”

“Our democracy is in danger if the winner of the NPV does not become President.”

BE CIVIL.  We’re appealing directly to the goodness and fairness of another human being.  We are asking to be heard.

My best message so far:  "Dear Elector (name here):  Please consider casting your vote for the candidate who won the national popular vote by more the one million!

         It is terrible that, in the U.S.A., every person’s vote is not equal.  How can we call ourselves a democracy?  You have the power to help correct this injustice.  Please use your vote to make democracy stronger.” (It was a big postcard.)

Definitely sign your name.  I also put my address. 

Please, no address labels!  Hand-write entire postcard!

WHAT KIND OF POSTCARDS?

(The Post Office no longer sells postcards.)

1.    Easiest:  Buy packets of Avery (or other) postcards – 4 on each 8 ½ X 11 sheet.  200 in every packet.  Put address on one side, message on other.  They’re in the “label” section of office supply stores.

2.    Next easiest:  Buy picture postcards in drug stores, museums, gift shops.  Go for pretty, interesting, patriotic, nature, traditional art --  but NOT political, subversive, lefty, raunchy or boundary-pushing in any way.   Van Gogh: Yes.  Picasso: No.   San Francisco/New York City images: No. Everywhere else: Yes. 

3.    Make your own picture postcards by printing out your 4X6 photos, and back them with 4X6 labels to make them sturdy.  I happen to have many 4x6 photos of my beautiful garden.  I have no idea why I printed out so many.  But I’m using them now.

The advantage of #2 & #3 is that you’re giving the Elector a little gift, putting out some beauty into the world.

THESE ARE THE IDEAS FROM THE FIRST “P4D” PARTY.  IF YOU WANT TO MAIL 2000 PICASSO POSTCARDS, PLEASE DO IT!

PLEASE TELL ME HOW MANY YOU MAILED TO WHICH STATES. We are keeping a log of how many postcards have been sent to which states.

With love and gratitude, 

Terry Baum

terry@terrybaum.com

THIS IS ONE MY FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR OF SF:  ELLEN TRYING TO MAKE PHONE CALLS FOR THE CAMPAIGN WHILE MY PUP LIZZIE TRIES TO KISS HER.

AND NOW, WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR….

ELECTOR ADDRESSES ARE LISTED HERE http://bit.ly/2gi7zAb

"POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY" Party Instructions

POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: It’s a party, it’s a movement, it’s…. SOMETHING TO DO!

WHAT IS A “POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY” PARTY?

It’s a group of very concerned (as in “freaked out”) citizens who come together to write and send hand-written messages on postcards to members of the Electoral College in Five Red states where the vote was closest. (Scroll down for Elector addresses.) We write to urge the Electors to switch their vote to... THE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE!  What a concept!  It’s called DEMOCRACY! If enough Electors switch, we will have a democratically elected President!

THE SEVEN BENEFITS OF A POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY PARTY

1.    We might change history.  Admittedly it’s a long shot.  I won’t go into HOW long a shot it is.

2.    We’re planting seeds for a campaign to rid the U.S. of the tragic effect of the Electoral College by 2020. (Go to nationalpopularvote.com for the best idea).

3.    We’re building a culture of civility.

4.    We’re alleviating our depression and despair through activism.

5.    We’re gathering with like-minded souls to create COMMUNITY!

6.    We’re spreading beauty in the world through picture postcards.

7.    We’re supporting the U.S. Post Office, which could really use a helping hand.

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE, FOLKS?!?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

1. Postcard stamps ("forever" or 34 cents)

2. Five or ten postcards for each guest

3. The address list below

I WILL REIMBURSE ANYONE FOR POSTCARDS AND STAMPS.  HONEST.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

Your message should be personal to YOU.  Of course, discuss it with others, have people suggest, critique.  But we are going for NOT standardized here. 

This is NOT about the candidates but about DEMOCRACY!

DON’T criticize Trump or even use the candidates’ names.

I refer to Clinton only as:  The winner of the national popular vote.

“In a democracy, the winner of the national popular vote should be President.”

“One person, one vote.”

“You have the power to strengthen our democracy.”

“Our democracy is in danger if the winner of the NPV does not become President.”

BE CIVIL.  “You idiot, do the right thing or I’ll fire-bomb your house!” tends to be counter-productive. We’re appealing directly to the goodness and fairness of another human being.  We are asking to be heard.

My best message so far:  "Dear Elector (name here):  Please consider casting your vote for the candidate who won the national popular vote by more the one million!

         It is terrible that, in the U.S.A., every person’s vote is not equal.  How can we call ourselves a democracy?  You have the power to help correct this injustice.  Please use your vote to make democracy stronger.” (It was a big postcard.)

Definitely sign your name.  I also put my address. 

Please, no address labels!  Hand-write entire postcard!

WHAT KIND OF POSTCARDS?

(The Post Office no longer sells postcards.)

1.    Easiest:  Buy packets of Avery (or other) postcards – 4 on each 8 ½ X 11 sheet.  200 in every packet.  Put address on one side, message on other.  They’re in the “label” section of office supply stores.

2.    Next easiest:  Buy picture postcards in drug stores, museums, gift shops.  Go for pretty, interesting, patriotic, nature, traditional art --  but NOT political, subversive, lefty, raunchy or boundary-pushing in any way.   Van Gogh: Yes.  Picasso: No.   San Francisco/New York City images: No. Everywhere else: Yes. 

3.    Make your own picture postcards by printing out your 4X6 photos, and back them with 4X6 labels to make them sturdy.  I happen to have many 4x6 photos of my beautiful garden.  I have no idea why I printed out so many.  But I’m using them now.

The advantage of #2 & #3 is that you’re giving the Elector a little gift, putting out some beauty into the world.

THESE ARE THE IDEAS FROM THE FIRST “P4D” PARTY.  IF YOU WANT TO MAIL 2000 PICASSO POSTCARDS, THEN DO IT!

PLEASE TELL ME HOW MANY YOU MAILED TO WHICH STATES.

Email me your address and I’ll send you a check to reimburse you.

Terry Baum

terry@terrybaum.com

AND NOW, WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR…. (I will send Pennsylvania separately in an email.)

ELECTOR ADDRESSES

FLORIDA ELECTORS

•  Tony Ledbetter

•     3266 Chad Bourne Dr Grn Cv Spgs Fl 32043^]

•  Pam Bondi

•       4420 Argyle Ln Tallahassee, FL 23209

•  Sharon Day

•       3100 N Ocean Blvd Apt 2808 Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308-7196

•  Ade Aderibigbe

•       373 SW Mill St Mayo, FL 32066

•  Larry Ahern

     3124 NW 109Th Ave Sunrise Fl 33351-6805

•  Brian Ballard

     7445 Heartland Cir Tallahassee Fl 32312

•  Kristy Banks

•       120 15Th St Apalachicola, FL 32329-0187

•  Michael Barnett

•       PO Box 811471 Boca Raton, FL  33481

•  LizBeth Benacquisto

•       Ste 201 2125 First St., Fort Myers, FL  33901

•  Robin Bernstein

     235 Sanford Ave Palm Beach Fl 33480

•  John Browning

     119 Browning Ln East Palatka Fl 32131

•  Dena DeCamp

•       395 Osprey Landing Way Lakeland, FL 33813

•  Nick DiCeglie

     374 12Th Ave Indian Rocks Beach Fl 33785

•  Jeremy Evans

     1175 Wensel Dr Cantonment Fl 32533

•  John Falconetti

     5035 Long Bow Rd Jacksonville Fl 32210

•  Peter Feaman

•       4299 Fox Trce Boynton Beach, FL 33436

•  Kat Gates-Skipper

•       3713 Skipper Trl Lake Wales, FL 33898

•  Joe Gruters

•       6620 Horned Owl Pl Sarasota, FL 34241

•  Debbie Hannifan

•       848 Orange Park Ave Lakeland Fl 33801

•  Blaise Ingoglia

     12494 Feather St Spring Hill Fl 34609

•  Mike Moberley

•       11573 W Rosa Ct Homosassa, FL 34448

•  Susan Moore

•       1004 E. Maxwell St., Pensacola, FL 32503

•  Joe Negron

•       11057 Sw Redwing Dr Stuart, FL 34997

•  Clint Pate

•       3618 Earlston Rd Graceville Fl 32440

•  Ray Rodrigues

•       11401 Worcester Run Estero Fl

•  Carlos Trujillo

•       12860 Nw 7Th St Miami Fl 33182

•  Robert Watkins

     1903 Bayshore Blvd Tampa Fl 33606

•  Susie Wiles

•      2110 Oak Hammock Dr Ponte Vedra Beach,FL 32082-3725

•  Christian Ziegler

     85 Mimosa Dr Sarasota Fl 34232

•    

MICHIGAN ELECTORS

•  John Haggard

•  PO Box 35, Charlevoix, MI  49720   

•  Jack Holmes

•  4128 Byron Rd Hudsonville, MI 49426

•  Kelly Mitchell

•  2687 Woodmeadow Dr Se Grand Rapids, MI 

•  49546

•  Judy Rapanos

1012 W Sugnet Rd Midland Mi 48640

•  Henry Hatter

1238 E Farrand Rd Clio Mi 48420

•  Robert Weitt

•  409 Mechanic St Sturgis, MI 49091

•  Wyckham Seelig

2708 Aspen Ct Ann Arbor Mi 48108

•  Ross Ensign

•  2415 Canoe Circle Dr Lake Orion, MI 48360

•  Michael Banerian

2950 Woodcreek Way Bloomfield Hills Mi 48304

•  Brian Fairbrother

•  3237 Nickelby Dr Shelby Township, MI 48316

•  Ken Crider

16381 Fairway St Livonia Mi 48154

•  Mary Vaughn

•  Could not find

•  Jim Rhoades

16044 144Th Ave Spring Lake Mi 49456

•  William Rauwerdink

•  5382 Pembrooke Crossing Ct West Bloomfield, MI 483232

•  Hank Fuhs

•  3848 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525

•  Joseph Guzman

4084 Hulett Rd Okemos, MI 48864

NORTH CAROLINA ELECTORS

•  Linda Harper

      210 Bayleaf Dr Goldsboro NC 27534

 Charles Staley

•       3117 Hickory Hill Dr Sanford NC 27330

•  Karen Kozel

•       700 Kempton Dr Greenville NC 27834

•  Martha Jenkins

     3615 Moonlight Dr Chapel Hill NC 27516

 Celeste Stanley

•      2941 Saint Claire Rd Winston Salem, NC 27106

•  Donald Webb

•    2209 Timberlake Ave High Point NC 272652318

•  Robert Muller

•  711 Captain Beam Blvd Hampstead NC 28443

•  Jennifer Dunbar

•     1430 Oak Pond Pl NW Concord NC 28027

•  Andrea Arterburn

•       2811 Providence View Ln Charlotte, NC 28270

•  Glenn Pinckney Sr.

•       Po Box 3602 Hickory NC 286033602

•  Mark Delk

•       20 Spring Valley Dr Arden, NC 28704

•  David Speight

•       245 Ridge Rd Lexington, NC 27295    

•  Ann Sullivan

•     103 Wildwood Dr Goldsboro NC 27530

•  Lee Green

•       120 Carlion Ct Durham NC 27713

David Smudski

     4016 Graceview Way Durham, NC 27705

WISCONSIN ELECTORS

Steve King

3508 N. Edgewood Dr.

Janesville WI, 53545

Mary Buestrin

1000 W. Calumet Rd.

River Hills WI 53217

Kim Travis

457 W. Geneva St.

Williams Bay WI 53191

Kim Babler

4575 Dennis Dr.

Madison WI 53704

Brian Westrate

E11030 Deer Rd. W.

Fall Creek WI 54742

Brad Courtney

4600 N. Wilshire Rd.

Whitefish Bay WI 53211

Kathy Kiernan

1751 Scenic Rd.

Richfield WI 53076

Dan Feyen

962 Churchill Ln.

Fond du Lac WI 54935

Jim Miller

15611 W. Lakewood Dr.

Hayward WI 54843

Bill Berglund

3870 Rileys Point Rd.

Sturgeon Bay WI 54235