Generic image ideas for postcards I plan to send to elected officials

January 26, 2017 10:07 AM

I want to print up a BIG batch of blank postcards to fill out and send to elected officials over the next year (and beyond, of course). Any ideas for a cover image/text that would apply in all sorts of scenarios?

This would be very similar to the ones being offered post Women's March. Trouble is, I don't want to use one like that since I'd like it to stand out more as an individual constituent, and I'd want it to apply to a variety of all of the issues that I'll be concerned about under the Trump presidency (read: all of them). I'd also want it to be relevant to members of Congress mainly, but other elected officials as well.

A general theme would be something like, "Hear my voice," or "you represent me so listen to what I have to say," or something like that -- but obviously open to all ideas!

(Note: This would really only be the cover image, since I plan to write a message from scratch, so no need to have the pre-filled blanks like, "I care about ___" on the address side.)

I'd be able to design this myself, but bonus points if a design exists on the internet already that would work.

I want to keep these in a big pile on my desk at both home and office, so when something comes up I can just fire one off rapidly. (I'll also be making phone calls for more quick-response things, since I know that DC especially has a backlog with mail, but I'll be sending these to local offices, too.)

Thanks, everyone!

posted by knownassociate to Law & Government (12 answers total)

Text from the constitution - especially the Bill of Rights, a graphic of the Statue of Liberty or the flag could all work well for this.
New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
posted by leslies at 10:21 AM on January 26, 2017

How about something that indicates where you're writing from? Anything long isn't going to be read, but a state outline or symbol can be glanced at and understood.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:23 AM on January 26, 2017

I like this idea. I don't think you could go wrong with an archival photo from the Library of Congress. Here's a cursory search for "rights" which will give you an idea of options for you. Some of it may depend on whether you have a specific direction you want to go (Women's Rights. Civil Rights, GLBT rights). I kinda love this one but that's more catered to the president. This one of Rosa Parks. Or maybe something about the war machine? Finding pictures online is nice (if they're rights cleared) because a lot of them are already 4x6 and you don't have to do much to get them postcard-printed ready.
posted by jessamyn at 10:23 AM on January 26, 2017

I think it would be good to use a fairly straight up patriotic image and/or message. I think showing that you want to work within the existing framework to make your voice heard positions you as in the mainstream, which is flattering to the representative and allows them to amplify your voice more easily.
posted by vunder at 10:30 AM on January 26, 2017

I like the idea of something indicating where you are from -- an iconic image from your town, or even a picture of you standing outside your house or at a local landmark. Something that says "I AM LOCAL SO LISTEN UP."
posted by OrangeDisk at 10:51 AM on January 26, 2017

How about a picture of your computer, telephone or pen with a Woody Guthrie-style "THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS" sticker on it?

If you want to go a bit more subtle and a whole lot more threatening: a nice portrait of Lyudmyla Pavlichenko.
posted by sourcequench at 2:32 PM on January 26, 2017

A picture of your face? So they are confronted with: Right, this is a real person.
posted by Clotilde at 2:56 PM on January 26, 2017

A large image of your state, kind of faint/halftone/whatever the word is, and an old-timey megaphone superimposed over it.
posted by ersatzkat at 3:00 PM on January 26, 2017

I've been thinking of doing something similar, with a picture of my kids/family.
posted by instamatic at 6:02 PM on January 26, 2017

A pair of baby hands holding a pocket Constitution open to something in the Constitution that has been "eliminated" by Exec Order being blacked out. The caption: "How much more of the Constitution will you allow him to redact?"
posted by MultiFaceted at 6:19 PM on January 28, 2017

Pictures of tweets from officials where they stated they are against the very things that are happening this week. That will give you a big selection of postcards to send out.

(It appears we are mighty pissed tonight in the Multifaceted household).
posted by MultiFaceted at 6:20 PM on January 28, 2017

Thanks, everyone! I'm reconsidering how effective this will be after reading some of the answers in this post, but I really appreciate all the amazing ideas!
posted by knownassociate at 9:32 AM on February 2, 2017