So I got something in the mail today that I’m a bit concerned/irked about. It came in a large envelope labeled "DO NOT DESTROY. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT’ and in the window of the envelope I could see “Special Notice: You have been selected to represent Voters in Stumptown, Oregon.” And I’m thinking, wth, the census isn’t till 2020 right? So I open up and there’s a letter with big letters on the top “2018 Congressional District Census”. And it goes on to say blah blah Republicans, Trump, “I have authorized our 2018 Census of every Congressional District in the country to begin immediately.” Now…the moment I saw mentions of Republicans I immediately got suspicious cause…the census isn’t supposed to be politically motivated. And seriously, this letter lays it on thick. On and on about Trump’s agenda and MAGA and all this really intense political rhetoric. I even mentioned it to my mother who was with me at the time how I wasn’t going to fill it out because it was clearly Republican biased. But she insisted it looked official and I needed to fill it out.
And really, it DOES look official. You can see it here. But the questions…they’re just…This is CLEARLY just a survey by the party. They even ask for money THREE times over the course of a 2 page letter and again on the ‘census’. And normally, whatever. They’re free to do that. But this entire thing is presented in a way that a person might think it’s an actual Census form. And that’s what annoys me. Isn’t there some sort of regulation or law that disallows parties/politicians from misleading people? I dunno, it just really rubs me the wrong way.
Yes, the mail is misleading. But so is all the other junk mail you get this time of year with 2017 in IRS-appearing font with the first 2 digits white and the second two black. So is the junk mail you get that says you may have won a car. Use of the word “census” as the real census nears is particularly repulsive, but one expects no less from this crime spree masquerading as an administration.
Nitpick: that’s just the regular 2010 Census form. The last Census with a ‘Long Form’ was the 2000 Census. It’s been replaced by the American Community Survey.
I suppose somebody might have a go at suing them for “passing off”/misrepresentation/trademark infringement: but who would have the legal standing to initiate proceedings other than a branch of government?
On the other hand, some sort of “name and shame” campaign in the media might have more impact. Certainly, over here, if any party tried to pull a similar stunt, it would blow up in their faces pretty quickly.
I don’t disagree with you–slimy and malicious attempts to deceive are certainly protected speech and I have this argument with myself every time I go to the mailbox or get a robo-call from the IRS saying I need to pay up now or the local cops will come and haul me away (yes, they’re actually using the word “Cops” now). But it’s an abuse of that right. Just as rabid, fingers in the ears “la-la-la I can’t hear you” firearms protection is an abuse of the 2nd amendment rights. (call me out in a different thread if you must, let’s not derail this one for yet another 2nd amendment thing). Both are important to who and what the USA is, but pushing the boundaries like this is an excellent way to generate popular support for curtailing them. #1 and #2 aren’t etched in stone, they’re written on paper.
OP: If you dare, copy that thing, post it on social media explaining what it is–to shame and protect. Call your local news and see if they will run a public service announcement on it. Hell, make big posters of it along with an explanation and put them all over town. It ain’t libel if it’s true.
You should be irked. It demonstrates that Republicans rely on confusion to get voters to do what the Republicans want even if that’s not in voters’ best interests. The answer is to not trust or support Republicans. Keep that in mind at the next election. The best response is to actively support, with votes, money and words, the people who fight Republicans.
My personal favorites are the ones instructing the postmaster general to deliver it or face federal penalties and what not. Cause, you know, that lazy old fart is always forgetting to deliver mail.
Yeah I know who commissioned it. Like was mentioned, it’s on the paper. But what annoys me is, like was also mentioned, they’re relying on the confusion to get what they want. They’re doing everything they can to make people think this IS part of the census and they have to fill it out. Hell, even the fact that it says ‘Republican Party’ everywhere, people might assume that’s because that’s the party in power right now. I’m not even Republican so I have no idea why they sent it to me. And while yes, I agree free speech is something important, that doesn’t give you the right to deceive people. There are definitely laws against that. I just wish there were stricter laws in play regarding things said/done by political parties.
