Submitted by JimBones31 t3_yikk1n in Maine
Hey folks, would it be possible for any of us (me maybe) to go to a town meeting and ban political mailers townwide or is this some kind state protected free speech or something? I'm so tired of getting trash in the mail.
I did something similar with credit card offers in the mail. It worked. Called them all individually
At the very least, get more imaginative regarding its usefulness. Print your ad on a thin kindling shingle. A microfiber cloth. A giant rolling paper. . . Otherwise, instant garbage.
Toilet paper!
Who do you think you are? Some kind of politician?
Seems like politicians love giving themselves their own set of rules (political robo calls, mailers, stock trading, etc).
I am completely behind you on this. Any chance this might affect our paper mills or local printing companies? That’s the only benefit I can see for us.
Considering most politicians would pretty quickly choose any other paper source if they could keep a dime instead of supporting local industry, probably not.
And lawn signs...don't forget the freakin' LAWN SIGNS.
Mine go into the recycling every single time.
Towns have no say over mail. That’s federal.
You going to be fighting the capitalist that print and distribute that shit and free speech laws. The not so secret part of our politics is how much money media in general makes off them, it's a racket in itself at this point that probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
So don’t attack the act of doing but the act of producing said items. Legislate rules that the materials must be made in Maine. The material must be burnable, recyclable, and reusable. Mailers must be mailed from within the state to primary residences.
If anything goes these damned things would be printed on styrofoam boards. Legislation that is sounds good or is a net benefit for the state is more likely to pass and become law.
I agree, they nothing but extra fire starter to me anyway, but if you made that play you would run afoul of the commerce clause. Your best bet would be charge them a fee to put out the signs you don't want, like a dime per shitty styrofoam sigh or something.
I really dislike the fact that you are correct in everyway.
Crazy talk man. It would be too much common sense to drop the ads and mailers and use the millions to build affordable housing, just crazy talk.
i have a friend who’s a letter carrier and just the other night he was lamenting the fact that so many folks just leave the political stuff in the mailbox. so it makes it hard for him to deliver their mail on subsequent days. just something to think about when you get them,… apparently the boys in blue would prefer you throw them out
I'll be sure to always empty them!
With all the talk about pollution in the state, all the signs and unsolicited mailers would be an easy place to start.
One candidate for either state senate or state rep (I don't recall which, I just automatically throw them out upon arrival) actually sends my house THREE flyers every couple of days - one addressed to me, one addressed to the previous owners of our house (who last lived here May 2021) and the previous owners before THEM (not positive exactly when they last lived here, but I believe it's been at least three or four years ago). What a freaking waste.
Edit, wrong year.
Crazy, you'd think the mailing lists would at least be somewhat accurate
I feel you could pass a littering ban that bans plastic political signs, wouldn't go against free speech as they would still be allowed signs but would have to resort to using compostable/burnable signs instead. The side effect is those signs would cost more so their would be less of them. Plus you can burn them for heat in the winter.
Unfortunately the USPS has no choice but to deliver them...I tried with no success
Damn
I would love to ban political signs as well. The farm stand in Orrington is an embarrassment to the state. My best friend comes home every year to that ridiculousness and wonders why the town allows it. It's not illegal.
I don't understand the reference I guess. There's a farm stand you don't like?
Route 15 in Orrington. They put up the most ridiculous political signs, along with tacky and ignorant political decorations as well. The actual farm stand isn't used and has not been open in decades (I have never seen it used as one, it sits empty). The signs and decorations are beside it.
Ohhhhhh. Eh. Doesn't bother me I guess. I thought it was something totally different lol. Thanks.
There's a house in Randolph near Gardiner that does that shit.
If the sign is within the right of way for municipal roads are they in fact public property? Does that mean I own those signs? Can I do what I want with them? Who is responsible for that sign on public property?
It is very illegal to remove political signs on public property.
Get rid of the comercials all together if all they do is attack !! I want to know what you will do or where you stand stop the hateful rhetoric !!
I want them banned too, but it feels like a very complicated process.
In the meantime though, you could reuse or recycle them.
I do. I recycle them
Yeah that and lawn signs, it’s a fuckin eye sore no matter who you support.
What and end the free pit fire kindling delivered right to my house? “Get outa here.” Lol
I legit have a milk crate below the mail slot for all these fucking flyers. Such a goddam waste
If you have a fire place or fire pit, they make good free fire starters.
I wish they would send them in black and white nonglossy print so I can use them as the firestarter they deserve to be
If only, my parents get them and it gets my Dad all fired up, kind-of annoying imo.
I tossed a dozen today alone after being gone all weekend.
Damn shame.
Free speech haters are funny. Maybe make the people sending them out pay for the cost of recycling but otherwise what's the actual problem?
I think waste is a problem
That doesn't seem to be your main issue with it
It's a waste of every resource they use. I toss them in the recycling as soon as I get them. Someone is wasting money that they could be using for actual causes on filling my transfer station and recycling bin with paper.
mailing people junk is not free speech.
I’m voting R from the top to the bottom this year….I tried it on the dark side in 2020, I get it with the Trumpster, he’s a dick and deserves to rot, but I can’t take the left seriously whatsoever. Don’t @ me
Longjumping_West_907 t1_iujcvkr wrote
Sorry to say it's all protected free speech. The only way I know to cut down on the mail you receive is to contact both political parties and ask to be taken off the mailing list. Tell them you know who you are voting for and they aren't going to change your mind. They will most likely ask who and it won't hurt to be honest. They don't want to waste money on decided voters. This won't help with unaffiliated groups that are working independently of the major parties. The other strategy is to vote absentee as early as possible. That won't affect mail but might cut down on robocalls. Although those seem to be less of an issue this year.