Does handing out pocket Constitutions really help?

[Matt Collins]

YouTube - Post Show Show 08 23 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBrpON5Jyfg&feature=uploademail)

[speciallyblend]

Yes, one of the reason we won in our local county. We got folks to think handing out the us constitution;)

[oyarde]

Anytime you could get someone to read it in any form is helpful.

[jmdrake]

Anytime you could get someone to read it in any form is helpful.

That assumes they actually read it.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128517427&ps=cprs

Tea Party: It's Not Just Taxes, It's The Constitution

Karen Cole says she carries a copy in her purse. "The Democrats are eviscerating our Constitution," she says. Her friend Betty Anne Olsen agrees. "This current administration is trashing our Constitution; they couldn't care less about the values. They're breaking the laws."

And how does she know that?

"I do not study the Constitution, no, but I'm well aware of my history," Olsen says. "I'm well aware of how this country was founded, and I'm well aware of what has happened to it in current years."

Note: I just noticed that the lady carrying the constitution was not the one who said she hadn't studied it.

[libertybrewcity]

Anytime you could get someone to read it in any form is helpful.

That is if they take the time to actually open it up.

I am sure handing out constitutions is helpful in some places. It may show likely voters that your candidate is in fact going to vote with the constitution. However, there might be better ways of doing this.

I don't know how much mini constitutions run but I have heard they are about 1 dollar apiece. So, if you have 20k households in your district you would be spending about 20k dollars. That 20k might be better spent on media buys that could reach more people potentially.

[oyarde]

I have read parts of it to my children.When they have friends over and they ask questions , I will read some to them too. My youngest son is 17, if someone gave him one today , he would read it cover to cover. Probably because he has some interest , but mostly because he has had some exposure before.

[jmdrake]

Side note. I passed out these coloring books on the First Amendment when manning a table for Ron Paul during the 2008 campaign.

http://www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com/coloring_books.php

It's really good and it goes over the 5 freedoms protected by the first amendment. At least the kiddies will likely read it.

[WaltM]

That is if they take the time to actually open it up.

I am sure handing out constitutions is helpful in some places. It may show likely voters that your candidate is in fact going to vote with the constitution. However, there might be better ways of doing this.

I don't know how much mini constitutions run but I have heard they are about 1 dollar apiece. So, if you have 20k households in your district you would be spending about 20k dollars. That 20k might be better spent on media buys that could reach more people potentially.

the cheapest I've seen were 30 cents.

If you have 20K as your target, spending .50-1.00 is expected when all is said and done.

Or, you can mail them a nice colorful flyer.
If you see young people, sometimes DVDs get them better (of course, production costs of the video are much more, the duplication itself is still around 30-50 cents a peice)

[Anti Federalist]

That is if they take the time to actually open it up.

I am sure handing out constitutions is helpful in some places. It may show likely voters that your candidate is in fact going to vote with the constitution. However, there might be better ways of doing this.

I don't know how much mini constitutions run but I have heard they are about 1 dollar apiece. So, if you have 20k households in your district you would be spending about 20k dollars. That 20k might be better spent on media buys that could reach more people potentially.

Can't see how it could possibly hurt.

The cost for professionally printed ones too high?

Print the document in plain text format on your printer. In a 10 point font it's not even five pages. I've done that before, FWIW.

[WaltM]

Side note. I passed out these coloring books on the First Amendment when manning a table for Ron Paul during the 2008 campaign.

http://www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com/coloring_books.php

It's really good and it goes over the 5 freedoms protected by the first amendment. At least the kiddies will likely read it.

cool stuff!

[WaltM]

Can't see how it could possibly hurt.

The cost for professionally printed ones too high?

Print the document in plain text format on your printer. In a 10 point font it's not even five pages. I've done that before, FWIW.

the ACLU has pocket "Bill of Rights" cards too.

But that doesn't get your political message out every time :(

[libertybrewcity]

Can't see how it could possibly hurt.

The cost for professionally printed ones too high?

Print the document in plain text format on your printer. In a 10 point font it's not even five pages. I've done that before, FWIW.

Yea, you're right. If you did it yourself you could probably print it all up for about 50 bucks if you bought the ink and box of paper.

Not a bad idea.

Much better than even .30 a piece.

[WaltM]

Yea, you're right. If you did it yourself you could probably print it all up for about 50 bucks if you bought the ink and box of paper.

Not a bad idea.

Much better than even .30 a piece.

http://inkcash.webs.com

this is how I get about $50 in ink, toner and paper per month. (even printable DVD blanks)

You can get started, and just stock up on some supplies, you might never use them, but better to have some prepared when the call for battle comes :)

5 pages, costs more than 30 cents in time, if you ask me.
(we're assuming supplies are free, and the quality overall is comparable to a stapled version with a colored cover)

[RPgrassrootsactivist]

Does anyone know of a good, cost-effective pocket Constitution that has a solid originalist introduction? Because I think that without some historical background on the Constitution, most people aren't going to be reached in the way we intend. Many liberals and neocons think they support the Constitution, and yet a lot of their positions are clearly contrary to original intent.

[WaltM]

Does anyone know of a good, cost-effective pocket Constitution that has a solid originalist introduction? Because I think that without some historical background on the Constitution, most people aren't going to be reached in the way we intend. Many liberals and neocons think they support the Constitution, and yet a lot of their positions are clearly contrary to original intent.

you hit it on!

that's exactly why most companies print them, to write their own introduction.

that's why Ray Comfort printed his own version of Darwin's "Origin of Species".

The best version I've see are these:
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-pocket-constitution/

No, not cheap, just good content. Very durable for flipping and reading.

[KCIndy]

Does anyone know of a good, cost-effective pocket Constitution that has a solid originalist introduction? Because I think that without some historical background on the Constitution, most people aren't going to be reached in the way we intend. Many liberals and neocons think they support the Constitution, and yet a lot of their positions are clearly contrary to original intent.

Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) has some really nice ones. Yeah, they're a little more expensive (2 to 3 bucks per, depending on how many you order) but they're very professionally done *AND* the profits go to help YAL. I got a couple of these when I made a contribution to YAL a while back, and I was impressed with the quality of the printing as well as the fact that these had a good intro and a foreword by Ron Paul as well.

https://www.yaliberty.org/contribute/pocket_constitutions

https://www.yaliberty.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/fullsize/images/Nick_Leavens/constitution_small.jpg

[RPgrassrootsactivist]

The best version I've see are these:
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-pocket-constitution/

No, not cheap, just good content. Very durable for flipping and reading.



Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) has some really nice ones. Yeah, they're a little more expensive (2 to 3 bucks per, depending on how many you order) but they're very professionally done *AND* the profits go to help YAL. I got a couple of these when I made a contribution to YAL a while back, and I was impressed with the quality of the printing as well as the fact that these had a good intro and a foreword by Ron Paul as well.

https://www.yaliberty.org/contribute/pocket_constitutions

https://www.yaliberty.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/fullsize/images/Nick_Leavens/constitution_small.jpg

Those are both pretty expensive.

If the grassroots organized in bulk and worked with YAL to get the cost of production down so they could be sold for .50 - .75 a piece, I think that would be an excellent tool to use in canvassing precincts, especially since the YAL version has material from Ron himself in it.

It should be pretty easy for the grassroots to go through their precincts to all of the Republican households and tell people that they're handing out constitutions; that's a very neutral approach that isn't likely to lead to random debates with neocons. In the process, a lot more people would hear about Ron and associate him with the Constitution. This could especially be a great tactic in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

[Anti Federalist]

http://inkcash.webs.com

this is how I get about $50 in ink, toner and paper per month. (even printable DVD blanks)

You can get started, and just stock up on some supplies, you might never use them, but better to have some prepared when the call for battle comes :)

5 pages, costs more than 30 cents in time, if you ask me.
(we're assuming supplies are free, and the quality overall is comparable to a stapled version with a colored cover)

I've done a 1000 pages of plain text on the lowest ink setting in a continuous run with one HP27 B/W cartridge.

10 bucks for two reams of cheap paper, about 15 for the cartridge if you shop it online, comes to 2.5 cents a page.

Assuming five pages = 12.5 cents a copy plus the cost of a staple.

[TheRightsWriter.com]

I think it helps. It's like the Gideons passing out the Bible; sometimes people take it and throw it away, but occasionally someone reads it and has a transformational experience.

My only fear is the educational level of the average American has plunged so low it may be necessary to append something like Cliff Notes to the front.

[WaltM]

I've done a 1000 pages of plain text on the lowest ink setting in a continuous run with one HP27 B/W cartridge.

10 bucks for two reams of cheap paper, about 15 for the cartridge if you shop it online, comes to 2.5 cents a page.

Assuming five pages = 12.5 cents a copy plus the cost of a staple.

13 cents vs 30 cents.

Is your time not worth the 17 cents difference?

[Anti Federalist]

13 cents vs 30 cents.

Is your time not worth the 17 cents difference?

Well, if I'm sitting in front of the computer anyways...;)

[WaltM]

Well, if I'm sitting in front of the computer anyways...;)

either way, I encourage people to use this, to get free paper and office supplies.

http://inkcash.webs.com

[Libertydad88]

13 cents vs 30 cents.

Is your time not worth the 17 cents difference?

When you are unemployed as I am, and all you have is time, then no.

At the risk of being perceived as a cheap bastard, I think I'll go ahead and print up as many as I can to have in reserve for a rainy day.

Thanks for the idea :)

[WaltM]

When you are unemployed as I am, and all you have is time, then no.

At the risk of being perceived as a cheap bastard, I think I'll go ahead and print up as many as I can to have in reserve for a rainy day.

Thanks for the idea :)

then this should help you all the more.

getting paper and ink ready

http://inkcash.webs.com

I also seen this version, it's very simple, not exactly pocket, but cheaper than $2.
(probably less when in bulk, I've asked before, at 100, you can get them for $1)
http://www.bukamerica.com/images/buk9.jpg

PS, there's NOTHING WRONG with being cheap. I encourage it (as long as it's not stealing, freeloading, copyright infringment).
I also don't want people to waste time or energy just for saving money (and may end up spending more)