Time for a
Be a Patriot
* Save Our Country
Vote with the Facts!
www.usfacetoface.org
Citizens educating citizens
in time for the 2004 election
In Loving Memory,
we humbly dedicate this work in honor of
Father Bill O'Donnell
of
(c) 2004, US Face to Face
Permission to copy, reprint, and distribute granted with credit to US Face to Face.
Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Nonvoting is a fruitless temper tantrum. Bruce Wright
Whether you think you can or think you can't you are right. Henry Ford
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt
US Face to Face Voter Project Overview
What is the Face to Face Voter Project?
Since the policies of the United States, such as pre-emptive strike, affect the entire world and every living being, we feel there is no more urgent matter than to reach out and share these facts nationwide to counter "the spin," register voters, and support them all the way to the polls.
We want to spread the truth about this administration by way of the US Face to Face Voter Project, which is based on documented facts. We feel that direct face to face contact between people will make the difference. Our methods include meeting with people one-on-one and in groups and organizations, instead of depending on the mainstream media or the internet as a main means of propagation. Evidence shows that voting happens in a social context: for example, teachers and members of religious organizations are more likely than average to vote. Therefore, we believe in the importance of the social context of voting and sharing information.
Why talk to other people? Why not just use the media or the internet?
We believe it is through the committed action of people like yourselves that we will succeed in educating each other and increasing voter participation. Many people learn about what is going on, not from school, not from the media, but from listening to committed citizens, their friends, and family.
US Face to Face Voter Project Outreach Ideas and Guide
What can I do right now as an individual?
Here are at least four main ways to share: One-to-one meetings, Boston Tea Parties, visting swing states, and contacting organizations. You may come up with other creative ways to share this material and we hope you do.
Starting with people you know well in your immediate circle, using the One-on-One meeting process below or what you are comfortable with, talk to your inner circle of family and friends and work your way out to people who may require more attention and then to further and further reaches of your social circle. As a target, set a goal to talk with 10, 20, 40, or 80 people in the coming weeks and encourage others to continue the process. It's alright to talk to people who already are on the same page politically. What you may want to do is get a Boston Tea Party going for a number of people at once and encourage them to continue sharing the data with their friends and contacts locally and nationwide.
What is recommended in a One-to-one meeting or in-depth phone call?
Invitation: Tell them you are concerned about what is going on, that you want to talk with them. Set up a meeting time to get together, either on the phone later or in person.
Inspiration: Explain that you are interested in citizens knowing as much as possible before November, that you love your country, and you want to make a difference.
Listen to their vision and concerns: this is an opportunity for you to share with each other.
Questions: Use our documented fact-based questions. Let them know you don't expect them to know the answers to these questions, but you want to ask anyway to see if they are getting the truth from their media source.
Registration: If they're not registered to vote, assist them in getting registered.
Teamwork: Invite them to join the US Face to Face Voter Project as a patriot. It's okay of course if they don't join; you never know how they may help in their own way.
Crucial callbacks before election in November: Let them know you will be calling them back before the elections to remind them to vote. Keep a list of your callbacks for this purpose.
What about the questions and topic areas?
We have factual and open ended questions for people to discuss. The questions are grouped by topic: Jobs, the Economy, Health Care, Civil Liberties, War & International Affairs, the Environment, Education, and Poverty. There's an enormous amount of information that could be included, and of necessity we had to select only a relatively few items. We regret having to omit many important facts we wanted people to know about. The main points were selected based on our interviews with people knowledgeable in the various topic areas.
What about how people feel when they hear this information if they have not seen on their media?
Listen to them, and empathize with what they are feeling. Explain to them how maybe they are not getting all the news that is really out there and how news is portrayed differently abroad and by each source.
How are Boston Tea Parties useful?
Boston Tea Parties are great because you reach more people at once. Invite all your friends and family and their guests to a party. Usually, you'll want to select people of similar familiarity with the news for these events. The latest versions of the Face to Face Voter Project documents are available on our website at http://www.usfacetoface.org for this use. Cover the materials, the attitude, sample questions. Invite them to join our team and continue the process, including getting voters to the polls.
What's the attitude in this project?
Listen first as much as possible to the concerns of citizens. We are not intending this process to be one of convincing, but one of providing an opportunity for citizens to speak and be heard for their concerns and vision and offer them data in the form of questions. This is actually fun to do. We have no enemies and need not argue, but listen and discuss. Okay, yes, we sometimes end up feeling like arguing. Eat before you meet people, don't be in a hurry. Be caring. Remember, dispelling mis-truths is holy work. Hate does not remove hate, but love alone can do this.
What materials will help me?
Downloadable versions of these guidelines and other materials (including the Q&A sheets, both in complete form, shorter form, and topic-by-topic) are available at http://www.usfacetoface.org/viewfacts.html. The most important resource is the commitment of citizens like your.
What about talking to my coworkers?
We recommend that you are careful and not propagate this at work unless you are absolutely sure there will be no issue. Certainly, we don't recommend sharing it during working time.
How many people did you say you wanted me to talk to?
If you knew you could affect the outcome of this election if you talked 60 people, would you do it? Would you talk to 60 or more? How urgently do you feel the need to do something about this administration?
What's this about calling people back in November to get them to the polls?
Yes, this is crucial. Call each and every person you spoke with - even if they didn't join the project - and remind them to vote. The closer to election time you do this the better. Offer help or find help, such as a ride or even the location of the polls.
What else can I do to support the people with whom I've talked?
Create weekly or monthly voter team meetings for supporting each other.
What about cost?
Our dedication is to our country and all of our efforts and all of the materials are free with the request that they mention the name of the project orally or in reprints. There's just your cost of printing them.
Are
there other ways I can help the
We want people to visit swing states if they can afford the time and share facts and register voters.
We want people to contact their friends and family in other states, especially swing states who will be the Paul Reveres and will get the word out sharing the facts.
We want people to contact their friends and family in other states, especially swing states and talk about their vote.
Find other organizations which would like to educate voters and want to use our materials.
We wont refuse donations, but we prefer you spend your money on visiting swing states and printing materials and calling friends and contacts.
May the merits of this project protect all beings.
People who don't vote have no line of credit with people who are elected and thus pose no threat to those who act against our interests. Marian Wright Edelman
The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses. Malcolm X
Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. George Washington
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes revolutionary. George Orwell
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter. Martin
Luther King, Jr.