Soap & Numbers Poster Campaign
This can be a one, two or mutli-week campaign designed to raise awareness on campus. You can adjust the length or use parts of the campaign effectively as well. The steps in this campaign can be done separately or together and may vary in length of time. Be creative!
1) The first part of the campaign lasts two weeks. Each week (or every few days), you plaster the campus with numbers (with the DM logo on it). Don’t reveal what the number means or represents . The idea is to create a “buzz” around campus about these seemingly random numbers. Put them on tables in dining halls, in mailboxes, on chairs in classrooms, on posters etc. Along with the number, put the Democracy Matters logo on all the flyers, table tents etc you use.
The first number should be outrageous , like $4,300,000,000 (the total spent in the 2020 Presidential elections campaign) or look up how much the average Senate or House race costs in the most recent election at www.opensecrets.org. Any huge number will work!
The next number could be a percentage (like the % of times the person with the most money wins, or the % increase since 2000 in the average money spent in s Senate (or other) campaign.
Finally put up $9 up (the amount per taxpayer it would cost to fund nation-wide public financined Congressional elections. NOTE: These numbers will change each election cycle so check the latest figures at www.opensecrets.org) or talk with your Staff Link.
The format of the numbers should always be eye-catching and always have the same look, including the Democracy Matters logo.
2) The second part of the campaign consists of several days of tabling at the student union (or other location where students congregate). At the table, two things should happen:
Make a big poster with all the numbers to put in front of or on the table. Then as people come by, give everyone a flyer that explains what the numbers stand for and invites them to a Democracy Matters teach-in or event to talk about this. Add a bit about what your school’s chapter of DM does and of course your contact information. Make the flyer colorful and catchy!
Also have a petition on the table they can sign that is attached to a large bar of soap with the slogan “College students want Congress to clean up politics – support campaign finance reform.” (Alternatively you can buy large, cheap bars of soap, wrap them in paper, and actually have people sign the paper. You should be able to get 30-60 signatures per bar of soap.
3) The third part of the campaign consists of a lecture/event. This should be an educational session where Democracy Matters students (and faculty if possible) should present information on money and politics. You should talk about both the issue and about your group. You might consider showing a short video about money in politics. The goal of the meeting is to raise awareness on campus, and recruit more students to DM!
4) The final part of the campaign is to bring or send the signed petitions to the your state capitol. Alternatively, you can go to or send them to Washington. This step is easy. You want to identify key politicians (we can help you) and get the soap to their staff members. You should include a one page letter that explains Democracy Matters, your group, how the soaps got signed, and what you would like the elected official to do about cleaning up politics – supporting public financing legislation at the state or federal level. Democracy Matters staff can help you identify specific pieces of legislation.