The vast majority of mail we receive (in our rural driveway mailbox) consists of unwanted advertisements (see:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/11/09/grim-comedy-from-mr-money-mustaches-junkmail/). We get ads for cell phone service, internet, paid TV, low-price but crappy furniture, inground swimming pools, toys, clothes, etc. Some of it is our own fault - for instance, we bought a mail-order cast iron waffle maker and now the seller stuffs our mailbox with a new catalog every month or two. We cashed in some points for two free magazine subscriptions, but now realize that the magazines are about 95% advertisements -- and worse, advertisements for things I really don't want to have advertised to my children (e.g., make-up, fashion). We already severely limit TV viewing, and only permit it when it is a scheduled program, as in, something specific that we know we want to see at a certain time, as opposed to just turning it on to see if anything good is on TV.
Some of the mail is the result of our names and addresses being sold - f'instance, days after applying for car insurance through 21st Century (we didn't buy it), we started getting new junk mail from companies we'd never heard of. Shortly after getting a health insurance quote, strange paper ads started appearing in our mailbox once a week directing my 7-year-old son to buy diamond ring(s) for his wife (the ads list his name, and my wife's name, on the concept art for engraved rings --
"Mini AgentCooper, now is the time to buy Mrs. AgentCooper the diamond ring that shows you'll love her forever!").Anyway, to reduce the amount of consumerist messages being dumped at our doorstep daily, I'm thinking: why can't I just take down my mailbox? Then what? Anybody disconnected themselves from the US Mail? Anybody got a great reason why I shouldn't?