Random Thoughts on Signs
Mitch Harper left a comment on the Consipracy Theory Busted Post. It was too long to leave as a comment and too informational to not publish. So as a compromise Mitch is doing an unscheduled guest post here.
Random thoughts on signs -"Pssst...hey, I saw some people I think must be from the (insert name of candidate you oppose) campaign pulling up and trashing the signs of (insert name of candidate you are supporting) and (random name of a candidate for some other office so as to be not so obvious you are spreading a rumor to damage the candidate you oppose)."
Some variant of this theme is heard every campaign year. All candidates are mentioned by the time it is done.
Its corresponding comment is "Psst...I saw the signs of (insert name of candidate you despise) and (insert name of candidate you know your listener despises) being put out together at the same time . "
Yard signs have always been a part of modern campaigns. However, I would tag the modern historical mass use of yard signs along roadways (as well as in yards) from the first Quayle for Congress campaign in 1976.
It was extraordinarily effective when one candidate did it. Other candidates began to model the use of mass signs starting in 1978. It seems to increase every year.
While the general public has little tolerance of the "spectacle" of 20 signs massed at an intersection - it has struck me as somewhat odd that primary voters and various pundits within the media and within the parties use the signs as a measurement of the health of the candidates' campaigns.
Prior to 1976, candidate signs were in use but not to the extent one sees today. Those were also the waning days of posters being affixed by staples to wooden telephone and light poles, obviously not something admired by utility linemen. (I use "linemen" in the historical context of the times -"lineperson" is somewhat awkward.)
Use of wooden utility poles was widespread in the decades preceding the '70's. The few candidates who affixed signs to wooden utility poles after 1976 were generally marginal candidates. Indeed, the code of sign use is so strong that candidates whose posters appear on light poles are automatically adjudged to be marginal by political observers.
Wooden utility pole use is now relegated to persons posting signs for amazing weight loss or garage sales.
Speaking of marginalia - I will leave to others to discuss the use of wire frames vs. wooden stakes.
I will note, however, that for those candidates using wire stakes to post signs - please instruct your volunteers removing signs after primary election day to remove both the sign and the wire frame. Folks whose task it is to mow the right-of-way want to avoid having the wire become either a dangerous missile or something that will damage lawnmowing equipment.
Mitch Harper -FWOB
Random thoughts on signs -"Pssst...hey, I saw some people I think must be from the (insert name of candidate you oppose) campaign pulling up and trashing the signs of (insert name of candidate you are supporting) and (random name of a candidate for some other office so as to be not so obvious you are spreading a rumor to damage the candidate you oppose)."
Some variant of this theme is heard every campaign year. All candidates are mentioned by the time it is done.
Its corresponding comment is "Psst...I saw the signs of (insert name of candidate you despise) and (insert name of candidate you know your listener despises) being put out together at the same time . "
Yard signs have always been a part of modern campaigns. However, I would tag the modern historical mass use of yard signs along roadways (as well as in yards) from the first Quayle for Congress campaign in 1976.
It was extraordinarily effective when one candidate did it. Other candidates began to model the use of mass signs starting in 1978. It seems to increase every year.
While the general public has little tolerance of the "spectacle" of 20 signs massed at an intersection - it has struck me as somewhat odd that primary voters and various pundits within the media and within the parties use the signs as a measurement of the health of the candidates' campaigns.
Prior to 1976, candidate signs were in use but not to the extent one sees today. Those were also the waning days of posters being affixed by staples to wooden telephone and light poles, obviously not something admired by utility linemen. (I use "linemen" in the historical context of the times -"lineperson" is somewhat awkward.)
Use of wooden utility poles was widespread in the decades preceding the '70's. The few candidates who affixed signs to wooden utility poles after 1976 were generally marginal candidates. Indeed, the code of sign use is so strong that candidates whose posters appear on light poles are automatically adjudged to be marginal by political observers.
Wooden utility pole use is now relegated to persons posting signs for amazing weight loss or garage sales.
Speaking of marginalia - I will leave to others to discuss the use of wire frames vs. wooden stakes.
I will note, however, that for those candidates using wire stakes to post signs - please instruct your volunteers removing signs after primary election day to remove both the sign and the wire frame. Folks whose task it is to mow the right-of-way want to avoid having the wire become either a dangerous missile or something that will damage lawnmowing equipment.
Mitch Harper -FWOB
posted by Indiana Pundit at 10:30 AM
2 Comments:
Mitch, you forgot the third use of utility pole signs: $$WORK$$ FROM HOME.
I know this isn't a political sign issue, but the type of right-of-way signs that really bug me are the year-round commercial signs that have cropped up all over. Political signs 6 times every 4 years is something I can handle. But the lately ubiquitous signs for businesses, churches, or THE SIGNS THEMSELVES are just more than I can take.
Those really ARE irritating, as no one ever seems to take them down. At least with politics, an effort is made to remove them after a set period of time.
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