Why the need to put large political signs in one's yard?

Status
Not open for further replies.
My neighborhood is a short street with about a dozen houses, mostly senior people who have lived here for 20-30 years. Other than one day when one of the women told me off because, according to her, my cat ate her tomato plants (?) we all get along just fine.

Until. Just before the last election one man put a political banner over his garage door that was as big as the door! It sort of gave me the creeps it was so aggressive. Up till then I couldn't have told you anyone's political stance and I liked it that way.
 
dilettante said:
I think it's done as subliminal advertising. If a name gets shoved in your face often enough it'll look familiar on the ballot. For some people the issues don't actually matter, it's a popularity contest based on irrelevancies.
Click to expand...
Perhaps that works on the weak minded, but not sure that's someone who should be voting if that's all it takes.
 
For Australian elections corflute signs start appearing which feature the name of a local candidate and the party that they represent. On a couple of occasions I have felt motivated to volunteer my front yard for such a sign.

The first time was for a state election and the local member was clearly unfit for office and I wanted him gone. His opponent was much better suited for the job. The day before the election a number of corflutes were defaced with the suggestion that the challenger was a pedophile lover. The one outside my house was one of them.

It was a very strategic move. The signs were only defaced in an area where the incumbent needed extra votes, and he got them. That made me angry and disgusted.

His chief of staff was seen doing the damage after dark but the case against him did not stand up in court. Eventually the politician was forced to resign over corruption charges.

I'm not a member of any political party but, should I feel strongly about the outcome of any future election, I would certainly offer my front yard for a political corflute sign.
 
Years back, when I was working for a congressional candidate, we would get endless calls from constituents for yard signs. Candidate stated there was no money in the budget for it, and that “Yard signs don’t vote.” he was an experienced staffer, but this was his first campaign as a candidate. Let’s just say he caved on the signs after a couple weeks. Budget found! It was a close election, but did win.
 
ChiroDoc said:
I think people are simply proud of their candidate, and they want to be affiliated with that candidate.
Click to expand...
Yes, I think it's something like that. It's done just a little in my valley, although much more in the US I believe. And also, maybe more in some Canadian cities & suburbs. Can't think of any of my friends who do it.

Where I live, when people do that, I think they're signaling something about their general outlook... signaling to others and, through that, enabling identification of likeminded residents.
 
JBR said:
Where I live, when people do that, I think they're signaling something about their general outlook... signaling to others and, through that, enabling identification of likeminded residents.
Click to expand...
That fits with some of what I've seen.

Outside the cities people along 2-lane highways often have such signs up. These can be political or patriotic... or even signs in support of the police, firemen, and at one point Canadian truckers.

I suspect that few who would oppose such messages ever travel through there. They probably aren't really conscious that there is an entire country out there beyond their cocoons.
 
We have signs here. People use them to show solidarity for one candidate. Most have one sign in the yard. Some have six or more. A few have large banners flapping in the wind, and there's a huge red billboard along the main highway telling everyone passing through to vote for a certain political party.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top