Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

They truly are everywhere this time of year.  Election signs litter the corners of our intersections and the front yards of our politically vocal.  It is our way to encourage others to not only vote as we will vote, but to also communicate something about our ideologies to passers-by.   I enjoy the signs.  They speak to the voter in the house just up the drive.  But they also speak more to the basis of our political process, they ask you to vote for a person, another citizen, and another voter just as yourself.  When we place the “Vote Joe” or “Re-Elect Johnson” sign out front we offer our own personal endorsement of Joe.  We probably know Joe, or at least are locally educated about Joe and his history, beliefs, and stances on the issues closest to our hearts.  These are the good signs.  These are the signs that flat out tell those that drive by, who we like.  We don’t have to hide our vote as we do when we donate to campaigns.  This is out in the open.  This is honest.

But what about the “Vote Republican” or “Vote Democratic” signs?  I don’t like these so much.  First, they aren’t personal – they are general statements without thought or debate.  It’s like placing a Buckeyes Are #1 sign in your yard.  I thing they are, you think they are, but no one else does.  There ranked 10^th.  Does the generic sign tell us anything?  They are stereotypes painted on temporary message boards.  Why should I vote Republican or Democrat?  I think they show a lack of involvement or understanding of the political gridiron.  I trust far more the fellow planting his “Joe” sign than I do the person placing a party placard on the curb.

Which Democrat do your signs represent; the one who voted for health care reform or the one who voted against it; the one who claims government pork is poorly spent money or the one who brought $600 million to the community from other people’s taxes?    Is it the party that touts you need only a a small lift to move up the social ladder or is it the party that gets you hooked to the never-ending cocaine of public assistance?  Which is it?

Which Republican Party do your signs suggest I vote for today; the one claiming the Stimulus was poor government or the one who regularly sends letters requesting some of those Stimulus funds for their district?  Do we find our ideology in those crying against socialism or with those providing subsidies for agriculture?  Maybe it’s the GOP decrying deficit spending – or more likely the party who has added more to the debt that its counterparty enemies across the aisle. 

I just can’t tell.  I’d rather see you put Joes sign up.  At least I know what you want and what you believe.  The party-line yard show, it only tells me that the lowest common denominator of knowledge is needed to convince this particular voter.  I am sorry to inform you that the stereotype doesn’t fit.  White men can jump, not everything tastes like chicken, Obama isn’t a socialist, and the GOP isn’t fiscally conservative.

I can’t stop you, though.  Heck, for the die-hard I wouldn’t even be able to convince you otherwise.  So until we decide to become more informed about who we vote for and we continue to merely walk the party line, all I can offer you are the immortal words of Bill Engvall: “Here’s your sign”.  And that is not a sign I want in my yard.