This memorable quote from a German friend of mine, who is currently vacationing in the US:
"To my surprise many people let their neighbours know how they intend to vote in the upcoming elections by putting up little signs in their gardens. Well..."
It got me thinking: Why, actually, do we put up these signs in the US?
This is definitely one of those areas where a cultural difference is very evident. I have yet to see anyone in Germany advertising his or her political affiliation, except at occasional informational drives in public places where it's tacitly understood that an interested person will approach the political party volunteers, not the other way around. Election posters are also limited to billboards and placards in public places. It's not that my German friends are averse to discussing politics, or even necessarily averse to telling who they plan to vote for. My take on it, though, that it is generally considered to be a personal issue, and I my guess is that most Germans would think it in poor taste to flaunt one's viewpoint on this stuff to absolute strangers (on a not completely unrelated note, it strikes me that bumper stickers are all but nonexistent here, presumably for similar reasons.)
Why do Americans do it? Some thoughts:
1) It could be because a person actually believes a little sign will influence neighbors, friends, strangers or undecided voters to vote for his or her favored candidate. Frankly, I have my doubts about this.
2) It could primarily serve as a method of signaling to like-minded people, so that the person putting out the sign can feel like the member of a nice little club (reminds me of a memorable quote by, I believe, James Carville, on why people watch political talk shows: "For the same reason a drunk leans on a lightpole--for support, not enlightenment")
3) Moving to more sinister reasons . . . either unconsciously or consciously, to intimidate people who intend to vote for the other candidate, especially in areas where there is a very clear majority on which candidate is preferred.
My guess is that it is probably a combination of 2) and 3) that is the driving force for most personal political advertising. Any thoughts?
4 comments:
Part of me wants to put a sticker on my car just to see what happens to AgBlt out here. :-)
Aside from that, I dunno either. What's more frustrating I think is when everyone assumes you think a certain way, and when you finally have the guts to tell them otherwise they are just shocked and can't believe it (happens here all the time).
Speaking of "thinking a certain way," did you see where the largest newspaper in Alaska endorsed Obama?
The Anchorage paper said the U.S. could not have Pallin that close to the presidency as she is neither prepared or capable to handle that office.
Interesting coming from her home State!
I think it is a "rooting for your team" factor. Sort of like having Vikings bumper stickers on your car, or painting your garage door in Packers colors. Maybe seeing a sign in someone's yard sets off those competitive, "that's not MY team" or "hey, that's MY guy, too" feelings that prompt others to put up their own signs. I'm not really sure...
Here in Mason City, we put signs in our yards so someone can steal them. The crime rate in our city is otherwise quite low. Maybe that's why, so many signs to steal. Cousin Iowa
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