Campaign Signs- What to do after the Big Day

Posted: Jul 31, 2010 at 8:08 PM [Jul 31, 2010]

Its that time of year again when the campaign signs start blooming in every yard and curbside. Having just returned from a long trip overseas, I found this election season to be a bit more abrupt than most and perhaps being thrust onto the full brunt of it made me notice some things that I haven’t before. I have observed, with amusement, the creativity in the use of colors. Democratic candidates wielding bright red signs may be an attempt to draw the eye of an unsuspecting conservative. Green signs offer neutrality and indicate an attempt to step away from partisanship and toward environmental matters.

Here in Ann Arbor, where many of us are self-professed tree-huggers, the green signs with leafy displays are not entirely unexpected. As I walked by a few dozen today though, I wondered to myself how the green mentality is reconciled with the immense volume of disposable junk in the form of campaign sign, buttons and posters.

I’m not suggesting that an environmentally-minded candidate would place undue focus on recycling campaign signs when the might be better served working toward increasing renewable energy standards, pushing appliance efficiency policy, and improving building insulation. In fact, I would rather they work toward these larger goals then worry about token displays of “greenness” such as biodegradable signage.

However, if there’s one thing I like more than politicians who make great promises, its politicians who put their money where their mouths are and show a real understanding and commitment to the issues they support. So when that campaign platform circles around environmental issues, I happen to think that managing their own pile of waste before they get into office is a great way to start!

So, can someone please tell me what to do with my red, blue and green lawn ornaments next Wednesday?