Steam Vent ~ Political signs

They dot the roadside this time of year -- especially during big elections. They pop up like magic when you're not looking. And, yes, although the election is only a week away, it's Halloween today and those political signs are ssssSSSCARY!

KFnet friend Steve noted his gripe after I posted a Steam Vent on views. His job takes him all over the area and he sees what he thinks are pretty much litter marring the yards, streets, medians and green spaces. He even said while having lunch in University Place, where they're trying oh so hard to project a neat and tidy appearance, he counted a cluster of 50+ signs on one green-lined portion of street alone. Is the repetition really necessary as well? Why does one candidate need a bunch of signs in the same spot? Do the candidates really spend money to do this or are the campaign workers just being lazy like a paperboy that gets tired and dumps all his papers but claims to have delivered them all?

In one spot where Schuster Parkway forks into 30th Street I actually saw politically-styled signs pop up a couple months ago advertising not a candidate but a newly launched local TV station. How legal is that? I don't think the signs are a bad way to advertise but I just think there should be some moderation practiced. And if the local political establishments aren't willing to tone it down a bit then I suggest an ordinance that limits the number of signs a single candidate can place within a certain distance from one another. Something like "one sign per candidate per 100 yard radius" or there would be fines. This would be easy to enforce and even prove with citizen involvement via cell phone cam.

So what do you think? Are political signs visible examples of our glorious political process or weeds that should be few and far between? Have any photos you'd like to share? Email them.