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Election signs nothing more than ugly litter

The signs typically contain no message of any informative nature

Editor, The Record:

The silly season is most definitely upon us again. Not this time the dubious wisdom of starting several months of road reconstruction in late summer and therefore trying to lay asphalt in winter, nor the installation of useless signs and painting bicycles on roads — not even the provision of a low dog park fence after months of having a completely unfenced off-leash area.

No, this time we are gaining a fascinating insight into the thinking of our community and council leaders and those who aspire to those positions. I speak, of course, of the sudden and prolific sprouting of wooden and plastic signs. Barely a street corner seems to have escaped this year's political ambition-mongers. Some areas are indeed so thick with signs it is impossible for those travelling in cars to read all (or indeed any) of the messages.

My question to the politicians is, why?

I am at a loss to understand what purpose this kind of alleged advertising has. The signs typically contain no message of any informative nature, and if anything usually bear a name or names together with what in essence constitutes a vote for me exhortation. Really? I hope I am not shattering any illusions, here but a sign at the side of the road has never, and will never, influence for whom I cast a vote.

Why is a roadside sign deemed sufficient? What happened to effectively getting their message out to — and thereby informing — the voters? How does plastering a corner or median with signs constitute a legitimate campaign tactic? Doubtless we will soon hear predictably boring tales of politicians blaming one another for missing signs, etc.

The Horne Street situation is so ridiculous that it paints every advertised candidate at that location as something of a buffoon.

At present there exists a very definite Monty Python flavour to the signage war being apparently fought upon that corner of a Canadian field.

Is there anyone out there who can say their votes have been influenced by a laughably bare roadside sign? In the meantime, what does this tomfoolery tell us about the thinking processes of those who have been already or wish to be our elected leaders. And why should our community allow this ugly litter to proliferate each election period?

Leo Simmons

Mission