Has a bumper sticker ever changed anyone's mind about an election? Seriously, I cannot imagine someone driving down the road and spotting a bumper sticker for a candidate on the car ahead of him and saying, "Hey, if he's good enough for the owner of that Honda Accord, he has my vote."
How about those tacky signs people have on their lawns? How about a flyer handed to you while you were waiting for the train?
I'm hoping the answer to that is no. To answer yes means that you believe one of these devices actually contains enough relevant information on which to base a decision and that that information is truthful and unbiased. Frankly, if the answer is yes, you’re probably too ass-witted to vote. Hell, you're probably too ass-witted to live.
I ask this question because I recently returned from a trip to Portland, OR (a truly delightful city) on a day when both Bush and Kerry were in the area campaigning. Now, Portland being Portland, there were no Bush supporters to be seen. But there were loads of stupid hippies pushing John Kerry propaganda on every street corner.
Before you take offense, let me point out that I refer to political activists of all stripes as stupid hippies. If I get a piece of pre-sorted bulk mail from the RNC I throw it away unread and mutter, "Stupid hippies." If I walk into a bar and Bill O'Reilly is on the TV I ask the bartender to "turn off that stupid hippy." It's just a manner of speech I've developed.
So, really, what were these stupid hippies in Portland trying to accomplish. Were they handing me flyers because they thought I was ass-witted enough that it might alter my vote? If so, I should have given them a right and proper pimp-slapping.
Near as I can tell, the rationale behind this sort of thing is that Name Recognition is of paramount importance. Kind of like branding in the corporate world. If you swim in a sea of "Bush/Cheney" in a similar font and color scheme, the Karl Rove mind control will take over when you step into the polling booth, and then who needs hanging chads.
You know, I bet the stupid hippies in Portland would be the first to decry how corporate pigs use advertising to control the lives of helpless consumers, and yet here they are targeting the ass-witted with a bit of mind control of their own.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
Brilliant piece, even if I don't necessarily agree with all conclusions. I think we are actually quite schizo - like me - I've moved to the right in some ways, especially defense and economics, but am still pretty far left socially, which I think is a pretty average position. Funny, thoughtful, great piece, though. Thanks!
2 - boomcrashbaby
I think the purpose of signs in the front yard during election time is name recognition. If someone goes to vote and they know nothing of the candidates or the issues, they will probably vote the name they have seen the most.
I'm not sure how much of an influence it has though, I'd agree with you. And I don't know if that's always the intent. There is a car a few houses down the street that has a bumper sticker that says 'Bush/Cheney 04 - We're gooder'.
I don't know who they expect to win over with that.
3 - Justene
I think the "gooder" bumper sticker is not designed to win anyone over. I think it's supposed to make Bush supporters giggle and annoy the opposition.
4 - boomcrashbaby
I think it's supposed to make Bush supporters giggle and annoy the opposition.
If that's the case, that only confirms my perception of the right, under the why do people hate Bush blog.
5 - Justene
I think there's a difference between generalized poking fun and the mean, spiteful behavior that you assume I and many of my friends have.
6 - boomcrashbaby
Now Justene, there are exceptions to every rule. On that blog I talked about conservative ideology. That doesn't mean all conservatives march lock-step with it. I thought I made that clear.
The fact that the liberal media presents it's news with bias, and the conservative media presents it's news with bias and with venomous slander, by giving credit to people like Coulter, Novak, Scaroborough, Rush, who cannot push an ideology without attacking (which Brokaw and Rather and Aaron Brown do NOT do), and the fact that fox news is number 1, with conservatives across the nation saying 'finally! someone who speaks from MY heart', is what I am referring to. I mean the ideology of the group collectively, and sorry, but I have to stand by what I say because it's what I see.
7 - boomcrashbaby
it's synonomous (sp?) with mob mentality. Meaning an individual alone might behave one way, but in a group of like minded individuals, you get an entirely different view of that person.
8 - RJ
Often, companies will continue advertising despite it not helping sales. Why would they do such a thing? Because their competitors are still advertising, and they are not about to unilaterally disarm.
Sometimes advertising, in whatever form it takes, is more about holding ground already gained than gaining new ground...
9 - RJ
"I think the purpose of signs in the front yard during election time is name recognition."
In local campaigns, I agree. What percentage of the voting public can name every candidate for their local school board or county sheriff? Seeing one candidate's name more than others probably plays a major role in how a lot of people vote in these contests.
10 - Douglas Mays
David M, you were in Portland? Great town. 40,000 people attend his rally while Bush was up here in Seattle having his jerk off motorcade screw up traffic so he can suck a bunch of money out of a few rich people. Bush is gonna get his ass beat in these parts.
The point is that this neck of the woods is loaded with hippies!!! From Humbolt County to the Canadian border you can find a bunch of hippies. Some poor, some richer than fuck (Microsoft stock options?).
OK, one of the most popular bumper stickers around here back in punk rock days said "hippies are loud and stupid". That is why I had to comment, I remember that popular statement. Those propaganda hippies in Portland were just tryin' to be involved. Gotta give them credit.
peaceloveguidance
11 - RJ
Sure, Portland HATES Bush. But Eastern Oregon LOVES Bush...
12 - Douglas Mays
RJ, true. Same with Eastern Washington. Thank goodness the bulk of the population lives on the west side of those states.
plg
13 - Mac Diva
Elected, eh? The Supreme Court put Shrub in office. And frankly, it would take the whole Bush tribe to hold a candle to Bill Clinton.
As for "Left wing," Portland, a city I happen to be very familiar with, and a city that has a history of police brutality and discrimination, it hardly qualifies. Portland is a typical American city run by moderate politicians and rich folks. And, yes, many of those rich folks will vote for Shrub.
14 - RJ
"Elected, eh? The Supreme Court put Shrub in office."
(Yes, I realize this is falling on deaf ears...)
The USSC TWICE humiliated the Democrat-controlled Florida SC by remanding their baseless "judgments."
In so doing, GW Bush became President-Elect.
Good thing, too. Because every recount by the liberal media showed Bush would have won anyway.
So, again, you're not exactly telling the truth. No surprises there...
15 - Mark Saleski
rj, you really should check out alterman's "what liberal media".
not that it'll change your mind or anything (that's not the point), but there are a whole pile of views on the media that most folks (myself included) haven't considered.
16 - Douglas Mays
Mac, hhhmmm... Portland and Seattle are very "left" cities. You can count on Washington and Oregon to go the other way in elections. McGovern won those state back in '68 for starters..
No, discrimination? I know you are basing your thoughts on that Ethiopian guy who was shot by skin heads. What might put things into light is the attempts by West Coast KKK to recruit the Portland skinhead population for their racist purposes. Suprise when they tried, finding that the population of that town was way left and drove them out of town. I mean, even the skinheads are comparitively liberal.
God, the process of the government up here would drive you nuts. It is like swimming in glue. So much process. It's like "lets ask everyone and not make a decision until we figure out what will keep everyone happy". Years later, nothing happens, no one is happy. 180 degrees opposite of Chicago politics.
You can pretty much bet that alot of the political leaders in Portland and Seattle have smoked the most awesome marijuana anyone has ever seen (research the pot from this area--B.C. bud is lame). Uh, kinda true. It is just part of the culture around here. At least we have that going. Politicians having used pot probably runs a higher percentage out here.
blah, blah, blah...
peaceloveguidance
17 - boomcrashbaby
We are looking to move from California due to cost of living. Seattle and Portland are both in our top 4 places to live, but I just saw a report at forbes.com that said in terms of cost of living/expenses vs. income Seattle was the most overpriced city in the nation. Apparently it's due to the extremely large number of middle to upper managers there. Portland was in the top 10 of overpriced cities too, but farther down and I forget where.
18 - Mac Diva
Douglas, many white people consider disagreements among themselves the only ones that matters. The voices of people of color simply don't count. I think that is typical of Portland and Seattle. The Oregon constitution actually had a provision making it illegal for 'blacks and mulattoes' to settle here. Well into the '60s, Asian and African-American children were purposely segregated into separate schools. A ghetto and Chinatown were purposely maintained. Much of that legacy remains, including the 'incidental' shootings of minority motorists just about every year. I've lived in both and neither is nirvana.
Steve (Boom), Oregon and Washington have had among the highest unemployment rates in the country for years. Unless you are certain of employment, I don't recommend moving here. More than ten percent of our populations receive food stamps. As much as a quarter has no health insurance. Yes, some people live quite well. But, there is a flip side. We also lead in heroin and meth use, and suicide.
19 - Douglas Mays
boomcrashbaby. Good of you to do your research. I would say it is accurate. It is ungodly expensive to live here. I mean, you can make great money out here, but you have to shovel it to your landlord or Nordstroms. Well, it is the home headquarters of Costco, Amazon.com, Starbucks and other shit. That makes it kinda fun. And lots of mother nature around. Nice scenics.
But, oh man, buy a house? Sure, $250, 000 for a dump in a not great neighborhood.
Yeah, It doesn't help to have the world's richest (Gates) and 3rd richest (Allen) guys and all their wealthy employees drivin up prices. But, I sure do like them on our tax base. It works out. they are all cool.
Ah shit, I love it here. But its a good place to visit but probably wouldn't want to live here. Traffic is really sucky. Bus system is great, but has a few years to go to complete public transo. (light rail and monorails currently under construction). The stadiums are nice. The earthquakes are a load of fun. The mountains are nice to look at. I wonder which one is going to go off next. The pot is the worlds strongest (ask the DEA), and there is a general peace-hippie-funk vibe in general. Lots of creative stuff, arts, etc..
But the politics will drive you fucking insane! So will the prices. My one bedroom apartment is nice for $750/mo. I am near the north edge of the city. If this same apartment was in my old neighborhood closer to downtown it would easily be $1200+/mo.
Blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't move here unless you had a high paying job contract. Right now the job market is sucking real deep up here also.
Anyway...
peaceloveguidance
20 - Shark
Seattle seems to be the new San Francisco -- ie. Haight-Ashbury for people who wear shoes and drive BMWs, where computer 'scientists' have get their horoscopes and Fung Shui foretold. Feh. I'd rather live in Baghdad than some New Agey, politically correct liberal nightmare.
(The only thing worse might be living in some Neo-Conny, politically facist Conservative nightmare.)
Speaking of which...
...my general advice to everyone considering a change of scenery: don't move to Texas: We hate everybody except each other.
21 - Douglas Mays
Shark, you got it! S.F.-Seattle are on the same street (I-5). Its just a day long (12hr.) drive. Alot of similaritites.
Oh, Texas is putting in an express lane for the death penalty. Gotta like that. But in general, you got it on Texas also.
plg
22 - Shark
re: Mays' "...Texas is putting in an express lane for the death penalty. Gotta like that."
Yeah, I'm surprised the Evil GOP Marketing Pricks haven't pulled that out and used it as part of Bush's pristine, heroic "war record."
As Governor of Texas, Bush oversaw some 155 state-sponsored murders.
(Kinda tough for a follower of Jesus!)
He's got blood on his hands in the 'war on crime' -- and he didn't even need a Swift Boat!
(No medals, tho.)
23 - Mac Diva
Douglas, where in the world did you see a house for $250,000? The cottage across the street recently sold for $375,000. There isn't room to swing a kitten in the little postage stamp yard. Don't even ask what I paid for my wee condo in the Bell District in Seattle. Which happens to have a chronic leaky roof.
In the interest of balance, I will also describe Portland and Seattle's good points:
*Relatively quiet. Most of the the disruption and crime are in poor areas, some urban, but a surprisingly high amount in the rural areas, where people have not had jobs for going on two decades.
*Pretty. My significant other has a cabin on government owned land in the mountains. Visiting there is like turning back the clock to a more natural, pristine environment. The greenery makes urban areas attractive, too. Drop a seed and it will grow.
*The referendum process. Everything gets voted on -- again and again and again. If there is a law you don't like, chances are someone will try to vote it away.
*Transportation. Stinks in Seattle, but is very good in Portland. Light rail, trolley, buses and Amtrak make leaving your car parked a viable option. Also, unlike San Fran, most of Seattle and Portland are walkable. That is the best low stress exercise in the world.
But, again, these places are not nirvana. They have the same problems of human relations as the rest of the U.S., sometimes worse.
As for a gay person moving here, I dunno. Yes, the very vocal liberal pols were out front on gay marriage. But, there is a huge backlash. And, not all that long ago, Oregon had a law that barred homosexuals from receiving civil rights protections. It was repealed, but the referendum process allows revisitation of laws endlessly.
24 - boomcrashbaby
Here in Ca, the cost of living is just too outrageous to every buy a home. I went to Sperlings, where you can enter your income level for your city and then select a city in another state and it will tell you how much you need to make, to be the equivalent of where you are now. I derived about 20 cities this way and then chopped it down based on things like civil rights, climate, educational system, etc. If I were to use civil rights as the primary reason in finding a place to live, I'd pretty much have to knock out 48 states and all territories. Boston, Ma was just as expensive as Ca. I have noticed that by factoring civil rights in as much as possible, I am left with only states that touch oceans.
25 - Mark Saleski
yea, boston is crazy. the prices are creeping up in new hampshire as well.
'starter' homes are now above $250k.