Russ's Ravings: Political Signs Are Pointless And Useless In 2020

Editor's note: The following is Patch Field Editor Russ Crespolini's, hopefully, weekly column. It is reflective of his opinion alone.

Maybe I am easily confused, but for the life of me I have no idea what the purpose is for political signs in 2020. I see them all over the place, cluttering up lawns and around stop signs and I can't help but wonder what they think displaying these things is going to accomplish.

As a way of transmitting information about your platform, it is kind of useless. Even the most vapid of campaigns will have far too much to put on signage without lowering the font to Ant-Man levels. It isn't really needed to get your name out there. If your voters are so unaware of who you are that the first time they see your name is in the tall grass by some power lines then your campaign has already failed.

So is the point to get your neighbors to put them up so that other people drive by and see it and are swayed by it?

"Oh look, the Johnsons are supporting Doug Flummer for council! They seem like good people, we should do the same!"

I can assure you that no one is seeing these signs and making decisions off of where they are placed on whose lawn they are placed on. So what purpose do they serve? In years past they served as a reminder of how lazy political candidates are as signage would often languish well after election day as a sad reminder of failed aspirations or a faded echo of fleeting success.

This year they appear to be targets for theft and vandalization.

And this is something else that completely baffles me. What is the thought process of someone who is stealing or vandalizing signs on people's lawns?

"What the hell? Someone stole my Doug Flummer sign! Oh well, guess I can't vote for him now."

"Oh well, someone stole my HATE HAS NO HOME HERE sign. Guess I have to hate everyone."

While I am quite familiar with the concept of the medium being the message, I don't think it applies here.

It certainly isn't going to have the impact that you think it would. But it also speaks to the incredible fragility of our society right now that thoughts of any kind that don't align with your worldview send you into such a rage that you have to steal something or damage something that doesn't belong to you.

Or maybe it isn't rage. Maybe it is fear. The same fear that drives you to believe in conspiracy theories and follow extremist views because to allow the room for moderation or new thought is terrifying.

But people who are so afraid of concepts and ideas that are not their own are running out of time in our society. Our patience for this kind of behavior has come to an end, and these acts will not stay hidden or go unpunished.

Especially because everyone has a camera installed in their doorbell.

Russ Crespolini is a Field Editor for Patch Media, adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association.

He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. And because it is cheaper than therapy. He can be reached at russ.crespolini@patch.com