Well this seems a little odd.
I mean, it makes a certain economic sense, and the charge isn’t unreasonable, but I find it a little odd. The fact that both campaigns are doing it seems even a little more surprising; I have a suspicion that both campaigns realized that those yard signs are expensive and their value is limited, especially because they get stolen a lot, and probably are of only marginal return in a general election campaign, so they talked to each other and agreed with each other that they’d both charge a little something for them.
And no, that’s not “conspiracy” thinking. It has been the norm for generations now for there to be quiet meetings between designated staff members of both Presidential nominees to hammer out “gentleman’s agreements” on certain issues, like when and where to hold debates, about issues both candidates agree they’d both like to have off the table, and so on. There’s nothing dishonorable or dishonest about that.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 6 comments }
It’s probably also a fundraising thing. Odds are, the overwhelming majority of people who want to declare their support of a candidate by putting a sign in their yard are motivated enough that adding a $5-8 charge to the effort of requesting and putting up the sign isn’t going to stop them.
I don’t think the ’sides’ had to have any discussion together. Common sense is, well, common.
You can give away stuff in markets where it matters, but charge for it in marginal places. No surprise there.
The only thing surprising, in fact, is that there are Republican voters who think that if it comes from ‘the gummint’, or the hoped-to-be-government, then it’s somehow free, nobody had to pay for it. That’s the way too many people think already.
John_B’s last blog post..Islamic Dress and the Olympics
Obama has raised $340 Million. Thatsa lotta 8 dollar signs:)
HB
Charging fees for yard signs?
An excellent idea. I will rent advertising space on my rural highway frontage for $100 for the duration of the period ending on the first Tuesday of November 2008.
One sign only per $100 space rental, of course.
Discounts offered for multiple rentals. (Contact landowner.)
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
A friend of mine asked me what point I was trying to make about Obama raising $340 Million, and whether I had a problem with it.
NO, I belllow, loud and clear. Obama has done a masterful job raising lawful money and is entitled every red cent. Elections are expensive. He’s been great.
It does, however, put to rest the notion that the GOP is the party of the rich, the Dems, the party of the poor. I think both parties have rich and poor wings, which are at parity.
Â
Yes, the GOP has the traditional stuffed-shirt bankers and corporate CEOs, but the Dems have an equal number of filthy rich in Hollywood, Universities, New York City and philanthropy.
Yes, the inner city poor vote Dem in vast numbers, but a lotta working class, religious, rural folks, ain’t making a lotta dough, but tend to vote GOP.
Make the signs out of Plywood. Charge $50.00 each. Then everyone gets a good deal. (esp. us loggers ).
The only problem I have with your spiel, is the inferance that "gentlemen" ( who make the agreements) , are honorable. Most anyone who claims to be a gentleman, is not usually found to be honorable.
Gentlemen usually fit the definitions that I have heard of. #1 A gentleman is someone who can play the bagpipes, and doesn’t. OR ,# 2 A gentleman is one who, when making love supports half his weight on his elbows.
Either definition is not something one should try to be known for. Both indicate that someone would be uncomfortable if all the true talents were to come into play. As for gentlemens’ agreements. The Second definition gets better play. As it says someone is getting screwed.
Comments on this entry are closed.