Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012

Marshall Smith: Signs matter

Signs matter

In response to the recent letter regarding political signs, I must strongly disagree with recommended limitations on visibility and distribution.

Entrusting the media to accurately and comprehensively cover all of the candidates fails to gives voters all of the options, even in the largest races. Before going into the voting booth, how many voters were aware that there was a third presidential and gubernatorial candidate beyond the Republican and Democrat? (Apparently some, as Libertarian Barbara Howe received more than 2 percent of the vote.) Unfortunately, she was not included in the televised debates among Pat McCrory and Walter Dalton, just as Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was excluded from the presidential debates.

By entrusting the media to give all of the information to voters, the power to exclude candidates lies solely with the media. Political signs allow candidates and their supporters to get out the message when they are not covered by the media, either because they are not from the primary parties or because it is a smaller local election.

While I agree that we should all work to quickly clean up the signs after the election cycle is complete, prohibiting that form of advertising and speech only serves to limit the voices, choices and options available to voters when making their decisions.

Marshall Smith

Holly Springs