Sign Weeds Pt. III: Political Signs - What's The Point?

  Political signs sprout up like weeds every campaign season, and tiny unincorporated Oracle is no exception.  They come in lots of sizes and shapes placed in all manner of locations seeking to attract eyeballs.  Do they have really meaningful impact? Or are they primarily instruments to attract ire from "the other side" while trashing up the landscape? 
  Not to mention the ire of those caught in the crossfire and those left to clean up abandoned and vandalized signs after elections are lost in the morass of memories?
So why do signs matter to me?  First, I'll look at a few how's and why's.

  The installer of this one may have thought the choice of location was pretty cagey. It appears to suggest the church supports this particular candidate. Clever, huh?  Maybe not.  It implies an endorsement by the Oracle Union Church which may not have been authorized by the governing board, pastor, much less the broader congregation--particularly if it is on church property. Still, the association remains, and it's a powerful one if the campaign can get away with it, uncontested.

 Now, signs like these are a totally different kettle of fish.  The property owner was consulted (Kaz and myself) in both cases with full support, even gratitude forthcoming.  No manipulation here.  No clever scheming.  Just straightforward mutual commitment.

  And how about this one?  Clever associations right?  Three women candidates close by the Oracle Women's Monument and a LIttle Free Library outpost.  And the property owners?  Well, we made the sign at no cost, own the land and encouraged the improvements.  Ironically, this is almost directly across the street from the Oracle Union Church.

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Now, here's why political signs have become of particular interest to me...

See Going so Local I'm in the Weeds

 Sign Weeds Pt. II: Two Assaults 55 Years Apart