The fact that it was free has no bearing on whether it is vandalism or not.

Can we exercise our freedom of speech and show our patriotism by posting political yard signs on our lawns?

YES WE CAN!

;)

That said, I live in NYC and don't have a lawn. I do have a sticker on my door showing support for my preferred candidate. I haven't received any complaints, but I have received a lot of compliments!

Strangely enough, price/value usually does have some bearing on vandalism under state laws which usually don't have a specific "vandalism" statute, but laws which prohibit "destruction of property" under a scale according to value of property and defacing of "public property" or whatever else.

I think having political signs in ones yard, especially for a contentious, right race like we are having now, is really a dumb idea. There is no better way to offend half of your neighbors.

There is an interesting mix of signs related to issues and not just candidates at: http://myyardourmessage.com

I like the idea a lot.

"There is no better way to offend half of your neighbors."

Sure there is! You just haven't been trying hard enough.

"she received an anonymous letter in her mailbox that asked her to sign a petition that would restrict her neighborhood to display political signs in the yard. "

Do you mean to say that she received a letter that would restrict her neighborhood "from displaying" political signs in the yard?

hejiranyc,

I've got an Obama sticker on my apartment door. If one of my neighbors posted a McCain sticker I wouldn't be offended, I'd just think they were making the wrong choice for America.

I disagree that politics should be a taboo subject. If more people cared about the intelligence, integrity, competence and policies of our elected officials we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in right now.

I don't think I have ever cared enough about a particular candidate to put up a yard sign until this last year when our local state rep switched his vote and voted for gay marriage in MA. He got slammed with hate speech and even a billboard on an interstate. A sign is going up to show support for him.

I recall some time back, perhaps the last presidential election, an article about one family's efforts to keep their signs from being stolen / vandalized. As I recall, they tried all the nice fixes they could (vaseline on the sign for one), but in the end had to wire their signs into their electrified fence (for cattle I think). That finally kept them there.

Can anyone find that article? I'm thinking it was in Newsweek....

I might put up a sign in my window.

My major political activity this year was to send out my annual "remember to register to vote" email. It includes information about finding where you vote.

Here it is, my annual email reminding you to register to vote.

Have you moved?
Do you need to register again?
Do you know where your polling place is?
Do you need to figure out how to do an absentee ballot?

http://www.rockthevote.com/
Has information on registering

http://www.vote411.org/pollingplacebystate.php
Can help you find where you vote

The League of Women Voters, which runs the Vote 411 website, has good
voting information.
http://www.lwv.org/Election2008/index.html

Remember: I don't care who you vote for. But if you don't vote, you
don't get to say "I told you so" about any political shenanigans.

If you know anyone else who needs this information, feel free to pass
it on.

Although I have defintie political opiniosn, I beleive that all the signs/bumperstickers/pins/mailings, etc. that are produced for election campaigns nowadays are a monstrous waste of resources - and I refuse to add to the future-landfill.

As it is, all campaign mailings that come to my apartment other than the official voters guide go straight into the recycling bin.

I'm all for yard signs in support of candidates, and this is the first cycle that I've had a lawn to put a sign on.

DON'T TREAD ON ME!

I'll put yard signs if I damn well want to.

Sciencegeek, thanks. I reposted this on my blog.

I think this is outrages! To say that someone voicing their opinion on who they might vote for could "Offend" someone else is ludicrous. If they have a problem with that fact that someone's opinion maybe different from theirs, then they should have swallowed the blue pill.

I'm a Democrat with a lot of Republican friends and we understand that we are individuals so we would have individual views. When we discuss politics, we usual learn something from hearing other peoples viewpoint. That's what democracy is all about.

When I see signs on people's lawn, it reminds me of how fortunate we are to have that right, a right that many people in the world don't have. This is something that a lot of people have died, and are still dying for.

I live in an apartment and don't have any political signs up but, when I go home, I am going to slap an Obama sign on my front door just because I can.

It may seem like just a lawn sign but, it's been a long and bloody road to get to that sign, don't let anyone take it away from you!

lawn signs don't accomplish much in terms of convincing voters to go for your guy. it's not like people walk by and think, "wow that house is a pretty color and they are going to vote for Obama, I am going to vote for him too!" so I am not sure why anyone would get worked up over their neighbor having one in their yard.
That said, mine's been up since January and I won't take it down until Inauguration Day. I like it for the same reason I like my dogwood tree, it makes me happy when I look at it.

Vanessa, I must not care about intelligence, integrity or competence the way you do but I do care about smugness so I guess that's why I will be putting up a McCain/Palin sign.

a co-worker of mine in Tennessee lives way out in the sticks and had his Obama sign ripped up, crumbled up and stuck back down in his lawn. This made him so upset he decided to put a permanent sign in his yard, made of wood and concrete posted in the ground. we'll see what this stirs up.
damn rednecks!

I don't mind a sign on the lawn or someone's door at all. If it falls into the tasteful decoration just like anything.. if someone had their entire lawn covered in signs that may be a different matter.

Bo, we can still be friends! God Bless America!

hey bo placebo, put up whatever sign you want to, but don't insult other people while you are doing it.
But since you stated what you care about in this election, let me ask do you care that Sarah Palin was a member of a secessionist party called the Alaska Independence Party?
Does it seem odd to you that John McCain would ask someone to be vice president of the United States that belonged to a party that wants her state to secede from the United States?
just asking. hope it doesn't make me seem to smug.

I, for one, welcome our new home decor overlords.

Appropriate that this is pet month because the claws are out and the fur flying.

Can we avoid mentioning which sign we're planning on putting up?

Please.

I think some people go way overboard. I get the point just as easily with one sign as with 15. However, such a display is really only offensive to good taste and I see no reason to restrict political signs anymore than I'd want restrictions on paint colors.

I live in an apartment and have displayed my McCain sticker in my window since I've moved in.

Thank you Abigailm - in your enthusiasm to wag your finger you illustrated my point and because I don't care about intelligence, integrity or competence like our friend Vanessa does but do care about smugness I will be putting up a McCain/Palin sign.

The candidate who displays a lawn sign or sticker w/my name on it gets my vote.

I can't believe that after the past 8 years anyone would still vote republican!?! the republicans will probably just cheat and fix the vote again anyway *sigh* OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA

Bo Placebo,

Congratulations on exercising your freedoms and liberties. Put that sign up with pride (seriously).

See you at the voting booth!

:) Vanessa

I got so worked up, I forgot the second "ou" in "outrageous".

Chill. people, chill. Sorry about the "smugness" thing - really meant sanctimonious and self-righteous, Vanessa And Abigailm. Didn't get the Messiah after years in Hyde Park (that's in Chicago for the coasters) then realized there was nothing to get - all empty platitudes and religious fanatacism but nicely packaged - got to admit that. I'm sticking with the Maverick and the Babe - no God-talk, just business, but I respect your right to be duped by anyone and anything - it's the American way and I say that with pride.

I'm actually kind of scared of putting up a sign...

if it were a holiday sign, something religious, then it would be a hate crime...you can seek damages and also in some states get assistance from human relations agencies in getting funds to fix or replace damaged property.

This reminds me of when some kids went to a local country club and covered all of the 2004 Bush stickers with green party stickers. Very funny.

I think signs are fine. I'd prefer signs to having to listen to my neighbors spout off on just about any topic. In fact, I'd require signs for all opinions. That way, no need to discuss, and we can get on with everything else.

I think most campaign signs are kind of ugly, but I would never try to stop someone from putting them in their own yard.

I saw a really great homemade Obama sign in East Nashville that was made out of wood and hung from a low tree branch. I'm not usually one for putting signs in my own yard, but I appreciated the unique touch of this one.

I just don't get how anyone could think that their opinions is more important than anyone else's. Tashar, "Put up your sign and be proud"! I think we should all put one up. Not necessarily a political one, just something that shows that you have a voice.

In the words of Björk, "Declare Independence, Don't let them do that to you".

"Chill. people, chill."

"really meant sanctimonious and self-righteous, Vanessa And Abigailm."

"but I respect your right to be duped by anyone and anything"

Yowsa.

" If more people cared about the intelligence, integrity, competence and policies of our elected officials we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in right now."
Yowsa!

I think they are an eyesore.

People can put up whatever signs they want. What's the big deal? I would just like for them to be taken down when the election is over please. That's what drives me nuts.

I wish AT would avoid politics. :-( I come here to escape all the bickering.

actually, in my neighborhood in the people's republic of northern va, i think i'm offending only 2 people in my neighborhood with my yard sign.

I'll second that, JuliaL.

I think people should keep their political opinions to themselves and not expose that to others. I get so mad when I see bumper stickers on peoples cars. Tacky.

i'm canadian, and i've always admired how freedom of speech/opinion/thought has been such a dearly held value to americans.
i think it was one of your founding fathers who said: "i may hate what you have to say, but i will die defending your right to say it".
while political signs may not sway anyone's vote, it MAY spark discussion and further thought - like right now. so in that there can be great value, yes??

Wow Bo, just wow....

Yeah- I don't blame her for being upset about getting an anonymous letter to sign a petition. I have gotten a similar letter before. There is a time and a place for an anonymous letter- and if I am signing a petition I want to know who is issuing it.
Anonymous Letter