Stolen signs show lack of respect

To the Editor,

     The Presidential Election season has yet to get into full swing, even if most of us have already sickened to the ever-present political advertisements on radio, television, and even the Internet.

     One of the simplest forms of advertising that seldom bothers most people is the simple yard sign. It doesn’t try to convince you or anything; it doesn’t ask you for money; it just sits in a person’s yard that suggests he or she who lives there is supporting a candidate. They aren’t filling your yard with signs; they aren’t bothering you in the least bit, and certainly with only a simple sign they are not attempting to anger anyone into defacing whatever is written.

     All this seems relatively simple to most people, and for about two months, my two signs went unmolested in front of my home. Then suddenly, in the middle of a home repair project, they disappeared. I really did not need someone’s help to take them down; I fully intended to do that and save the signs as something historic. But no, someone else has hauled them away for whatever reason.

     If they wanted a sign and had asked, I would have gladly given one up and kept one for myself.

     As much as the thought has passed my mind on some of these homemade and often ill-conceived signs that generally are put up to stay something smarmy about someone running for office, I have resisted any intention of defacing or removing others’ yard sign gaffs. I only wish whomever took my signs would have been as considerate.

     After all, if you believe in the rule of law, what you did was trespass and steal my property. What does that say about you? More to the point, what does that say about the people you support; are they also lacking in self-restraint to the point they will do anything to get elected, including breaking the law?

Steve Hanken

Monticello, Iowa