Political signs at businesses don’t seem like good idea

While I’m not a fan of political signs, I tolerate them. I understand their purpose, especially in races in which most voters know nothing about any of the candidates. People who see one candidate’s sign more than the other’s, like it or not, will probably be more likely to vote for the person with the most signs.


But I have a big problem with political signs when a business puts one up, and it seems as though more and more businesses are engaging in this practice.

Drive into a parking lot at a store and people may find a sign greeting them at the entrance. Walk through the door at certain restaurants and patrons may find a sign for specific candidates smacking them right in their faces. Cruise past a block of businesses and roadway signs may tell people whom they should vote for this election season.

I understand this practice for residences, as it really puts democracy in action. No matter what one may think of a person’s choice or choices, it’s hard not to appreciate that person’s decision to be involved in the election process.

But this same philosophy does not apply to businesses that choose to display political signs. Why not?

Businesses, with few exceptions, are entities that should be void of all political connections. When I go into a store, I don’t want to know what the store thinks of the Congressional candidates vying for Dave Obey’s seat. In most cases, I don’t know the owner of the store, and a sign in front of it will only foolishly give a personality to the store that doesn’t really exist. Since I can’t have an actual discussion with the store about its political opinions, this weird concept that the store supports someone is kind of confusing.

A sign may also cause potential customers to go elsewhere. This is pretty self-explanatory, but judging by the number of signs I’m seeing at businesses this political season, it needs explanation for many business owners. People who may not like the candidate a business is touting may go to another business. A sign for a Republican candidate on a restaurant door practically begs Democrats to go elsewhere, while a Democrat sign at a construction company may convince potential Republican clients to use the rival company down the road.

In this economy, business owners should try to do as much as possible to get as many customers as possible. While political signs might garner a few customers who agree with the business owner’s politics, the potential risk of the number it could lose just doesn’t seem worth the risk.

Business owners may also risk upsetting their employees who may not agree with their politics. If the higher powers at The Gazette were to suddenly start supporting candidates I don’t like on our front window, I’d have a few choice opinions to throw their way. While I wouldn’t do anything that could be considered insubordination, employees at other businesses might not be as nice as I am.

For years, businesses seemed to abide by an unspoken rule stating “Thou shall not be political.” In addition to not displaying political signs, business owners kept their mouths shut about politics when customers they weren’t familiar with were around. It’s one thing when it’s a coffee shop or a bar and the owner is freely giving his opinion about Joe the Plumber to all his regulars, but it’s completely different when patrons he’s never met before are confronted with his rants about President Obama’s Labor Day speech in Milwaukee.

A few businesses understand why they shouldn’t be political, but they actually show this by being as political as possible: they display signs for all candidates. The first time I ever encountered this I was baffled. Why is this business displaying signs for both Kerry and Bush? Who does it support?

And then I realized I’m not supposed to know who it actually supports. I just needed to know it’s supporting democracy in the ultimate way: by encouraging people to make a choice and actually vote.

Now that’s the type of business I want to support.