Yesterday, election signs for Bob Dechert, the Conservative candidate in Mississauga-Erindale, started popping up on lawns on our street after a couple of his workers canvassed.
This morning, the lawns looked more like ski hills, the signs that you could still see were already drooping noticeably and if you didn't already know the candidate's name, you'd have a hard time making it out.
Signs are one of the dilemmas of this winter campaign for candidates. For most they are considered a necessary evil at the best of times because it takes a lot of time, energy and manpower to put them up and keep them up.
Although no one ever admits to it, except under oath, there are the inevitable shenanigans of tearing down the other candidates' work. It's one of the many reasons that on-street politics reminds one so much of raging hormones and high school pep rallies.
Paul Szabo, the Liberal in Mississauga South who seems to be trying to start his own "family" party, has decided not to put any signs up before Christmas. In part it's so families can enjoy Christmas, he said.
"I don't want to see Paul Szabo beside Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I might even wait until after New Year's. We can still run a good sign campaign after that."
Phil Green, the Conservative candidate in the same riding who is an avid environmentalist says, "If people want them, we'll give put them up. It's always a dilemma from an environmental standpoint."
His signs, like most, are now made of coroplast (short for corrugated plastic) which is a polypropylene copolymer if anyone asks you. It's recyclable and can be folded up and put in your blue box after the campaign.
"It's hard enough to get your message out at the best of times," said Green who feels it's important to show your colours to keep morale up for your side and to impress the other guys. More high school thinking.
I guess we should just be thankful that political parties they don't have their own fight songs, like soccer and football teams.
The fact is that election signs are now, and always have been, a horrific stain on the landscape. They're ugly under any circumstances and in those municipalities which don't have the sense to ban them from public property, they're dangerous when placed at corners where they block sight lines.
Does anyone ever change their vote because they see their neighbour with a sign? If so, would you want such a person as a supporter?
The Green Party deserves major kudos for refusing to use election signs in this campaign.
Maybe, some day, some brave candidate in a main-line party in Mississauga will have the gumption to do what they know is right, too.