The New Face of Political Discourse in Lake Stevens

The last Lake Stevens Journal editorial writer asked the "big question" of why our "small community" needed presidential political signs before Christmas. As an example, he reported seeing several Ron Paul for President signs along Lundeen Parkway and on 20th St. NE. The writer then admitted to not being familiar with Ron Paul so he decided to Google him. He discovered Paul had recently collected over $18 million in political donations. The author thought that amount was staggering, "...especially for someone who really [had] little chance of winning the Presidential election." It was at that point the writer wondered what politicians, in general, were planning to do "with that much money in only 10 months time?"

 

What do politicians plan to do with that much money, you ask? They'll probably be spending it on replacing damaged political signs. Was it a coincidence this Ron Paul billboard was seen facedown the Friday after this editorial ran? Unfortunately, I'd be willing to bet these Ron Paul for President signs weren't paid for by the Ron Paul 2008 campaign, but by a private citizen who now has to cover the costs of repairing his damaged sign.

 

But why are these signs needed? The writer really answered his own question when he stated he Googled Ron Paul. How else can voters learn about the candidates running for office? It surely can't be in the editorial sections of their local newspapers where they read statements like Ron Paul "has little chance of winning the Presidential election."

 

As a reminder, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 29A.84.040 states, "a person who removes or defaces lawfully placed political advertising including yard signs or billboards without authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9A.20.021. The defacement or removal of each item constitutes a separate violation".