Election years bring very heated feelings and emotions to the surface for the American people.
We see this in day-to-day life, in protests and rallies and even in our neighborhoods. These feelings are not always upfront and spoken, but often take a form of passive aggression. The time-old form of political marketing of yard signs is no exception.
When did friendly neighborhood competitions about who has the best Halloween decorations or lawn maintenance turn into what it is nowadays: a crazy display about how who can make the most noise and leave the most memorable impact?
It starts with one sign and then another. The neighbor down the road then puts up a slightly larger one. In response, the apartment across the street hangs a provocative banner. Rinse and repeat.
These extravagant displays and increased use of signs reflect a larger and deeper wedge between the two parties. Politics brings out strong feelings in many, which is understandable.
Everyone has the right to express who and what they want in a leader, but the manner in which most conversation, if you can even call it that, is conducted nowadays is combative and should be done away with and replaced with more productive mindsets.
A Pew Research Center study from 2022 shows that when polled on five different qualities, Republicans view Democrats more negatively in three of the categories.
Republicans see Democrats as more dishonest (72% vs. 64%), immoral (72% vs. 63%) and lazy (62% vs 26%), with lazy being by far the largest divide. Democrats see Republicans as more close-minded (83% vs. 69%) and unintelligent (52% vs 51%).
People were surveyed if they believed members of the opposing party had four or more of the polled traits. Republicans had a 10% more hostile view of democrats than democrats had of Republicans (53% vs. 43%).
Either side is responsible for dehumanizing those of opposite political allegiance and jumping to conclusions about people who support one side or the other.
Nowadays when some see political signs, they either feel a sense of camaraderie or opposition.
Some stereotypes that are assumed can include Democrats wanting to eradicate guns or kill fetuses or Republicans wanting to deport all immigrants or hate all gay people.
Stereotypes, intrinsically, are miscalculations of grouping a wide variety of radical opinions and groups and categorize them as the same. If people continue to operate under assumptions and misconceptions, how can we expect to see one another as human?
Coles County Republican chairperson Mark Esarey said political signs don’t necessarily indicate intensity or align with preconceived stereotypes.
“When you see the other candidate being supported by somebody, it makes you more likely to then voice your own support for what you support,” Esarey said.
One side of the political spectrum is not solely responsible for brutally conducting themselves when interacting directly and indirectly with members of the opposing parties. If people want to argue for the sake of arguing, go ahead but know it isn’t helping. In place of heated squabbling that will never change either sides’ minds, healthier forms of debate should take front stage. After all, we are all only human.
All this divide but what does it look like here in Charleston?
Coles County has not swayed much in recent elections as far as percentage of voters in each party. In the 2016 and 2020 elections, the majority of voters voted for the Republican party at around 64%, while the Democratic party received around 36% for both years. This year was no exception.
When driving around Charleston at the very least, the amount of yard signs doesn’t seem to reflect what former polling amounts show; yards seem to show a fair split between blue and red, at least here in Charleston.
Having one or two signs in a yard is nothing major, but some houses have large-scale displays supporting their chosen party and bashing the other opponent. It seems the days of agreeing to disagree are far gone, and those disagreements have taken a drastic turn.
Headquarters for both Republicans and Democrats gave out or sold signs.
Esarey said that their group has distributed more than 1,000 signs to Coles County residents and surrounding community members while the Coles County democrat chairperson Mac White said the group gave out around 700 signs.
For the Democratic group, this is the most signs handed out from the Coles County Democrats ever, White said, largely spurred by Harris-Walz campaign.
Both chairpersons for each political group share the sentiment that people, at the end of the day, should put aside their differences and be civil and friendly. White spoke against typecasting people of opposing political affiliations.
“Most people are good people,” White said. “We just don’t understand how they support [Donald Trump], but I know how they don’t understand how we are Democrats either.”
Political divide is only going to worsen, turning into an even more gruesome sight between Americans. Things aren’t looking to get better, unless a major change happens.
The Editorial Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at deneic@gmail.com.
