Campaigning

Driving around Manhattan brings a few questions to mind this morning. Like, what are those bridge pillars down on the Kansas River waiting for - antiquity, ivy, night lights, perhaps a water slide, or maybe it's for a new deck when the present bridge fails in about 20 years? Now that would be forward thinking.

And tell me, down there in City Park, is that sickle-toting fellow Paul Bunyan's little brother?

And did they fire the city planner who placed the goofy roundabout just north of Aggieville on 12th Street? I mean you can't get around the dang thing unless you're motoring on roller skates.

And what's with that yard sign just east of the KSU Foundation on Anderson? The printing is so small I couldn't read it, so out of curiosity I stopped the other day to find it's a political message supporting Ms. Nancy Boyda for election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The sign asks rhetorically, "Have you had enough?" "Vote Democratic" and "Nothing will change until we change Congress." And I guess Jim Ryun must be a real wimp, because it promises "bold leadership" if Ms. Boyda takes his seat.

Now Manhattan's zoning regulations do permit campaign signs, but not earlier than 60 days prior to an election and placed no closer than 15 feet from the curb. This sign violates both regulations. But that's not my point today. Given the small print, no one can read it anyway, which likely is the reason it's still standing.

More seriously though, wouldn't it be nice if politicians told their supporters to stop this kind of childishness? Instead of voters having to endure another round of expensive political marketing campaigns, how about a real effort to educate them this summer? So they go to the polls knowing the candidates' views on issues that affect our everyday lives.

The Anderson Street sign asks, "Have you had enough?" Well, yes I have, thank you. I'd rather see all our candidates, Democratic and Republican, get serious for once about their responsibilities. Discuss the important questions before us. When Representative Ryun was at the Chamber a couple weeks ago, it would have been enlightening to have had Ms. Boyda answering the same questions about illegal immigration, taxation and earmarking.

There's nothing wrong with that - a dignified discussion between candidates. We might actually learn something worthwhile during the upcoming campaign season instead of polluting the environment with ugly signs and meaningless slogans.

First published in the Manhattan Free Press, May 4, 2006.