Love ’em (as a sign of our vibrant political system) or hate ’em (as visual pollution), political signs are part of our landscape.
Because we have a (small-“d”) democratic process, they’re allowed to stand. In Westport, they’re legal on public property.
So — whether you support the (large “D”) Democratic candidates for first selectmen, or the Republican — you should be outraged at the sight this morning on the Sherwood Island Connector:
(Photo/Peter Propp)
Political signs are also, of course, allowed on private property.
Word on the street is that a Garten/Kane sign was stolen recently from someone’s front lawn.
Well, not just anyone’s.
It was Helen Garten’s own yard.
If we decide, as a town, that we don’t like political signs, we can ban (or regulate) them.
We can’t, however, deface them. Or take them.
It’s not the democratic — or the Democratic, or Republican — way.