Join the anti election poster movement

The Rape of Lucretia

Are you someone who :
- decides who to vote for according to how good looking they are
- decides what party to vote for according to their 4 word slogan
- decides who to vote for according to how many posters they put up
- need colour coordination and logos to decide which party best represents your political views
- enjoys the look of election posters adorning the lamp posts of Ireland for a month ?

Then this campaign is probably not for you.


If, on the other hand, you dislike the pointless posting of them, dislike the wasted money, energy, and resources they consume, dislike the pollution and unsightlyness they cause the country, then please support this movement.

For any politicians you meet or who calls to you, ask them how many posters they have/are putting up. Ask them to remove them fortwith and to put up no more. Tell them you will vote for them if they remove them all (given that its politicians you are dealing with, the honesty of this statement is not relevant). And, as far as possible, vote for politicians who dont put up posters.

The world will be a better place.

hellsing101

The posters can be a bit of an eyesore and I would think that targeted Facebook,Twitter, local papers website ads would do a better job of getting someones name out there than posters.
Maybe for the older community it helps to give the politicians more exposure.

SnazzyPig

I hate the bloody things and the waste they represent. Also, it's no better than littering.

Edgware

Maybe hanging a few of the politicians from lamp posts would be a better approach

Capt'n Midnight

Edgware wrote: »

Maybe hanging a few of the politicians from lamp posts would be a better approach

That's totally uncalled for.


Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, posters may not be erected if they obstruct a traffic sign, could be confused with a traffic sign, or obstruct road users' view of the road.




Also
Election or referendum posters put up too early or not taken down on time are subject to an on-the-spot litter fine of €150 per poster.


In the UK they didn't really do posters for the election a while back.

Rubberchikken

No poster would ever influence me in how I voted.
Greatest waste of paper ever imo
Having said that, I'm so tired of all politicians and their lies I'm not voting this time round.

Lyan

The posters won't come down. It's like nuclear stockpiling. If even just one person has posters it creates an unfair advantage that forces everyone else to put up posters or they will lose out.

SeanW

I would describe the posters as cheap and nasty. And in this case, cheap is good. In places like the United States, elections are fought with expensive TV ad buys etc and are and so expensive overall that most of them are funded K Street lobbying firms, resulting each generation of politician being indebted to said lobbyists. In Washington D.C. laws are made in Congress, but paid for on K Street.

So if the choice is between a little bit of recyclable plastic posters once every five years vs. widespread and pervasive corruption infecting every aspect of government to the detriment of the citizens and society, guess what? I'll take the posters, thank you very much.

BTW the wording of the poll is extremely biased, I voted No because while I don't really vote based on what I see on the posters, I do see it as a legitimate way for candidates (and position groups in referendums) to get their message out there. I'd much prefer they stick up a few posters, recycle them afterwards and claim election expenses than suck up to vested interests to get millions to spend on more polished advertising campaigns. Every. Single. Time. Maybe the poll could be re-run without such biased and leading options?

1800_Ladladlad

Every time these posters go up in areas they are ripped down, pulled at and left dangling and when it comes to removing them, the plastic rip ties are everywhere. Sometimes these are set alight and do massive damage. One poster was lit on fire three years ago and the mess it made is still visible. The melted plastic all over the f*cking ground and the fingal lampost. They are also lethal when the wind gets behind it.

Down with this sorta thing.

jem

I think posters are great.
Remember not everyone does social media.
They inform voters who is actually standing
They give people standing for the first time a chance to gain name recogination which sitting TD's already have.
Gives people who are changing parties/ changing from a party to independant or visa versa to show that.
Actually shows people that democracy is happening.
many of the constituencies are huge and there is no way , even with a well Oiled party machine can every house be called to.
I agree with SeanW's point re USA
I actually like the colour they bring to streetscapes.
I would however limit the number of posters a canidate can put up in an indivudal town

salmocab

Rubberchikken wrote: »

No poster would ever influence me in how I voted.
Greatest waste of paper ever imo
Having said that, I'm so tired of all politicians and their lies I'm not voting this time round.

I hate the posters they really annoy me but I don’t think they are there to get your vote it’s to build brand recognition for the candidates. Without seeing them lots of people won’t know without having to find out who themselves is running locally.
It’s really too late to be having this conversation now but really there should be agreements put in place to curb this going forward.

ancapailldorcha

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

In the UK they didn't really do posters for the election a while back.

You'd see the odd roadside ad perhaps but not posters. At least not in cities. Social media would be far more effective IMO.

L1011

Candidates without posters don't get elected. Any canvasser you ask about that will politely leave.

Everyone says "posters don't affect me!" yet every single time there's an election the candidates without posters get absolutely nowhere. Casey is a rare exception and that's because he had the entire mass media covering him in detail - and he still didn't get elected. Twice.

MichaelKnee

How am I supposed to decide without the pictures?

Edgware

Edgware wrote: »

Maybe hanging a few of the politicians from lamp posts would be a better approach

They'd need to be put in Adult sized toddler - Harnesses then, to be put on the lamp posts

whisky_galore

Free hobby material, insulation for hen houses, scaring birds off crops, they have loads of uses.

Leroy42

Rather than get rid of them, wouldn't it makes sense to limit their use. As soon as an election is called, every lamp post is given a poster so that you might see the same poster, or at least the same party, numerous times on the same road.

So rather than ban them outright, as they do have a purpose and an election is something that everyone should be aware of, limit each candidate to X number of posters within their election zone.

JupiterKid

I agree that election posters are visual litter and a waste of resources, but many voters do use the posters for candidate recognition - candidates are keenly aware of this - and this is why they continue to be put up on lampposts come election time.

In some countries the use of election posters are banned. I think in Ieland door to door canvassing is essential for any candidate who takes their running in an election seriously.

Thelonious Monk

Would it be a crime to go around taking the posters down?

jem

Do think the poll questions are very leading and shows bias by the treat starter.
Would sugest the options should be changed.
Do you want posters banned yes or no.

Cina

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry yesterday when I saw the first ones sticking up sh*tloads of posters were the fecking Green Party.

L1011

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Would it be a crime to go around taking the posters down?

Yes, theft.

sydthebeat

one wall in every town / village / community area should be set aside as an "election" wall.

only the campaigners local to that election can put up a poster, and each campaigner can only erect one poster.

Thus everyone local to the area will see whos running without having to pass 50 posters on their way to the shops.

BeerWolf

Rubberchikken wrote: »

No poster would ever influence me in how I voted.
Greatest waste of paper ever imo
Having said that, I'm so tired of all politicians and their lies I'm not voting this time round.

Just want to point out, they're plastic. The irony of these people saying we should go green, all the while sticking up these eyesores everywhere along with plastic cable ties...

Edgware

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Would it be a crime to go around taking the posters down?

Ask the Shinners, they are at it regularly

topper75

BeerWolf wrote: »

Just want to point out, they're plastic. The irony of these people saying we should go green, all the while sticking up these eyesores everywhere along with plastic cable ties...

Well by 'go green' I am sure they merely mean pay more taxes to them. Shysters the lot of them. I might finally carry out my threat not to vote this time.

Some would say - your loss. I say no loss to me as I am shovelled the same ****e anyway by the next shower in, but at least the contentment of knowing no gain to them from me. "Don't vote; it only encourages them" as good old Spike M said.

WrenBoy

sydthebeat wrote: »

one wall in every town / village / community area should be set aside as an "election" wall.

only the campaigners local to that election can put up a poster, and each campaigner can only erect one poster.

Thus everyone local to the area will see whos running without having to pass 50 posters on their way to the shops.

A good idea in theory but imagine the bawling the candidates would have about placement and who gets to go where, why is he over my poster ?? Their poster was on the top line last election too, favouritism , etc, etc, Who would bring that on themselves ??

sydthebeat

WrenBoy wrote: »

A good idea in theory but imagine the bawling the candidates would have about placement and who gets to go where, why is he over my poster ?? Their poster was on the top line last election too, favouritism , etc, etc, Who would bring that on themselves ??

well whats the best position??

top left? as youd start if you were reading?
right in the center, where the eye would be drawn to?
bottom left or right, closer to the eye for older people...

or you simply draw lots for random placings....

if they start squabbling publically about something like this they would just be embarrassing themselves.

quietsailor

WrenBoy wrote: »

A good idea in theory but imagine the bawling the candidates would have about placement and who gets to go where, why is he over my poster ?? Their poster was on the top line last election too, favouritism , etc, etc, Who would bring that on themselves ??

Install billboards that can rotate the posters so every politician gets their poster seen for ten seconds at a time and the posters on a permanent loop

pgj2015

Do the green party put posters up? very hypocritical if they do.

cruizer101

Ideally what I would like to see is in each constituency produce a booklet that is delivered to every house in which each candidate gets one page where they can lay out why you should vote for them along with website you can go to for more info.
That combined with dedicated poster billboards as some have suggested would be far better.

I used to be more against them but I do understand for new candidates it does get there name out there, people suggest the same can be done with social media, I disagree, I use ad blockers and barley use facebook so chances of a candidates ad reaching me are slim enough. Where as if I see a poster I may well look them up to find out more info.

The problem is it have to be an all or nothing approach, there is no point in individual candidates saying they won't if everyone else is (Peter Casey doesn't count as presidential election with 11 candidates for whole country is different ball game altogether) and I can't see the government legislating for it.

WrenBoy

sydthebeat wrote: »

well whats the best position??

top left? as youd start if you were reading?
right in the center, where the eye would be drawn to?
bottom left or right, closer to the eye for older people...

or you simply draw lots for random placings....

if they start squabbling publically about something like this they would just be embarrassing themselves.

Thats my point they'd all want their own preferred spot, whatever that would be. I just think it'd lead to squabbling and a headache for organisers thats probably why they are happy to allow candidates to do their own posters within the current rules.
Have you seen some of the candidates that run in these elections, there not the type to get embarrassed about these kinds of things.

Edgware

pgj2015 wrote: »

Do the green party put posters up? very hypocritical if they do.

You actually believe their green scene rubbish. Loads of their ****e faces on posters already

pgj2015

Edgware wrote: »

You actually believe their green scene rubbish. Loads of their ****e faces on posters already

no I dont. id nearly vote for sinn fein before id vote for them hippies.

Sonics2k

I don't mind the posters. What does piss me off is the sheer bloody amount of them for each candidate.

Eggs For Dinner

The residents association in my home parish has had a blanket ban on posters for many years any it is unanimously observed by candidates. There is nothing legally to stop them being put up, but candidates know they won't get any votes if they do. You can actually see where the parish boundaries are as you drive through it because of the posters

kub

It amazes me that the Health and Safety authority allow guys put ladders up against poles, mostly guys on their own and use both hands to put up these posters.

I know for a fact that if I done something like that on a building site that I would probably be sent packing.

I am considering lodging a complaint to them, but as they are lackies for these same clowns then I have my doubts that they would do anything about my complaint.

Arghus

I hate them, pure visual pollution. They are the biggest eyesores, but they are never going to go away because the people who rely on them are never going to vote to abolish them.

The Tetrarch

I was influenced by the lovely pictures on the posters to buy Photoshop.

Tiddlypeeps

They should be banned. I believe in most of north america you are only allowed put posters up on private property (obviously with permission). Elections tend not to look nearly as stupid as they do in Ireland. In Japan I believe they have a billboard type of thing in designated locations that has a small space for each candidate to put a picture or whatever (picture linked below). It's still a bit of any eyesore but at least it's contained to certain designated locations.


https://japantoday-asset.scdn3.secure.raxcdn.com/img/store/cd/dc/f2935beb7044940c118c287419216cde720c/billboard/_w1700.jpg


The haphazard system in place at the moment only benefits the richer parties as they can hire more staff to get out earlier to grab the best poster locations.

L1011

kub wrote: »

It amazes me that the Health and Safety authority allow guys put ladders up against poles, mostly guys on their own and use both hands to put up these posters.

I know for a fact that if I done something like that on a building site that I would probably be sent packing.

I am considering lodging a complaint to them, but as they are lackies for these same clowns then I have my doubts that they would do anything about my complaint.

The HSA wouldn't do anything about your complaint as its not a workplace. No other reason.

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

The haphazard system in place at the moment only benefits the richer parties as they can hire more staff to get out earlier to grab the best poster locations.

Virtually nobody uses staff for postering. Party members primarily. Some of the wealthier Independents do.

fundi

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

They should be banned. I believe in most of north america you are only allowed put posters up on private property (obviously with permission). Elections tend not to look nearly as stupid as they do in Ireland. In Japan I believe they have a billboard type of thing in designated locations that has a small space for each candidate to put a picture or whatever (picture linked below). It's still a bit of any eyesore but at least it's contained to certain designated locations.


https://japantoday-asset.scdn3.secure.raxcdn.com/img/store/cd/dc/f2935beb7044940c118c287419216cde720c/billboard/_w1700.jpg


The haphazard system in place at the moment only benefits the richer parties as they can hire more staff to get out earlier to grab the best poster locations.

Correct. And Leo was getting his up before the election was even announced.

whisky_galore

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Would it be a crime to go around taking the posters down?

There's far worse crimes going on these days.

SeanW

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

They should be banned. I believe in most of north america you are only allowed put posters up on private property (obviously with permission). Elections tend not to look nearly as stupid as they do in Ireland.

Yyyyyyyeah. As for North America, be careful what you wish for ... a North American election might not "look as stupid" but the more expensive election advertisements really open the door for mind-blowing amounts of corruption.

The haphazard system in place at the moment only benefits the richer parties as they can hire more staff to get out earlier to grab the best poster locations.

Posters are cheap and any candidate that gets 5% of the vote can claim their expenses. If you really want the North American model, where would Ireland's K Street be? Because that's what you're asking for.

Tiddlypeeps

SeanW wrote: »

Yyyyyyyeah. As for North America, be careful what you wish for ... a North American election might not "look as stupid" but the more expensive election advertisements really open the door for mind-blowing amounts of corruption.

Posters are cheap and any candidate that gets 5% of the vote can claim their expenses. If you really want the North American model, where would Ireland's K Street be? Because that's what you're asking for.

I am in no way championing the American electoral system as a whole, just the rules around posters, why you would assume otherwise based on what I said is a bit perplexing. I also wasn't even suggesting that it was THE solution, I also pointed out the Japanese system. I'm more so pointing out there are alternative solutions that aren't just a free for all in any public space available.

facehugger99

Fully agree.

Anyone who needs a poster to inform them who they should be voting for is someone I don't want at a polling booth.

Graces7

Agree.. used to hate driving along a row of grinning Healy Raes..

Not voting either; think I am still registered in Kerry and too late to change that even if I could find a Garda etc. would need to be a postal vote too.... Also where I live is a very safe seat for a Minister so no point

Rubberchikken wrote: »

No poster would ever influence me in how I voted.
Greatest waste of paper ever imo
Having said that, I'm so tired of all politicians and their lies I'm not voting this time round.

Edgware

fundi wrote: »

Correct. And Leo was getting his up before the election was even announced.

"getting his up" Ooooh Matron

Edgware

Graces7 wrote: »

Agree.. used to hate driving along a row of grinning Healy Raes..

Not voting either; think I am still registered in Kerry and too late to change that even if I could find a Garda etc. would need to be a postal vote too.... Also where I live is a very safe seat for a Minister so no point

Better to spend your time whinging here.
Ministers have lost their seats in elections

reg114

In the day and age of multiple social media platforms , tv and radio its unacceptable for the electorate to be continually visually accosted by election posters. I was in italy for the european elections last year and there were zero posters on lamposts anywhere. As someone pointed out if I need a poster to become aware of your candidacy then you have already failed in one of your roles as a politician or an aspiring local representative.

All election posters / junkmail should be banned especially in the light of its generating so much unwanted waste.

Leroy42

reg114 wrote: »

In the day and age of multiple social media platforms , tv and radio its unacceptable for the electorate to be continually visually accosted by election posters. I was in italy for the european elections last year and there were zero posters on lamposts anywhere. As someone pointed out if I need a poster to become aware of your candidacy then you have already failed in one of your roles as a politician or an aspiring local representative.

All election posters / junkmail should be banned especially in the light of its generating so much unwanted waste.

So how should they inform you of the work they have done? Leaflet drops? People hate junk mail!

Would you be prepared to pay for more expensive advertising to allow them to reach all the voters? One would need adds in every paper, tv channels, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and numerous radio stations to ensure that the majority of voters got to hear about you.

Whilst a few posters on the main road is fairly cheap and last throughout the campaign.