Political Signs

An interesting question was raised this evening at Town Meeting by Jim Adler at the very end of the meeting. He rose to speak against a campaign sign which appeared in front of the Simpson townhouses Monday morning. The sign read something like "Alison May - Not!"

Jim spoke against the negative sentiment expressed in the sign, arguing that there was no place for negative campaigning such as this in a small town. He went on to state that he had removed the sign on his own initiative and, if anyone felt their First Amendment right to free speech had been infringed by that removal, they should speak to him directly.

I thought for a moment to rise and express my own view on the matter, particularly as Jim's statement received a good deal of applause, but it was late and people were ready to go home. So I'll state it here: I disagree with Jim on both points and believe his sentiments and actions ultimately illustrate why the First Amendment is necessary.

I first saw the sign in question driving out of town this morning. I do not endorse or support either Alison May or Sharon Racusin in this race so my susceptibility to partisan outrage may be rusty here. My first thought when I saw the sign was, "Does Sharon Racusin realize this sign is out here?" I don't know the answer but understand she is away.

To my mind, such a negative statement raised the question whether Sharon supported that kind of campaigning. If not, I felt, she had perhaps been done a disservice by whoever placed the sign. On the other hand, if Sharon actually supported that kind of campaigning, voters could make their own conclusions about her methods. The real menace of the sign was not, in my mind, the negative statement towards Alison May, but the implication Sharon Racusin was behind it -- an implication Sharon is not around to disavow or defend.

By removing the sign, Jim Adler unilaterally shut down a debate which might well have developed in a direction quite different from his initial, visceral reaction. Norwich voters have steadily punished divisive candidates over the past few election cycles and the possibility those signs might backfire would be a far stronger disincentive to that kind of campaigning than any scolding at the waning moments of town meeting might do. Instead we're left to decide between negative campaigning and self-anointed censors of political speech. Personally, I prefer negative campaigning because I can vote against them.

I also disagree with the implication of Jim's challenge to those who placed the signs -- taunting them to come speak to him directly if they felt he had infringed on their right to free speech. Want to know why Vermont towns continue to abandon open floor voting at town meeting for the secret Australian ballot? Look no further. The right to one's own conscience within a democracy does not easily survive the opprobrium of exposing one's views to the self-certain righteousness of certain neighbors. Jim may feel very strongly that there's no place for negative campaigning in Norwich, but why does that sentiment trump the sign-maker's apparently equally strong feeling that there's no place for Alison May on the Norwich Selectboard? In a nation of laws it does not. Our Constitution says protect the right to free speech and trust the people to determine whether the speaker is an idiot. Idiots can't keep their mouths shut for long. On the other hand, the power to silence deprives not simply the right to speak out, but also the right to hear what is said, think about it, and decide for oneself.

Jim, in my opinion you've acted rashly both in removing the sign and trumpeting the fact at town meeting. I hope some of the many who applauded you this evening will weigh in here to help me understand what was laudable about it.

And next time, please, instead of removing the sign that offends you, put up a sign right next to it saying, "Is this what we want in town government?" or "Is this leadership?" or maybe just a sign with an arrow pointing at the offender saying "I'm with stupid."