While walking through many of our neighborhoods I notice the usual crop of political signs dotting yards, poles, and vacant lots.  Some small and unassuming, others huge and not to be ignored.  It set me to wondering about the real purpose behind all these proclamations of devotion.

Am I to be set into deep thought about the message each sign displays ?  Shall I ponder each message more deeply now that I know how you are voting ? Like most, I've made up my mind regarding who shall get my vote. So the signs tell me....what ?  What each signs' owner thinks ?  So I'm to know how my neighbors plan to vote, and therefore this will give me pause ?

Of course not. I find myself asking...Who cares ? Your house, your vote.  You choose to publicly proclaim you allegience to a person or cause, I do not. Although, there are some signs that surprise me, based on my acquaintence with the resident involved.  And some signs in yards clearly hinting that the person at this residence may favor anarchy or something close to it !  Mostly these are homemade signs, suggesting that this resident knows far more than your average voter. File that information away. May be useful when planning future routes to avoid on my walks.

Some signs are puzzling. The recent "Save Thorndale" signs seem to fly in the face of the "business needs more sympathy" mantra of the Romney campaign. Yet, there they are, the Romney and Save Thorndale signs cohabitating in the same yard.  Is it a true conflict of "save our trees" libralism and "business rules" conservatism ?  I don't know.  This level of deep pondering over yard signs may not be my best idea.

If no rezoning were required, and the proposed crematory were quietly added to a funereal home, would the residents even know it had been installed ?  Would property values truly be affected like the huge protest signs insist ?  I just don't know.  So the sign has caused me to think about things that I cannot answer.

Sometimes, when in a very serious frame of mind, I've attempted to engage my fellow citizens using our Stow Patch forum, seeking answers or offering opinion on the topics of the day.   Most of the time this ends badly, with name calling and accusations about my ancestry.  So I'll just continue to observe these yard signs, and the people who post them.

Besides, my dog Layla growls at many of them as we pass by.  She has stronger opinions than I do, I guess.