Yard Signs
This week’s quote, courtesy of Emily Dickinson: "The whole yard is a garden."
Happy Labor Day!
My wife and I love taking road trips through rural America. Fun, hidden gems (ask us about Columbus, Indiana!), and damn revealing. Since 2015, we’ve seen jarring numbers of Trump yard signs, and almost none for Biden or HRC. No worries, according to the Democratic Party intelligentsia: “Yard signs don’t vote.” Well, yard signs convey passionate commitment. Many see them. They matter.
The eruption of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris sets the stage for a Democratic Party yard-sign rally. There’s the yawner below from the campaign’s official store. Or an independent group offers the Barbie look. Honestly, neither does it for me.
I’m mesmerized by the “Joy” sign below. In showing it to others, some instantly love it. Some say, “Hey, I’m not sure what it’s is about?” But that’s the point. It starts conversations. It’s not polarizing, unlikely to be vandalized. It sparks curiosity, and invites possibility. If you’re vexed by its ambiguity, you can append your own mini-sign, like “Vote November 5th!”
This not-for-profit grassroots brilliance comes from a remarkable artist (Lisa Barsumian) and her logistics-chomping spouse (Tom Farrell). Kudos to them for a sign that stops people in their tracks, that makes it easy for us to . . . DO SOMETHING! Buy a yard sign today, and have it up by Friday. Share your enthusiasm for the pro-democracy ticket.
And . . . do even more! Reach out to friends in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Tell them why you support Harris/Walz. Include a photo of your yard sign, and encourage them to put one up. Send them a yard sign as a gift. Hey, send them a dozen for their friends and admiring passersby. Spark a joyful grassroots response to those idiotic “Fuck Your Feelings” flags. Help the Harris/Walz campaign go viral in the oft-neglected physical world!
Door to Door
I’ve gotten many requests along these lines: “I’m all-in. I want to go door-to-door just before the election. How should I do this?”
My answer: “Don’t.” It’s expensive, inefficient, and risky in “Stand Your Ground” states. There are better ways to help. But if you do this, go early. By late October, these voters will be exhausted by the onslaught.
Also, consider what I learned in frigid Iowa City before the 2008 caucus. For seven days, I went to ‘vetted’ addresses provided by my Obama point person. Total waste of time. On caucus day, I went rogue. I wrote a one-pager making my case for Barack Obama, and made 200 copies at the local Staples. I camped out in a public mall. As people walked by, I offered, “If you’re thinking about going to tonight’s caucus, would you look at this?” I handed out the 200 copies . . . in 90 minutes. Many circled back, asking for copies for friends. Off to Staples for another 250 copies. And then another 250. A polite, unobtrusive offer. In a safe, busy space. With100x more impact than door knocking. I just wish I’d gone two months earlier, and gave away yard signs.
Moneyball
Yes, we desperately need to win this election. Don’t waste your time and money. Avoid high-profile campaigns awash in money — they’ll dump your incremental dollars into overpriced, ineffective tv ads. Don’t knock on the doors of voters sick and tired of being hounded. Think outside the box. Be boldly contrarian. Feel Kamala-level joy, with moneyball impact.
Ted (tdintersmith@gmail.com)
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Excellent article, thanks, Ted.