Environment

Ban on election posters proposed by leader of the Green Party

by infomatique | July 26, 2008 at 01:36 pm | 255 views | 2 comments | 12 recommendations

I have classified this as "environment" even though it may not really have anything to do with the environment.

During the Lisbon Treaty Referendum the Irish government lost partly (or even mainly) due to the poster campaign mounted by the opposition groups so it is interesting to note that the Government are considering restricting the displaying of posters.

I like the posters as they add a lot of excitement to what are often uninteresting political campaigns. However, I have included a quote from a local blog "Twenty Major" agreeing with the banning of posters ... I had to remove a word that some will consider offensive. The point about politicians having to visit people at home is a valid one.

23/07/2008 - 13:19:36
Environment Minister John Gormley is looking at ways to reduce pollution and littering caused by election posters.

Mr Gormley has launched a public consultation process to examine how to address the problem.

Some of the ideas put forward include restricting the locations where posters can be displayed, introducing a new code of practice and bringing in new powers for local authorities.

At the moment, election and referendum posters are exempt from the Litter Pollution Act until seven days after polling day.

it might get politicians going door to door to let their consituents know who they are, what they stand for and to answer questions that people might have. As it stands they get a load of posters made up, lash them to posts and trees, and that’s about as much contact as the vast majority of people have with the person they’re supposed to choose to represent them.

So forget the environment, despite them being a waste of paper and ink and a blot on landscape when they’re up, ban them because it will make politicians work harder.

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amyjudd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:52 on July 26th, 2008

infomatique, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I agree with 'Twenty Major'. It might be nice to see what politicians can do without the visual aid of constant posters and advertising. Maybe it will make them more creative.