BY MIKE CETERA
Amen.
I've always found it strange and slightly irritating that every time I drive through an I-Pass lane, I have to read a sign with Gov. Rod Blagojevich congratulating himself. I cop the same slightly annoyed attitude whenever I travel to the airport and must be welcomed by Richard M. Daley.
So, I'm all for a law that would ban "state officeholders from having their names appear on tax-subsidized billboards and electronic signs promoting government programs." Unfortunately, I don't think this bill goes far enough.
It should include any tax-subsidized sign, regardless of what it's promoting. That means politicians everywhere would no longer be able to welcome me into their communities -- like Daley -- or tout their accomplishments or discourage speeders. Whatever.
Such "signed" messages benefit no taxpayers and serve only as campaign billboards. And, eventually -- by retirement, death or ballot loss -- those signs are going to have to be changed at taxpayer expense. I say, if you want 'em, pay for them yourselves.
Rich Miller over at The Capitol Fax Blog says the Senate is unlikely to pass this measure, which received nearly unanimous support in the House. Too bad.
I can't recall any local signs that aggravate me. Anyone else?
Preach on Brotha!
You should take a drive through Fermilab. The "safety" signs are so numerous and long that you are more likely to crash trying to read them. They even change them regularly.
I wonder if they could save a job by eliminating the sign making department? Hmm....
I would like to see a sign for people entering the State of Illinois: "Welcome to Illinois: Where $500 Can Buy You A License To Drive A Truck."
This would be interested; but what I find very annoying is that our city's motto is not "Second to None" it is "the City of Lights" because we were the first to have lights in our City. Second to None was a campaign slogan by the current Mayor who has just announced his re-election. Thus City money spent by the Mayor under no authority by the City Council was used to promote this political slogan on every piece of literature; propaganda and even now license plate holders. It is a waste of money and I think it is just not right. There should be a law against political slogans being promoted by elected officials with taxpayer money.
I think the motto "Second to None" is a slogan for the city, not the mayor. I like it.
How about...
"The Citizens of Illinois Welcome You"
"The Citizens of Aurora....."
I think this would be taken much better than seeing the name of some 'unknown' whom it is highly unlikely that a visitor would bump into during their visit.
Second to none is a political slogan during the Weisner run for Mayor in 2005. It has now overshadowed our historical City Slogan which is City of Lights because of Weisner's obsession with making everything saying Second to None. It is not a City slogan.