Sign removal may become a campaign strategy
Apparently, I have lost more political races than anyone in Arkansas history. I have lost more races than Abraham Lincoln. I guess I am just not a very good politician. I ran for Arkansas secretary of state. Then I ran several races for state Senate, state representative, mayor, school board, etc. It is said that one does not learn much when they win, but they learn much more when they lose. If that is true, I should be one of the smartest men in Arkansas.
One thing I learned in losing was that I was always out-spent by more than 10 to one. It seems most elected positions are for sale. The candidate with the most money usually wins.
The second thing I learned came to me during the last Bella Vista Property Owners Association assessment increase election. For four POA elections it seemed when the Bella Vista Patriot’s “Vote No” signs were right next to the POA’s “Vote Yes” signs, the POA signs would stay up and the Patriot signs would strangely disappear. Finally during the last election I caught a POA/Architectural Control Committee operative, Dr. Ralph Patterson, red-handed taking two of our signs. In his sworn testimony to the Bella Vista Police, he stated, in part, when he used to work for the POA/ ACC he would remove signs all the time, because they would be in violation of the ACC codes and regulations.” Perhaps this explains where at least some of our signs were disappearing to.
The Bella Vista Police investigated and turned their report over to the City Prosecuting Attorney. A trial was held Dec. 7. The final judgment was for the defendant to pay the Bella Vista Patriots $43.82 for the two stolen signs and $100 in court costs. Then his case was placed on deferred adjudication for a year, after which criminal charges will be dropped if there are no other issues.
The light outcome of the trail sets a precedent for candidates to form new strategies for future campaigns. A candidate now knows that he can send supporters or paid bounty hunters out to take all of the opponents’ campaign signs. The candidate can tell them the worst thing that can happen to them even if they get caught red-handed is to pay $21.91 per sign, $100 in court costs and face one year of a form of probation. Almost any unscrupulous candidate with lots of money would be glad to pay this price to strip his opponent of his campaign signs. It’s an inexpensive way to campaign and an almost sure way to win.
Several times in the past, when I found one of my opponent’s signs on the ground, I placed them back up. No wonder I lost so many races. What was I thinking? I guess the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” just doesn’t apply in the field of politics.
I am concerned with this latest weak-kneed court judgment that stealing campaign signs will soon be on the rise.
JIM PARSONS
Bella Vista
Motivate Congress: Make
health care law about them
Since Obamacare is still not settled, allow me to offer my humble opinion. How about if our congressional members write up a health care bill as though it was for them? Of course, there would be no other insurance options for them. I can assure you the bill would come together quickly, fairly, no deductibles, very affordable and contain the best benefits. Am I dreaming? Yes, of course, but wouldn’t that be the answer for all Americans? Problem solved.
On another note, why is Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) getting a paycheck? She is quoted as saying “I will fight Donald Trump every inch of the way.” Wasn’t she elected to work for the good of our country? What’s wrong with Californians to keep re-electing her with such an attitude? Look up her other bad quotes. I would like to know how much good she has done for her constituency and district.
Wouldn’t this be a better world if we all tried to work together, or at least did our best?
JO GASPORD
Bella Vista