I have a friend who wondered on the day after the election if campaign signs placed by supporters of candidates at highway intersections and on residential lawns really change someone’s mind when deciding for whom to vote.

I think the signs are similar to the theory behind paid advertising — repeating an idea, picture or product enough times might just result in a sale for the company making the pitch. In this case, the product is the candidate.

Whether the signs alter a voter’s choice is not an issue for me; advertising is advertising.

The American voter should and must do some research on the candidates before casting their ballot.

That being said, what bothers me is when the signs, especially along roadsides (not on front lawns) are left to shred in the wind and remain tattered and worn until at least the next spring.

When I worked with the late Jack Pressmann’s campaign for Allentown mayor in 1993, the polls had no sooner closed on election night than he returned to the campaign office and told everyone to go out and gather up the signs. Leaving them along the roadways longer than necessary was not acceptable to him.

Another form of advertising at this time of year, however, is what bothers me the most — the Medicare television commercials featuring little old ladies with gray hair and glasses slipping off their noses.

For some reason, dear old Martha and (her sister?) Karen are presented as so dense the voice-over man explaining Medicare needs to repeat the information several times — and does so in a condescending voice. Do advertising agencies really believe female “seasoned citizens,” or anyone else for that matter, are going to find these Medicare commercials complimentary?

Geez, give me a “Where’s the beef?” commercial anytime. The late Clara Peller in Wendy’s 1984 commercial for their hamburgers had moxie. She would have asked these Medicare advertisers, “Where’s the straight info?”

Thank goodness these commercials will only be broadcast until Dec. 7.

For those who haven’t seen or listened to addled Martha or Karen, that is the closing date to choose or change Medicare plans for 2025.

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press