I'd like to make a case for more liberal Bumper stickers. Why? you might ask. Well, its because people spend a lot of time in their cars. They see a lot of Bumper Stickers. I am bombarded by tea party stickers all around me. They are sometimes clever, but always make me cringe in disgust. They always provoke a response from me, whether it is speeding up and cutting this person off then slamming on the brakes, or just muttering something under my breath if I have anyone else in the car with me.
The one that gets me is The word "STOP" in white block letters on a red octagonal background. I'm sure you've all seen it, It resembles one of those darn socialist "Stop Signs" constantly impeding MY ability to drive MY car as fast as I can through MY residential neighborhood. Then below this "Stop Sign" is the word "Socialism" in a Bold Black Block font. I think to myself, would you have any use for this car you are driving had we not had socialist roads and highways? Would we even have this suburban neighborhood had we not had Eisenhower's Socialist interstate highway system?
So In response to this, I have decided to post here my idea for a bumper sticker to respond to the "Stop Socialism" the tea partiers are proudly displaying.... On the background of the Interstate Shield That marks every interstate highway the following text: "Don't like socialism? GET OFF MY HIGHWAY"
The reason I feel we need bumper stickers is because the average American does not care to read a well thought out piece here at the DailyKos. In my opinion a good bumper sticker can turn the tide of the american psyche. People see the "Stop Socialism" sticker and see Big Red (communist russia) and Bold Black (do I have to even). This creates new "obamaphobes" more than we are willing to admit. However stupid it may seem, I think its important to tap into voter stupidity, on their level, and throw out some slogans that just show us in a good light or simply make you think twice about the last slogan you read. (But not think more than twice because people who'd think more than twice would obviously come here, to Dkos, and read well thought pieces.)
A close friend of mine, when discussing this topic, said to me, "The problem is, bad ideas are the easiest to squeeze into a slogan." I tend to agree with that however as I state above, It doesnt need to be the do all end all of our worries, it just needs to change the light thats being shown on progressives.
That is why I think we need more bumper stickers, we need them to supplement the thoughts of liberal bloggers, and progressive voices. People will not listen to the voices if they are predisposed to think they are wrong, or "less right' than their current thought. Telling people "they are wrong" isnt going to change their minds, its going to galvanize them, making them laugh, then showing them how it would be different... and Better... is the only way I see to be able to stay in power.