Rural Politics

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Today is primary election day in my suburban town of Cumming, Georgia USA (ZIP code 30041). The city is growing very fast so this is a heavily-campaigned election.

If you were a resident of my town, here are some things you would have been subjected to during the last one week.

• Thousands of picket signs along the roads advertising various candidates, varying in size from 11"x17" to huge trailer-hitched billboards.
• Twenty seven voicemail messages on your home phone during a 24-hour period with pre-recorded testimonials or attack commentary. (No joke - our answering machine has been flooded these past few days.)
• Supporters standing on the side of the road at major intersections waving banners for their candidates.
• Personal phone calls from senior citizens working for campaign committees willing to answer your questions about election issues in favor of their candidate.
• Personal letters from your neighbors encouraging you to vote for such-and-such Commissioner who will support neighborhood rights.
• And my favorite... Door-to-door visits from the candidate's father.