Posted on 04/25/2005 7:37:51 PM PDT by qam1
On an afternoon in Sacramento, Calif., 147 vehicles are parked outside a theater complex under a hazy spring sky. There are shiny Town Cars and rusty Ford pickup trucks, perky Rav 4s and burly Silverados.
For all their differences in name and prestige, they have one thing in common: Their backsides are pristine. Not one of them sports a single gem of wisdom plastered to a bumper.
Bumper stickers, first used in election campaigns after World War II and once a powerful form of political and cultural expression, can still be found in trinket shops and Internet stores. But fewer and fewer of them seem to be showing up on the backs of cars.
The main reason, observers say, is the increasing political prickliness of Americans. In a divided society, commuters are wary of announcing the way they feel about the president or the war or religion or any other controversial subject.
“The car is the American icon, so there was something wonderful about the bumper sticker,” says Carol Gardner, who traveled the country a decade ago for a book about bumper stickers and the people behind them. “They used to represent the town hall of the American roadway. Now they’re disappearing, and it’s kind of a shame.”
Gardner, whose “Bumper Sticker Wisdom: America’s Pulpit Above the Tail Pipe” (Beyond Words Publishing, $19.95) got national attention when it was published in 1995, has a couple of theories about why fewer people seem to be adorning their cars with messages these days.
“With all of the violence and terrorism in our world today, people just want to be careful about expressing their views,” she says. “They are afraid of the consequences.”
Baby boomers who once plastered their Volkswagen vans with slogans that spoke to issues such as abortion and politics have become more introspective and less activist, notes Gardner, who remains a student of stickers.
“Bumper stickers really became popular in the 1960s when baby boomers were out there taking on all of the issues,” including civil rights and women’s rights, she says. “In the 1990s, the boomers were turning 50 and started buying ‘self-help’ and ‘how to’ books rather than standing up for causes and talking about issues.”
Others point to the fact that more people are driving leased cars or otherwise costly vehicles that they are reluctant to decorate with stickers, which likely will fade, peel and prove difficult to remove.
That helps explain the popularity of the colorful car magnets in the shape of ribbons that promote everything from breast-cancer awareness to supporting the troops. Bumper stickers, observers say, are more likely to end up in cubicles or bulletin boards today than on vehicles.
“We all have nicer cars now,” jokes Deborah Chausse, owner of Evangeline’s gift shop in Sacramento. “I think that’s the reason you rarely see bumper stickers. I know I wouldn’t want to put a sticker on my car that might leave some kind of residue.”
Chausse drives a Lexus.
Sales of bumper stickers have steadily eroded during the past decade as a percentage of all promotional trinkets, including hats and shirts, bags and computer mouse pads, according to an international trade association.
Promotional Products Association International reports that buttons, badges and stickers represented 3.5 percent of sales of such items in 2003, compared with 6.8 percent in 1993.
But although bumper stickers may be less ubiquitous, they do not yet appear to be in danger of going the way of the 8-track tape. Particularly during election years they remain popular, says Bill Prickett of the trade organization.
Are you required to retreat in your state before you can legally defend yourself? If yes, that might be a reason to consider relocating.
I had a great one on the back of my little car I just traded off. Need to get another one for my truck. It stated "Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun".
I recall Mickey Mouse with a "Hey, Iran!" and a one-finger wave.
My nominee for most ubiquitous AND asinine sticker, however, was always the one that said "Question Authority." Whenever I see someone with that sticker, I always make it a point to tell them, loudly, "NO!"
They almost never get it.
Did you get the officer's name? That would have been an EASY harassment claim to make in front of the judge, and if not the judge, in front of the press. It would have gotten him a $#!#storm of trouble!
Next time bring white out ...
Just erase "If you Think" from the bumper sticker ... it improves it! " .... Education is Expensive, try ignorance"
"ONE EARTH ONE P_OP_E"
"W - >>> Elect him in 2004 <<<"
My nominee for most ubiquitous AND asinine sticker, however, was always the one that said "Question Authority." Whenever I see someone with that sticker, I always make it a point to tell them, loudly, "NO!"
----
I was thinking of making my own bumper sticker in response ...
QUESTION STUPIDITY
Very clever. I just ignore the clowns, try not to get Road Rage. I live in the SF Bay Area so I see these moronic bumper stickers all the time. I want to make one up that says..THE SIXTIES ARE OVER--GROW UP. I know my truck would get seriously messed up by the "tolerant" libs.
I took my Bush sticker off my car after some @sshole kicked in my door. At least it was after the election and they were more pissed off than moi.
The best and most enjoyable thing to do is to put your "60's are over" or a Bush or W bumper sticker on THEIR cars. Preferably where they can't miss it.
For those afraid to put permanent bumper stickers on their car can try this . I go to a local sign shop and buy scraps of the magnetic sheets , stick my bumper stickers to them , carefully cut them out and use a similar colored marker around the edges and stick away . You can remove them whenever you want .Stickers adorning my tailgate are : Liberals Suck ! ,Doing my part to piss off the Liberal Democrats , Saving your ass like it or not (with pic of Bush pointing ), and of course the classic black W sticker , all nestled next to my NRA sticker . It makes my day watching the Libs freak out when they see them .
Even better:
Even better:
You should have reported him, and told him you were reporting him. A liberal would have.
If you're Born Again do you get another belly button?
(In London) Keep Britain Tidy. Kill a tourist.
I got my magnetic bumper stickers from here.
I can always tell the whackos on both sides of the political spectrum by how many bumper stickers are on their car.
Very nice!
I guarantee ya they look better in those shirts than me. :)
Where the heck is Wall Drug?
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