To all our residents where ever you are

Flim Flam Ala Kazzam -  you guessed it – our new Rembrandt

The wizard of UCO

Stew Richland

Thomas Edison was the wizard of Menlo Park. Now we are witnessing the rise of the second coming of a self styled wizard of electronics communication and gadgets here in Century Village.  Our very own UCO President on his tout sheet (biography) describes these special  gifts that will bring the wonders of electronics to, you guessed it, Century Village, USA.

What Dave Israel is doing is taking a desperate shot from half-court to justify an unjustifiable act.  He is attempting to make his pitch to the residents, that he “Il Supremo” is the only viable candidate for President of UCO.  This is from a person that has broken, and trampled on the traditions of Century Village by trashing the accepted bylaw and indulging himself to not only one drink from the trough but now two.  The American people allowed Roosevelt this pass on tradition because we were at war and Americans did not want to change horses in mid-stream.  Dave Israel is no F.D. Roosevelt. 

Failing to stem the tide of support for Phyllis Richland for UCO President, “Il Supremo” now resorts to what he knows best,  using the  “nerf ball” of rhetoric to attack or besmirch what others are doing in support of Phyllis Richland.  This student of Machiavellian subterfuge, now refers to the Banner that Olga has placed legally on her association property “eye pollution.”  By his self-styled standards of aesthetics he classifies the banner as an “eye sore.”  We have been told that the UCO Reporter is in short supply for new articles.  Just a suggestion Dave, since you are our self-appointed art critic, why don’t you share your artistic expertise with those that are just normal Century Villages humans.  Let me provide you with a column heading,  “Dave Israel the Rembrandt of Century Village.”

Mr. Israel, aka Rembrandt,  also views any communication placed on Association bulletin boards as “eye pollution.”  The “art critic” strikes again.  What we have here is business as usual.  Dave Israel has had a free ride for his quest for an illegal fourth term.  When the Century Village Messenger became the Village gadfly, he responded by not responding.  When this group did not go away,  he then responded in his inimitable classic response labeling the group as “malcontents.”  But the Century Village Messenger Club  did not go away. 

Israel wants to be UCO President so badly that he reaches into his bag of goo to come up with any tactic that could demean his opposition.  This explains why he trivialized the banner that Olga has displayed on her Association property.  If Dave, as he attempts to justify his reaction to the campaign banner as an affront to his sensibilities, why then does he not call County Enforcement about the “feather banners” decorating the Century Village real estate office.  Two years ago when the county elections were in full swing, there were literally hundreds of posters and banners displayed up and down every main thoroughfare.  How about the person who wears the cow costume that is in full display at the entrance of the Turnpike right outside of our village.  Why not complain about the advertisements on every County bus, or the bill board signs for lawyers and the Florida Lottery.  Well Dave why did you not exercise your critical eye on these advertisements?

We all know why you did what you did!   You will do anything to win this election.   You know that Phyllis Richland has all the qualifications and support to win in March.

How effective are election campaign posters?  According to research, the impact that posters, as well as broadsides , banners and billboards have had great impact over last two centuries in America as well as the rest of the world.

Posters,  Propaganda, and Persuasion in Election Campaigns Around the World  written by Steven A. Seidman,  is considered the definitive study of political posters as a medium of communications in different societies and eras.  His study ranges from American political campaigns from the early 19^th century to contemporary politics in Europe, Asia and Africa. His research provides compelling evidence of the effectiveness of the political poster and how it has influenced public opinion and behavior.

The election of 1912, became the watershed of campaign posters in American politics.  The contenders were Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson.  For the first time patriotic symbols were not used.  Instead there were images of the candidates, symbols of their political parties and a very short slogan.  Every political campaign from this time forward imitated the technique used by those running in the election of 1912.

That is why Phyllis Richland placed her election poster on the fence outside the Village.  It was designed to inform the electorate that some one of substance was challenging the status quo.

You clearly understood that banners and posters were a threat to your campaign.  As most people who fear opposition, you resorted to the tactics of Fascist dictators of old and attempted to limit their exposure to the voters of Century Village.  No campaigning in the club house, no handouts to be allowed in the Club House because people do not want to be bothered with this “stuff.” while playing cards.  Pool campaigning also Verboten and using UCO pressure  to end free public gatherings at public buildings in Century Village.

One final observation.  The speed in which the Nomination Committee is moving to put in place the process and procedures for the March election, would probably come in second place to the speedy Turtle. 

Political Scientists refer to the art of politics as a very dirty business. Based on the actions of our current leader, Century Village can be used as the bench mark for this observation.

Show above are some of the great examples of political campaign posters.  Based on Dave Israel’s standards,  each and every one of them would have to be torn down, because they are offensive because they pollute the eyes. 

The purpose of the poster or banner is a low tech manner to reach voters. Political campaigns that we run here in Century Village rely on low tech methods to get their candidates name and message out. We want the voting public to notice that there is a real election going on in the Village.  Dave cannot stand the fact that he is now facing a formidable candidate, Phyllis Richland, so he has to resort calling County Enforcement.

This tells us that the Commissar is sitting on a very shaky seat.

In the preface to a Library of Congress publication on campaign art, and NPR writer Brooke Gladstone comments, “We all know that posters are blatant manipulations, intended not to inform but to enlist. They emphasize faces and catchphrases. They condense complicated issues into jagged little pills. They are blunt instruments.”

“At the same time, the most effective campaign posters of every era leave as much as possible to the voter's imagination. They are like Japanese manga: the less detailed the image, the more easily we can identify with the candidate, the more space for projecting our dreams. The more specific the image, the greater the risk of creating a feeling of "otherness," which translates into death at the polls.”

What emerges is political portrait of American politics in action.  Campaign posters are part of our cultural heritage. What Phyllis Richland is doing is keeping our cultural heritage alive.