Ideas for Signs & Slogans (updated!)
** UPDATED 06/17/09 ** 301 Tea Party Signs and Slogans
** UPDATED 06/15/09 ** Great new site discovered with lots of slogans too!
** UPDATED 05/29/09 ** Friends Sign and Slogans via Flicker
**POST UPDATED 4/10/09**
"My American Idols" sign at March 15 Nebraska Tea Party "Pork" Protest
General Suggestions:
I have seen many clever signs in all of the pictures and videos coming from the many Tea Party events that have taken place across the country. There are a lot of creative, witty people in this country.
Please think about the message you wish to send. Of course we are all frustrated with the current state of things in our country, but let us all consider our image as “the opposition” when creating our signs. As the “Tea Party movement” gains momentum, the media attention has increased and it will only continue to do so.
With that in mind, as the media attention increases, many journalists will be looking for an opportunity to discredit the entire endeavor. Let’s not give them any assistance in doing so through our own conduct.
Avoid the highly partisan, personal attack, or vulgar message.
Unfortunately, there have been a few isolated incidents at Tea Parties in other cities in which attendees attempted to enter the event with signs containing racial slurs.
Note that any signs including profanity or racial slurs will be turned away at the rally site.
It’s important to avoid partisan messages. Our problems have been caused by both political parties. Keep in mind that some people attending the rally may be coming to new realizations about their past votes. In other words, they are on the cusp of change; partisan rhetoric isn’t going to help them along.
Design
Obviously, you can pull out the Sharpies and piece of poster board and go to town making signs. But one of the easiest ways to make an easy-to-read sign is to make it up on the computer, print it out, and affix it to the poster board. One of my favorites from the Feb. 27th Tea Parties was a simple white poster board with plain block, black letters in all caps., no graphic:
“YOUR MORTGAGE IS NOT MY PROBLEM”
If you really want to get creative but don’t have a better graphics program than the Paint program that is included with windows, there is a free program that has been recommended to me that you could download:
If you would like some patriotic graphics, you could visit the following sites, which have public domain images:
Images of American Political History
At Obamicon.me you can turn any image into one of those socialist - looking posters.
You are welcome to use any of the graphics on my Flicker account in this album.
SEE BOTTOM OF POST FOR OTHER GRAPHIC IMAGES
Free poster software
Poster 8 is a program that you can download for free. It is a trial version, but you can make up to 10 posters as large as 100 x 100 (feet!) using only your home printer.
Construction Tips
Packaging tape
One of the best suggestions I’ve heard for sign-making is: once done, take low cost packaging tape (generic store brand) and cover it over. The strips of tape are easier than contact paper. Covering it protects it from potential water damage.
**NOTE** The Captiol Commission rules prohibit the use of items on sticks on Capitol grounds for safety reasons. (I know, I know) Please do not put your sign on a stake or stick.
Sign Concepts:
Change We Can Believe In blog has very nice, individual pictures of twenty signs from various Tea Party events. Some great ideas there. *Note* I do not recommend the first sign. I know it’s “clever”, but again, let’s avoid partisan rhetoric and it IS a bit vulgar.
Graphic: Picture of a crying child
Text: “Grandma (Dad, Mom), how can they sign away with ink what our founding fathers won with blood?”
Graphic: President Obama signing a bill into law
Text: “How dare you sign away with ink what our founding fathers won with their blood!”
Slogans:
101 Tea Party Ideas Blog has 178 Slogans listed.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA THEMES
No taxation without deliberative representation!
Party Like it’s 1773
The Answer to 1984 is 1776
Give me Liberty, not Debt
BASIC PRINCIPLES
“Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth.” - Margaret Thatcher
Free markets, not freeloaders
Born Free, Taxed to Death
DIRECTED TOWARD ELECTED OFFICIALS
You’ve run out of our money
Pathologically unable to accept responsibility
YOU work for US!
Congress: ‘Readin’, ‘Ritin’, but ‘Rethmetic
EXCESSIVE SPENDING / BORROWING / PRINTING OF MONEY
News Flash! The U.S. Government is Bankrupt!! THERE IS NO MONEY!!!!
WE are the ones you are stealing from!
BAILOUTS / STIMULUS
Keep your bailout, I’ll keep my freedom!
Don’t Stimulate: Liberate
Bailouts, Stimulus, and Pork. Oh My!
Stop Subsidizing Stupidity
Repeal the Bailout
Bailouts and waste are bad for my environment
PLAY ON BARACK OBAMA’S CAMPAIGN THEMES
Chains You Can Believe In
Change? I Can’t Believe it
Spare us your change
SOCIALISM / MARXISM / COMMUNISM
Economic crisis is a dream come true for A MARXIST REVOLUTION!!!
The Laws of Economics Have Been Repealed!! A bankrupt government cannot save a BANKRUPT BANKING SYSTEM!!!
No More Rich(middle class) people Under Obama. Obama will force everyone to CONTRIBUTE TO COLLECTIVE POVERTY!!!
Stop the Marxist Takeover!
Robbing Hood: Stealing from the Prosperous to Give to the Incompetent
Pillage and Plunder: At Least the Vikings did it Openly
If You Think Health Care is Expensive Now, Wait Until it’s Free
RONALD REAGAN / REAGAN QUOTES
“A Time For Choosing”, 1964
“There is no left or right. There is only up or down.”
“Government is not the solution to our problem, government IS the problem.”
GRAPHICS
Thank you, Pat, for these:
These are all 11 x 17 in size, color, ready to print:
No Publice Money for Private Failure
