Sociology of Car Bumpers

Something my sister pointed out, based on driving from San Francisco to southern California, and subsequently confirmed by local observations (for example, in the parking lot on my way back from basketball today):

  • When you see magnetic ribbons attached to cars, they invariably have right-leaning political slogans on them: "Support the Troops" and the like.
  • When you see left-leaning political slogans on cars ("Support the Troops: Impeach Bush"), they're invariably on bumper stickers.

Why is that? Are leftists just a bunch of cheap Luddites afraid of using new technologies? Are conservatives just overprotective of the paint on their fancy SUV's? What's going on here?

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Bumper stickers show more commitment.

By ERIC JUVE (not verified) on 29 Jan 2007 #permalink

That's obvious! The right-leaning folks are mere turncoats, ready to remove their magnetic stickers any time! ;)

There's a pickup truck in San Jose with a personalized license plate that reads PUV XYZ. It wasn't until I saw his bumper stickers that I realized that it was a political message.

Turn the ribbon sideways. It's a jesus fish.

I've never actually seen left-leaning slogans printed on one of those magnetic ribbons. Of course, maybe they exist, but the other side pulls them off cars.

I don't know that you can ascribe any political side to the magnetic pink breast cancer ribbons, though when I first saw them I hoped they would say, "Support our Gay Troops" (as a necessary corollary to "Support our Troops," of course, and not with the implication that all troops are gay).

I have seen "Support Our Troops: Bring Them Home" on a ribbon. Also "Support America's magnetic ribbon industry" - is that lefty?

I choose "leftists are a bunch of cheap Luddites afraid of using new technologies?" :o)

By Chris' Wills (not verified) on 29 Jan 2007 #permalink

Just as an aside, I've spent several mornings commuting behind a guy in a monster Toyota Highlander V8 with a "Not rich enough for Bush's tax cut" bumper sticker. I find this highly amusing. Especially when I see the guy in a Prius with a "W" sticker from the '04 election cycle.

The win though, was seeing them side by side one morning.

I wished I had a camera with me, as it would have been an awesome picture.

Hey, Rich Y. Thanks for plugging our "Support Our Scientists" magnets. Glad you like 'em. I also set up a plethora of "SOS" products on cafepress... though that may actually bolster the "leftists are cheap..." argument. :-D

I had my left-leaning bumper sticker vandalized (partly ripped off and right leaning sticker was placed over it), so if it had been a magnet I'm sure it would have disappeared.