A week ago, Postimees editorial wondered, regarding upcoming elections: «No doubt, Centre party will treat us with fresh election tricks.» Lo and behold: at first outdoor advertising round, we are facing a cynical use of taxpayers’ money merrily used in Tallinn’s power party interests: outdoor ads of North Tallinn elder and her deputy are paid by pulling funds out of Tallinners’ pockets.
The drivel about one urging folks to move more and the other announcing a new sports hall is all out embarrassing. This editorial purposefully avoids printing these persons names – why the extra advertisement?
Regrettably the past teaches us: once on a roll, more is on the way. Meaning these two apparatchiks will not be the last ones dipping their fingers into voters’ purse. We could proceed to explain to Centre Party people why it is not nice to have election ads paid by townsfolk money... but this would not be relevant. As this is no election ad, this is «legally clean» on steroids.
Because: what says the person on the ad? Something nice and good, looking nice and good herself. Any hints at the party? Oh no, green is beautiful as it is, soothing and placative. Thus: a happy official says something nice to the people, in a soothing manner.
This is not election advertising. This is municipal information; and considering how rarely the Ansip-governed people hear anything good at all, the city needs to do ads like that to lift the spirits.
Okay, this is political outdoor advertising, even though the letter K (for Keskerakond) is not featured this time around. As, desiring to sincerely remind townspeople of all opportunities offered by Tallinn, a social democrat writer from city council might invite people to the library; and a family doctor from the Reform Party fraction might point to the importance of health checks. Such ads, however, are never seen in Tallinn. All we have is Centre Party people proclaiming their plans.
It is natural for those running for elections to use ads. But it is altogether unnatural to call it informing people, paying with town funds.
This being the more unbearable that, with the inevitability of Tallinn TV, the funds use continues unflinchingly. And we would not dare believe that these huge «information posters» would save us from deluge in mailboxes – the green folders season beginning after September 16th, with the political outdoor advertising ban.