I want to try an exercise. Please humor me... I want to pass a bill through Congress

[Writer]

that stipulates that all stop signs in the nation should be painted yellow, because yellow is the new red.

You disagree, thinking that the idea is utterly ridiculous.

We meet to negotiate. I'm obstinate about my position, but you try anyway.

Try to negotiate with me.

[treestar]

1. If the letters are still white, it will be hard to read them against yellow.

How about orange?

[Writer]

2. Orange? That's still too much like red.

And yellow is the new red.

[treestar]

3. Orange is the new yellow

How about black lettering on a yellow sign? That is in fact the clearest combo for the eyes. It is why legal pads are yellow.

[Writer]

5. Ahhh. So that means that I still get my yellow signs?

It's a win for me!

[treestar]

6. It appears we "caved" to you

Rather than be adamant that they stay red.

But we could argue the signs are easier to see now.

[Writer]

13. And what if you stayed adamant? n/t

[treestar]

15. Then we would still have red signs

But suppose I really think the black on yellow signs are an improvement that makes us all safer?

[Writer]

16. Well if you philosophically agree with me that yellow is the new red, then I'm in a winning position

If there's a stand-off, then... I don't know. Would there be any bill at all? I don't know. We'd have to play that out.

Psst... I'm inviting you to come at me again.

[treestar]

19. I actually don't agree on that basis

Yellow is the new red seems to be a random statement.

Why is it the new red? Are fire engines yellow? A new trend there?

Would we have to change the traffic signals too? Yellow means stop? Then what do we do for caution?

[Writer]

20. ((It IS a random statement.))

But it's a philosophy I hold dear. That's why, after I pass my bill to repaint the signs, that I am going to order all street light colors in the nation to be recast as green for go, puce for caution, and yellow for stop.

[treestar]

21. do you have ties to the puce lighting industry

[Writer]

22. That's not a relevant question.

It seems that you have chosen to be a yellow hater! Are you a yellow hater, because the American people want yellow. They believe firmly in yellow, and I side with the American people. Always.

[treestar]

23. I think I understand yellow is the new red now

It is popular with the people. And then there is your study from the U. of Ridicula. So it sounds like a good idea. If it's a good idea, I don't have to just win. Some will say I caved, but they must prove that red signs are better.

[Writer]

24. Ah. America the Yellow will be a beautiful place.

Someday soon, I'll press to have our national flag changed to yellow, white, and blue. It will be magical.

[drm604]

4. Questions

What are the benefits?

How much will paint and labor cost? Is that cost justifiable? How will it be paid for?

Won't there be an increase in accidents since people are used to red stop signs?

Isn't this an issue for the states to decide individually?

[Writer]

9. Answers.

1. The benefit is that, because yellow is the new red, drivers will identify with the more fashionable yellow, and they will pay closer attention to the signs.

2. Paint and labor? My most recent research shows that the expense incurred of cops attending to, and cities cleaning up accidents, will be more than saved by a modest investment for the 15 minutes it would take to repaint the signs. We'll save money in the long run.

3. Actually, because yellow reflects light better, in day or in night before headlights, people will be able to see the signs better.

4. The style of stop signs are governed by the Department of Transportation.

[drm604]

12. Do you have any studies showing that yellow will reduce accidents?

You're asking us to take it on faith.

[Writer]

14. Why, yes, of course.

Here's a study from the University of Ridicula. They showed that, over a ten year period, that yellow stop signs will reduce accidents by 33%.

[drm604]

38. Excuse me

but the University of Ridicula is an obvious front for the Yellow Paint Manufacturers Association of America. Just look at all the yellow on their website! They release all kinds of studies touting the supposedly positive properties of yellow and the supposed environmental dangers of non-yellow paints.

In fact, I'm positive that you are a paid operative of YPMAA based on the fact that you only joined in 2005 and only have 18432 posts!

[Skittles]

7. red = repukes who STOP progress

therefore red is the logical color of a stop sign

[Writer]

10. LOL! Well, following that logic, if we keep them red, wouldn't the person want to keep driving...

with the chance that they might run over a Republican?

[brewens]

8. First I try to bribe you. Maybe offering a lucrative lobbying

position if you ever get voted out. Failing that, I have some dirt on you that I threaten to expose, that will ruin your career.
Either way, you and your pesky yellow sign bill go away.
Probably the way at least half of these kind of things get settled.

[Writer]

11. Grrrr... I'll call your bluff, but thanks for the donation!

I'll pocket it, but I'll still press for my yellow signs. I don't do quid pro quo.

[nolabear]

17. Red is deeply ingrained in both the psyche and society as an alert color.

It'a a natural attention-getter. And a population accustomed to having a color mean a specific thing won't react initially well to change. It's also going to be terribly confusing to have yellow mean "slow" or "caution" on a light and "stop" on a sign. And will you keep red as the stop signal for lights? Accidents will result.

[Writer]

18. I know that's your concern, but hey look - I have here a study...

from the University of Ridicula that shows that yellow stop signs will reduce accidents by 33% over a ten year period. Yellow signs, then, will reduce accidents.

Oh - and, because yellow is the new red, I am assured that yellow will go farther to attract drivers' attentions when they're on the road.

And, by the way, why are you such a yellow hater? The American people like yellow. They want yellow.

[Brother Buzz]

25. If I can attach a rider requiring all fire trucks be painted red again...

instead of that namby-pamby shade of green, I'll support your bill.

[Writer]

27. Well if it's the puce you want to get rid of, how about I add an amendment...

that says that all fire trucks be painted YELLOW. It's a win-win. More yellow (because it's the new red), and you get rid of the puce fire trucks.

[Brother Buzz]

36. Let's cut to the chase and simply deregulate the paint industry

If we let the paint industry label all red paint yellow (the new red), they save a ton of money because red paint is cheaper and more toxic to manufacture than yellow paint. It's a win-win; I get my red fire truck that's legally documented yellow, and you make a heap of money from the paint lobbyists for looking the other way.

[sweetapogee]

28. the

Acme Yellow Paint Company just hired a shit load of hungry young salesmen and have lowered by half the price of their yellow. I read this in the newspaper.

[Clio the Leo]

26. You'd GET that bill passed if you'd just SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP!!!!

... ya know, like LBJ and stuff. ;)

[Writer]

29. If I maintain that yellow is the new red...

and stand by my claim, I know that eventually everyone will agree with me. I'm *sure of it.

[Writer]

30. I need to cap this off and leave for the night. Remember always: Yellow is good for this fellow!nt

[Ozymanithrax]

31. I will filibuster your Obamasign bill.

No socialist Obamasigns.

Yellow is the color of socialism.

Better red than yellow.

Better mellow than yellow.

Filibuster ...
Filibuster ...
Filibuster ...

[struggle4progress]

32. The signs should be white so they don't clash with the white letters

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. If you're trying to make a GOP point, you're doing a good job.

To have any relevance to the question, one must assume a) that you have the power to push it through congress and b) you want my support.

Therefore your exercise assumes we're both in congress, and therefore I don't have to negotiate. I can simply say no. Just like the Repubs do.

The difference is that the bill you are proposing is irrelevant to people's lives. The ones in the real world are not, and the GOP opposes them because they would help people.

[nolabear]

34. Okay, so when do you reveal the point of the experiment?

[and-justice-for-all]

35. I will sign on to your bill...

but I need funding for my 'bridge'.

[applegrove]

37. Red is passionate. So people will passionately stop. Yellow just causes anxiety.

So people will be hesitant but not completely stop.

[JoePhilly]

39. Glen Beck strongly disagrees with you .... and now you are in trouble ...

Glen says that the BORDER of the sign should be BLUE, the inside of the sign RED, and the letters still WHITE. Because that's more American.

Glen correctly points out that the current RED signs with the word STOP are basically a COMMUNIST PLOT. People need to know that he government does NOT have the authority to tell anyone to STOP, check your copy of the Constitution, and you will find absolutely no mention of signs (particularly commie colored signs) that say STOP. So the new RED, WHITE, and BLUE signs will say FREEDOM on them.

And .... as for your RIDICULOUS suggestion that these signs be yellow, well, you give your true intent away by picking a color so closely associated with MAO. And your plan to keep the word STOP on the sign, again shows your desire to give the government total control over our lives.

In response, Glen is now organizing FREEDOM protests at every STOP sign in the country as I type. Millions of freedom loving Americans are going to be driving right through the Unconstitutional Stop Signs from now on. They're calling themselves the SIGN PARTY. A

Glen has also set up a website where you can learn all about the many communist, socialist street signs that people like you and Obama are pushing on the American People. The Yield Sign is up next. Then speed limit signs.

Breaking News Update: Fox News has just announced that thousands of liberal socialists have caused millions of accidents this morning because they continue to stop at stop signs, thus allowing the freedom loving SIGN PARTY members to crash into them. The Fox and Friends are covering it now, encouraging people to use spray paint to change the sign colors, and the wording, on their own. God Bless America!!

[Bluenorthwest]

40. The design and implimentation of traffic signs is a matter

for the States and local governments. They are currently the authorities, not the Federal government. As you are suggesting a federally mandated change, I assume you have a plan to fund the vast expenses involved not just in changing the signs, but of informing the populace of that change. Please show in detail where that money will come from, what you will remove from the budget to pay for this decorator suggestion?