Just when I think that advertising has penetrated every possible venue, a new opportunity to promote raises its cheery head. This particular advertising technique apparently started in Texas, but I expect we can take it to its craziest extreme in my state, Illinois.
How about ads on your vehicle license plate? That’s right. Instead of “Land of Lincoln” (or maybe in addition to), under a proposal being considered in the state general assembly, companies could buy ad space on license plates. This proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that our Illinois state government will do anything to make money.
But you probably are thinking, “so what?” It is goofy, but it doesn’t hurt anyone.
Well…I’m not so sure. I have been known to put a bumper sticker on my car. It usually has something to do with a pro-life initiative or a politician I support. But that is very different from the state being able to put an ad on my car that may promote a company or organization I don’t like.
Let’s say Acme Widgets pays the state to be a license-plate sponsor. OK, I don’t have anything against widgets, but what if Acme is a well-known supporter of Planned Parenthood? What if Acme has a subsidiary that makes birth-control devices? Why should the state put their logo on my license plate?
I don’t want to be a moving ad for something I don’t believe in. And beyond that, the last thing the world needs now is more visual pollution. If the state wants to put something on my license plate, how about a flower? But I get to pick the color.
