Am I the only one sickened by this?

[Guest Downhome]

I just feel way uncomfortable about this, really now. I cringe at the thought of ads on Nascars, ball parks having corporate names, and other type things, but this just really irks me, in a very big way. Call me crazy, but am I the only one who is very bothered by this plan? Read on...

 

 

ATLANTA -- To cash-strapped cities across the nation, the offer seems too good to pass up. New police cars for $1 each in exchange for allowing NASCAR-style advertisements all over the cruisers.

 

 

Cities buffeted by the recession and a post-9/11 travel lull are jumping at the deal pushed by a Charlotte company. Since May, more than 20 cities have signed contracts for the cars, and more than 200 others are interested.

 

 

Some observers fear that putting ads on police cars goes too far. Gary Kritz, an advertising professor at Seton Hall University, sees potential conflicts. Police might look the other way on matters involving local patrons, or advertisers might ''do something to get the cop cars in motion.''

 

 

''I think it's a little shortsighted,'' says Kelly Edmiston, assistant economics professor at Georgia State University. ''The economy is going to turn around, but they're taking diehard measures.''

 

 

Public entities and advertisers have cozied up for years. But now, the pitching extends everywhere. San Diego is considering letting General Motors put ads on lifeguard towers in exchange for 35 free cars. The city of St. Charles, Mo., voted in September to rent ad space on its trash-collection trucks. And Biggs, Calif., population 1,793, is mulling an offer from the California Milk Processor Board to change its name to Got Milk?, Calif., for a ''meaningful contribution.''

 

 

Sam Slay, police chief of Springfield, Fla., wasn't crazy at first about the idea of ads on cruisers but signed up. ''Sometimes you have to set your preferences aside for the principle, and we need these cars,'' he says.

 

 

Springfield, a Panama City suburb of fewer than 10,000 people, is hoping for 15 Ford Crown Victorias worth $24,000 each. Advertising fees would pay for the cars and three years of maintenance.

 

 

Ken Allison, a partner with Government Acquisitions LLC of Charlotte, says the first car delivery is three to six months away. He says the company will solicit ads from national and local companies -- ''even the local bail bondsman, or an attorney's office.''

 

 

Some hopefuls fret that the car deal is too sweet. ''My father said if something sounds too good to be true, it is,'' says Ozark, Ala., Mayor Bob Bunting, who's seeking 10 cars. ''But I said, 'Let's try it. We have nothing to lose.' ''

 

 

...now, what do YOU think of this?

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest DrTom]

I think it sucks. I'm tired of seeing ads everywhere I go. The last place I want to see them is on a police car, but even lifeguard towers and trash trucks are beyond the pale. Any sign that a city has sold out to corporate admongers should be fought staunchly by the citizens.

[Guest Downhome]

This truly pisses me off now that I think about it even more.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

This ad craze is getting ridiculous.

 

What fucktard would buy something because they see it on the side of a police car anyways?

[Guest Bosstones Fan]

This is *almost* as dumb as the idea of putting a series of short ads in the commercially sold DVD's of various TV shows.

 

It's total overkill that will do nothing but make me NOT buy the advertised products.

[Guest Downhome]

Agreed, it will have the EXACT same reaction from me. Oh yeah, if they even THINK about bringing this sh*t to MY town, my God have mercy on the officials here. I will raise so much hell about it, period.

[Guest The Amazing Rando]

Next up....Advertising tattooed on your favorite wrestlers backs!

 

 

Like Crash Holly....Try a Slurpee!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Boxers already do that. I've seen a few fighters with "BetsBG.com" written on their backs. The genius of it is, if they're getting their ass handed to them, it will rub off on the ropes and the mat, so no one makes the connection that the company is linked to some loser.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

I'd vote for ads on our police cruisers before I'd vote on raising taxes for police funding. HOWEVER, I'd insist strict laws about how much space is being used and the vehicle would have to be heavily identifiable as a police car. So you can't just take a whole side or something.

 

That level, however, is riduclous and a risk to public safety.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Who's planning on advertising on the sides of these cruisers anyway? I know I'm not alone in the fact that I'd bust up laughing if I saw a dunkin' donuts logo on the side of a cop car.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

I'd be all for all the ads and sponsorships at ballparks and arenas if it meant the ticket prices would not rise. Salaries went so high that now not only are we inundated with advertisements but we also have to deal with the ever-increasing price of tickets on top of that. Plus the concessions are expensive as all hell, they should at least having vending machines for those who just want an inexpensive snack.

 

Polices cruisers having ads doesn't suprise me anymore, because of all the tv channels available, channel surfing and stuff like TIVO, advertisers have to get their product's name out there anyway they can. Soon schools and other government agencies will probably have sponsorships. Today children our algebra lesson will be brought to you by Hersey's chocolate and the good folks @ the local cine-plex.

 

Isn't NASA going to have their missions sponsored by corporations?

[Guest Ram]

allowing NASCAR-style advertisements all over the cruisers.

 

Yeah, I scanned through the first paragraph and got an image of all the cruiserweights plastered in advertisements.

 

Skip to the loo my darling.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

What's next. Having sponsers for traffic stops, and arrests. This speeding ticket is brought to you by Pepsi and Home Depot.

[Guest B-X]

If the cops start reading you Your Miranda Rights by Pepsi Co. , I will riot. I'll pull the black mask over my head and join the anarchists.

 

This shit ain't right.

[Guest LooseCannon]

If you think this is bad, I recall once reading an article that talked about how companies may start paying people to name their children after their products. And no it wasn't satirical. This is an idea that advertising companies are seriously exploring.

[Guest converge241]

This cavity search is brought to you by bran flakes

 

the police and bran...keeping your colon clean

 

 

 

 

I cant believe they are doing this..imagine if it actually gets to the point that the Nascar stuff is..you cant even make out the names sometimes cause there are so damn many

[Guest cynicalprofit]

What fucktard would buy something because they see it on the side of a police car anyways?

 

They should have things like, Police say getting high is cool. Hey the dont do drugs message is obviously not working, and most teens hate authority, so there you go.

 

Isnt this a violation of my rights, I have to be arrested by an officer of the court, not an officer of the highest bidder. I mean to be arrested doesnt bother me, but when the police become funded by an outside source, and then arrest you, isnt thtat illegal. I mean if Pepsi started to advertise on cars, would police then be more likely to target people who drink coke?(And yes I can see Pepsi making a memo saying to go after coke drinkers or else, you have no idea how evil those people are)

 

Still, it would have been funny as fuck to see Rodney King having his head smashed agaisnt a Pepsi logo. Or during court, before they show the tape, seeing a commerical for mountain dew because pepsi pays for their tapes too.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Eh, I don't really care. I just think it's a waste of money by the advertiser, but then again what do I know? I'm not a marketing "professional..."

[Guest The Czech Republic]

I'd name my kid Allstate for the right price. At least he'd be in good hands.

And face it, "Allstate Smith" still sounds better than "Indiana Warrior."

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I mean if Pepsi started to advertise on cars, would police then be more likely to target people who drink coke?

I hope you were joking. If not, that's just ridiculous that you would think that.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Anybody else get a funny sense of RoboCop? I mean, in RoboCop, Detroit was going bankrupt, so Omni Consumer Products (OCP) bought out the police force...

[Guest DrTom]

Corey, Robocop was actually the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

I hope you were joking. If not, that's just ridiculous that you would think that.

 

No I'm not joking, Pepsi or Coke would love to eradicate the other and claim total dominace. And I wouldnt past people to value their money and personal influence over your rights.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

When we get to the point where

 

"This Pepsi ad is brought to you by the fine folks at Ford"

 

Advertising on Advertisements!

 

I think I might worry.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Star Wars, brought to you by Pepsi already happened dude. (Star wars movies are just advertisments for everything they made from the movie, ie toys, games, etc)

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I hope you were joking. If not, that's just ridiculous that you would think that.

 

No I'm not joking, Pepsi or Coke would love to eradicate the other and claim total dominace. And I wouldnt past people to value their money and personal influence over your rights.

Pepsi would force the police to arrest people who are doing nothing but drinking Coke?

 

You are an idiot.

[Guest LooseCannon]

Yeah, fuck Pepsi.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Why am I an idiot, because i believe corporations would do everything they could to gain total market dominace, hello, thats what every business wants. Fuck you and your no corporations arent that evil attitude, for puplicity companys will pay so they can name your kid, if that doesnt tell you how low they will go, you obviously are missing something.

 

Look at microsoft, did everything they could legally do to kill off competition, and you know what, it pretty much worked. Hell look at the US government, if you dont agree with us, we have you signaled(sp) out and we do our best to make sure you dont succeed. If Pepsi did get enough control, bet your ass they would make coke drinking illegal and punishable.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Cynicalprofit is correct. The whole idea is stupid, but the corporations would try it anyways.

[Guest LooseCannon]

I mean if Pepsi started to advertise on cars, would police then be more likely to target people who drink coke?(And yes I can see Pepsi making a memo saying to go after coke drinkers or else, you have no idea how evil those people are)

You're not very familiar with the Constitution are you, specifically the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the 14th amendment and the Due Process clause of the 5th? Nor do you seem to have a basic understanding of how the judicial system works, or even a basic competency as to the how the U.S. government works both federally and locally. I just took about five seconds to actually think about this idea for the first time, and as it turns out, everyone else is right. You are an idiot. If Pepsi wants the fuck sued out of them for violating individual constitutional liberties, than perhaps they might try this. I'm not saying they're above it. I'm just saying they are not as stupid as you.