So what do you think?
The page starts with http://www.stopAandF.com and then forwards into the official State of Illinois web site at http://www.state.il.us/ltgov/stopaandf.htm.
First off, I can see anyone bitching and moaning about advertising they are offended by as this is a right. But in my opinion, the State of Illinois’s website should not be the host for an official’s moral complaint.
BTW, I pretty much guarantee that this sort of “out cry” using state funded “property” will gain more attention than the issue it is against. I find it wrong and if any of my State of Colorado officials did the same thing there would be a counter attack on principle of using public property for this kind of publicity.
(if this needs to be moved to GD, then go for it, but thought this would be a good starting place.)
Also, with the large Illinois contingent here, I am especially curious as to what you think.
BTW, I found this on a news article on Iwon.com – a Rueters story. With the amount of people that read a lot of Rueters stories I imagine that the State’s servers will take a huge hit over the next few days.
Just to expand on the OP a little bit, Lieutenant Governor Corrine Wood (R-some suburb of Chicago) is the one trying to put a stop to the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue.
As for MHO, I believe that Ms. Wood’s personal crusade against A&F is simply going to draw more attention to the A&F catalogue. I know that when I first heard the sound bite, my first reaction was to go to the A&F website and order a catalogue just so I could see what all the fuss was about. IOW, it’s becoming a Big Deal because Ms. Wood is making a Big Deal out of it.
Also, I think that if Ms. Wood wants to be the state’s “Mom,” she should be a democrat.
As for the questions raised in the OP: I’m ambivalent about the idea of using the state’s web site to propogate a moral agenda. Two things: First, I think at some point this won’t be just a moral issue, as Ms. Wood probably plans to make it a legislative issue (specifically, I think she wants to take A&F to court for violating child pornography statutes). Second, I’m sure Ms. Wood isn’t the only politician using his/her jurisdiction’s website to promote their agenda.
My $.02
I’m torn. We elect our officials for the express purpose of promoting an agenda. If the Web site were saying “please support me in my effort to get the state legislature to outlaw the A&F catalog” I wouldn’t have a problem with the site (though I would have a massive problem with the goal."
My problem here is that she is requesting support for a personal boycott and, in my opinion, boycotts are outside the realm of acceptable government behavior.
If you look at the first website, there is a link to the pictures…I don’t know what to think.
[QUOTE]
I wouldn’t have a problem with the site (though I would have a massive problem with the goal
[QUOTE]
I don’t have a problem with the message at all, we all have the ability in the US to send out a message of what we are not happy with. Obf, what I have a problem with is that they give out a .com site and it directs you to the state’s website.
Had the Lieutenant Governor kept it in the clear, using a privately funded website, I would not have had much of an opinion on it.
The thing is, to me, it gives the impression that all Illinois citizens are for this idea. As far as I could tell there was no impending law, in my opinion, it was a complete attack on an official’s dislike for the ads in question.
Hey, I am cool with anyone that wants to bring something like this to attention, but I am against using tax payers money (even if I am not in the state in question) to further such a means.
It’s one thing to be for a law or against one but another entirely if public property is used to start some moralistic war against advertisers and the people when there apparently is no gain other than the usage of public property for a moral view by an official.
I hope that makes sense. I am tired, my brother’s dog is over here (and a little freaked out for being here – but better than a kennel) and I am kind of skimming the boards this night…I am soon to go to sleep.
And I forgot how to code. YEESH, I am in way over my head tonight!
Sorry about that!
Wait a sec. On this page, there are (censored) photos from the A&F catalogue, which ostensibly show nudity. Does the A&F catalogue show nudity? I gotta get me one of them.
For the record, her usage of public resources to fight a consumer entity is appalling. For all I know, she could be receiving campaign donations from The Gap, and the State of Illinois is hosting her personal crusade.