Influential Ads

The federal government is out to get the tobacco companies and healthy, virile Joe Camel billboards that influenced minors to smoke. At the same time, television commercials dilute the airways with beer commercials containing catchy jingles and healthy, virile young men and women, bottles in hand, appearing to be going for all the gusto life has to offer. Even frogs and lizards get in on this act. Which is more influential, billboards or television ads?

Violence is glamorized and exploited by the movie industry, but when the government has the notion to regulate that market, all of show biz cries “censorship!”

If the federal government can ban Joe Camel, at least our kids will not be smoking and endangering themselves or others with their secondhand smoke while they are firing at us. I just hope they are so drunk they can’t shoot straight and have a designated driver. What a country--a nation immersed in selective denial.

MILTON PULLEN

Malibu