NationStates Jolt Archive

This was inspired by recent events in Sao Paulo. How does it look so far? Any ideas?

Name:
Big Business Burned By Billboard Ban
or
Big Business Bothered By Billboard Ban

Description:
The voters of @@ANIMAL@@ City have recently passed a measure to ban all advertising in the city center. The advertising industry is petitioning you to intervene on it's behalf.

Validity:
Valid for all nations

[option]"This legislation is a blatant violation of my freedom of speech!" cries advertising bigwig @@RANDOMNAME@@. "And it isn't doing much for the economy either- just think of all the lost jobs. This law must be stopped! It is clear that local municipalities can't be trusted with this kind of power."
[effect] all the windows in @@NAME@@'s cities are being plastered over to make room for more advertising space
[stats]Economic freedom increase significantly, Political freedoms fall significantly, Economic strength increases slightly

[option]"Life in @@ANIMAL@@ City has never been better." retorts City Council Speaker @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Who knew that we had such lovely baroque architecture hidden behind all those awful billboards? Not only should the government let the law stand, but it should be applied nationally. Just think of all the electricity we'll save when we get rid of all that unsightly neon!
[effect]grocers and bankers have to resort to busking in order to attract customers
[stats]Political freedoms increase slightly, economic freedoms fall significantly, economic strength falls slightly, environment improves slightly

[option]Noted starving artist @@RANDOMNAME@@ has his own angle. "While I wholeheartedly agree that we need to reclaim our public space from big business, the advertising industry does account for some jobs. We'll need to fill that gap somehow. The government could pay local artists to beautify the @@TYPE@@'s cities. Just think of it- every wall a glorious canvass for free expression!"
[effect]@@NAME@@'s cities are being covered with murals and mosaics
[stats]culture level rises significantly, civil freedoms increase slightly, economic freedoms fall slightly, tax rate goes up, government size increases

I believe that stats can slightly or significantly be altered. I think it may be helpful to the moderators / admins is you attempted to show some relative weighting of your stat changes.

For example, you have political freedoms falling because the mayor's decision is being overruled ... but who is to say that the mayor's decision was democratically based. First, I'd at best consider that a slight decrease in political freedoms. Second, you may want to say voters recently approved a measure to ban advertising in the city center ... this will make it more clear that the political will is being overturned. :)

I do like the issue. In fact, you can have a ton of fun with the impacts!

Thank you for your input. :)
Your advice has been noted and incorporated into the issue draft. Effect text has also been added.

I think we've already got an issue about advertising somewhere.

Well, I was trying to write an issue that is more about public space- particularly the question of public visual space. The 'advertising issue' that we have is an issue about installing public megaphones. The options allow one to use these for government propaganda, advertising, or to ban advertising altogether.

Perhaps if I made the 'Validity' for nations that have already banned advertising and slightly altered the 'description' to state that a consortium of former advertising executives are petitioning the government to allow them to advertise on billboards again.