There are a lot of places the government is willing to go for money during these trying times in our economy. Indiana recently has given the green light to our riverboat casinos to stay open twenty-four hours a day in order to take advantage of raking in that extra 4 a.m. dough that comes from the John or Jane with a serious gambling problem. Still, some local governments are appearing even more desperate, planning to give corporate power-structures a hand in civil service.\nLowell and other towns in Lake County have approved a deal which would allow Government Acquisitions Inc. (a North Carolina company) to provide the region with police cars, fire trucks and ambulances for $1 a piece, provided they are allowed to place advertisements all over the vehicles.\nInevitably, the critics swarm.\nIs this truly the only answer to the fiscal dilemma that is available? It seems a big step to correct a problem that might have alternative solutions.\nHow can an officer of the law retain the respect required to enforce justice when his chariot reveals he's merely a subordinate cog in the spokes of the mighty corporation, all rights reserved, copyright 2003?\nBloomington Assistant Police Chief Randy Williamson can't seem to fathom that concept here in town.\n"I don't think that would be a good idea," he said. "Why would you want to advertise an establishment or company when you might have to bring some enforcement upon them?"\nWe fight strongly for the separation of church and state, but what about the unholy alliance of Church's chicken and state? Should the American corporate cult be prevented from dipping their fingers into government office? \nAh, the slippery slope. \nYet, who do we have to blame this idea's birth? Certainly not corporate America. After all, they're just doing their jobs. \nBut when local governments are being hounded to provide new services, when the city of Indianapolis is in a budget crisis and yet must find the funds necessary to correct the prison overcrowding dilemma, that money has to come from somewhere. \nBut we want "No new taxes."\nSo perhaps we could use that Nike swoosh on our emergency vehicles? Virginia Woolfe maintains that in addition to having a room of one's own in order to cultivate the true self, one also needs a benefactor who can provide a living stipend. Well, for Americans all over the nation, whether they be sports stars or University administrators, we need corporate sponsors -- so long as we want it all but pay for none of it. \nEven Williamson was quick to point out that though he doesn't approve of the advertising notion, it's not at all that new, as the current police cars already are branded by the dealership logo.\nBy no means do we want to show the world that the corporate machine controls us, but frankly, with our current lifestyle that doesn't seem to be going out of fashion, perhaps we can't help it. We might as well wear our scarlet Amoco with a sense of self awareness.
-- JP Benitez for the Editorial Board
