The Institute for Justice hit one out of the park with this video, which is one of the few attempts at online humor that is both effective at delivering a message and really funny. One of DC’s most philosophically consistent defenders of individual liberties, IJ just released a series of studies on the effects local governments can have on the business climate, even as elected officials try to “fix this unemployment problem.”
Tag: funny videos
Crist probably didn’t approve THIS message
From the Florida Senate race comes this re-mix of a Charlie Crist ad:
This video is well done, drives home a message simply and effectively, and may very well have been done on an activist’s home computer. Aside from demonstrating that the campaign messages are sometimes best articulated by volunteers and voters, it shows the idiocy of campaign finance laws.
This isn’t necessarily a rogue activist popping off, but that is certainly a possibility. Is that an in-kind donation to the Rubio campaign? To Meek? To both? And how much is are the few hours of video editing worth?
The argument against campaign finance laws has always been that they fail to recognize the individual right of free speech. When the only way to broadcast a message to a wide audience was through expensive broadcast media buys, it was harder to put the speech of a wealthy campaign supporter in the same category as Joe Q. Average sharing an opinion with friends and neighbors. Today’s environment is different. The person behind the video above understands that it doesn’t take a big dollar donation to get your point across anymore.
Sunday Funnies: Taking on FreedomWorks
This week, Tommy Christopher at Mediaite shared this parody of FreedomWorks’ Matt Kibbe and the tea party movement:
If the character playing Kibbe sounds a little familiar, it’s because he’s the former voiceover artist who left a threatening voicemail with FreedomWorks resulting in him getting axed from GEICO. (Happiest guy about this? That “Could switching to GEICO really save you 15% or more” guy who looks like an extra from Mad Men.)
The joke is a bit of inside baseball – if you follow politics closely you recognize the takeoff of Kibbe’s signature ‘burns. But it’s so clearly directed at FreedomWorks, that its limited appeal really doesn’t matter – this is nothing but an FU to FW.
It isn’t deserved, but at least it’s funny.
Sunday Funnies: Administration talking heads become Talking Heads
Sunday Funnies: Happy Independence Day. Celebrate in style.
Sunday Funnies: Maybe we shouldn’t give Google any ideas…
Facebook got all the press this week answering privacy questions, but isn’t this just a matter of time?
Sunday Funnies: How Social Networks are Made
Introducing Gink, the next big internet fad…
Sunday Funnies: Here comes summer of George movie season
Sometimes, when you go to a movie, you don’t want a gripping action drama like Prognosis Negative or Death Blow, but you aren’t in the mood for a lighthearted comedy like Sack Lunch. Sometimes you want a great story of triumph – and failing that, you’ll settle for a retelling of the George Costanza saga:
If you liked The English Patient it’s right up your alley…
Going green
Check this out:
This commercial, which appeared on Good Morning America today, sends two interesting messages about the environmental movement here on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
First, if you do not live green, a barrage of tiny fists will rain down justice upon you unless your socks and underwear are earth-friendly. Be afraid.
Second, ecological awareness can lead to economical success. The New York Times reports that environmentalism is now a business practice for many big companies. Some activists are nonplussed:
To many pioneers of the environmental movement, eco-consumerism, creeping for decades, is intensely frustrating and detracts from Earth Day’s original purpose.
“This ridiculous perverted marketing has cheapened the concept of what is really green,” said Denis Hayes, who was national coordinator of the first Earth Day and is returning to organize this year’s activities in Washington. “It is tragic.”
Those that frown on corporate participation miss an important aspect of American business: left to their own devices, companies are reflections of culture. If Hanes is push eco-socks and 20th Century Fox is adjusting normal schedules to release the highest-grossing movie in history on Earth Day, it’s because environmentalism is recognized as an important social value. What isn’t recognized as an important social value is government regulation, which is why environmental consciousness has not always translated into support for the environmental political movement.
What might a more middle-of-the-road environmental movement look like? Organizations which promote ecologically sound personal activity and issue report cards on corporate green initiatives should be the centerpiece. Individuals are already interested in becoming more environmentally friendly and can vote with their own behaviors and their own wallets if properly informed.
No one wants to be beaten up by a gang of toddlers in a shopping mall, right?
Jim Eltringham 