It was the perfect storm. Here in Southern Ontario we sat astride the US Canadian border while both countries were in the midst of election campaigns during the worst economic crisis since the great depression.
The result was a gearing up of one of the most irresponsible and embarrassing behaviours still permitted on our air waves.
Canadian ads are governed by Advertising Standards Canada, an industry run regulating body that fields complains and removes ads that "unfairly discredit, disparage or attack other products services, advertisements or exaggerate the nature or importance of competitive differences."
The code applies to every area of advertisement-except political ads which are expressly exempt from the code. In the United States, ads enjoy a similar exemption since the Supreme Court ruled they fall under the First Amendment rights to free speech.
That freedom without responsibility has not served the political process well on either side of the border.
As University of Texas advertising Professor Jef L. Richards noted, "The law requires a paper towel ad to be scrupulously honest, but allows political candidates to lie without reproach."
Advertising legend David Ogilvy beleives, "Political advertising ought to be stopped. It is the only really dishonest kind of ad that's left. It's totally dishonest."
Not only do political ads lower peoples opinion of advertising but help explain why its so hard to attract quality candidates and bring the entire political process into disrepute.
It is not surprising that Canada experienced the lowest level of participation by voters in our most recent Election.
To join us in helping lobby for political advertising to be held to, at least, the same ethical level as toilet paper commercials click on the title to this article to take you to our Facebook page.
The result was a gearing up of one of the most irresponsible and embarrassing behaviours still permitted on our air waves.
Canadian ads are governed by Advertising Standards Canada, an industry run regulating body that fields complains and removes ads that "unfairly discredit, disparage or attack other products services, advertisements or exaggerate the nature or importance of competitive differences."
The code applies to every area of advertisement-except political ads which are expressly exempt from the code. In the United States, ads enjoy a similar exemption since the Supreme Court ruled they fall under the First Amendment rights to free speech.
That freedom without responsibility has not served the political process well on either side of the border.
As University of Texas advertising Professor Jef L. Richards noted, "The law requires a paper towel ad to be scrupulously honest, but allows political candidates to lie without reproach."
Advertising legend David Ogilvy beleives, "Political advertising ought to be stopped. It is the only really dishonest kind of ad that's left. It's totally dishonest."
Not only do political ads lower peoples opinion of advertising but help explain why its so hard to attract quality candidates and bring the entire political process into disrepute.
It is not surprising that Canada experienced the lowest level of participation by voters in our most recent Election.
To join us in helping lobby for political advertising to be held to, at least, the same ethical level as toilet paper commercials click on the title to this article to take you to our Facebook page.
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