Identity Theft

Arthur D. Hlavaty turned me on to a good idea the Corpuscle had for a TV spot:

If I had a million dollars -- well, more likely, several million -- here's the T.V. ad I'd create and run until the most harrowing problem our democracy now faces is finally fixed. Somebody may have already done one like it, but if they have I haven't seen it.

Since these things seem to get titles, just like the Big Kids, I call this one "Identity Theft".

(Sound: perfect silence
Image: black screen.)

Fade in white text: "10 MILLION AMERICAN IDENTITIES"
Fade in below that: "ARE HIJACKED EVERY YEAR"

(Fade to black. Pause.)

Fade in white text: "CUSTOMER DATABASES COMPROMISED:"
Fade in below that: "LEXISNEXIS/SEISINT: 310,000 IDENTITIES"
Fade in below that: "DSW SHOE WAREHOUSE: 1.4 MILLION IDENTITIES"
Fade in below that: "CHOICEPOINT INC.: 145,000 IDENTITIES"
Fade in below that: "POLO RALPH LAUREN: 180,000+ IDENTITIES"
Fade in below that: "THERE ARE MORE..."

(Fade to black. Pause.)

Fade in: "IDENTITY THEFT"

(Fade to black. Pause.)

Fade in: "IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU"

(Fade to black. Pause.)

Fade in: "IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR COUNTRY"

(Fade to black. Pause.)

Fade in white text: "WHEN WE VOTE"
Fade in below that: "DEMAND A PAPER TRAIL"

(Pause. Fade to black.)

What I say is, why wait for the million(s)? Let's put this up in posters, Flash animations, &c., and get it out into the world.