The Free View-- weblog of a presidential candidate

Marketing via Legislation -- Anglo is better, say Australian fascists

Here's the thing: businesses just can't be trusted to figure out how to draw customers into their shops. No, wait...this is it: drivers and pedestrians can get confused and disoriented if they see too many foreign languages on storefronts. No...hold on...I got it: the English-language signpainting industry in Australia is tanking, and something simply must be done to bolster it. Or, maybe it's just the time-honored "them damn immigrants" phenomenon at work.

Confused? Me too. Except you're probably confused because of my cryptic and sarcastic comments. I'm confused because communities in Australia are working left and right to pass laws banning foreign-language signs on storefronts unless they are accompanied by an English translation. Or just mandating English signs and allowing foreign translations. Same difference really.

In one of the places working to pass a law like this, 65% of the residents speak a language other than English. I guess we can't have that, eh? Wouldn't want the poor Anglos to feel like a minority or anything. Just imagine the shame!

Did I mention I think these laws are stupid and wrong? Or did you at least catch that vibe? What's most amazing is not that they managed to wrap censorship, racism, and market interference into such a tight package...what's most amazing is how irrational, rude, and racist they are in their defense of this casual foray into fascism.

Irrational...

Fairfield City councillor Thang Ngo said he would push for a similar policy. "I think having signs in a range of languages is welcoming and inclusive," Cr Ngo said.

That's supposed to be a point in favor of mandating English-language signs. (?!?) Maybe you have to look at it in the mirror for it to make sense -- beats me.

Rude...

"It makes sense, it avoids a lot of the backlash ... it will be better for the businesses."
That's Thang again. See, the thing is, Thang knows much better than business owners what will be good for them. Because those stupid (foreign-language) businesspeople don't know what's good for them.

Here's a challenge for you: find the place in this article where they say that these laws came about because businesspeople were concerned that their signs weren't working as well as they could. It's a trick, obviously, because the idea is absurd. "Legislators, could you help us please? We are but ignorant business owners...we're concerned that our storefronts are not up to par, and we can't figure out what to do. Please make a law telling us the best way to design our signs!" Uh-huh. Sure.

Or look at it another way: how many business owners do you think there were applauding Thang Ngo's courageous efforts to help them run their business?

Racist...

"It will make business more attractive and encourage people from all backgrounds to come into them," a spokeswoman said.
Translation: "It will make business more attractive if I can read the signs, because foreign languages are ugly. It will encourage white people to go into foreign shops that previously made them feel threatened and confused."

"It tends to give the wrong impression," Mr Hassett said of the foreign-language signs.
Right, it tends to give the impression that a bunch of "minorities" have somehow become the majority presence. Wouldn't want people thinking that.

Mmmm...nothing like a little subtle racist fascism to clean up the marketplace.