“If I have an opinion that's different from yours, I can vandalize your belongings and justify it.”

Can't wait till someone comes along and vandalizes YOUR stuff because they have a different opinion than yours!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Liberati...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

STOP DRINKING SODA. It wastes valuable water resources.

I run a small sustainable fast-food restaurant (called The Funhole in Fremont) with no capital for advertising.

I will never ever be able to afford a billboard. Is this fair capitalism? Are the best ideas really rising to the top?

What do you think of the vandalism? Call 206.543.5869 at 12:40 pm or email conversation@kuow.org.

Yes, this criminal vandal should have sought the funds and taken the time to try to get his/her own billboard! As if the billboard lessors – an advertising company – don't judge and hold power of approval over the messages they'll post; of course they wouldn't run an anti-consumption message, or an ad un-competitively bashing major renters.

Would people still think this to be such a 'crime' if the message was for Nazi Party recruitment? Why might that be a target worthy of criminal correction, defacing, or destruction?

I believe it is art.

It took trashy advertising and made it provocative.

It is illegal to own more than 5 dildos in Texas. It is still illegal to have oral sex in Alabama, Arizona, Florida and Idaho.

It was illegal for black folks to vote until mid-last century.

Perhaps the government is not always right. And perhaps that needs to be discussed. I believe the edited billboards sparked this discussion, which is a good thing.

There are no healthy options, just convenient stores and fast food restaurants.

It is society's fault. Blaming on individuals is a way of saying you are better than other people and that our society is blameless.

If the existence of McDonalds and the like helps to make large segments of our society poor, obese and unhealthy, don't you think it might be a decent objective to start a conversation about this? Even if it is “vandalism.”

I believe the kind of vehement debate going on here is exactly what this artist wanted.

Let's all move on with our lives.

Advertising can be done in many ways, understand? It can be done in private spaces such as newspapers or magazines. And/or, advertisements can be done through semi-private/supposedly (technically) public media like television and radio. But billboards – while a privately-owned property – are entirely in public space. They are being shoved into my, your, our line of sights. These private properties are taking over the skyline; call it crazy or consider me nuts, but I think we should have some say over whether or no this happens in our communities. (Incidentally, I mentioned two states that did just that – did you read that before you laughed off the suggestion that we in Washington ought to have just as much power over our lives?)

Why is it just “freedom” for corporations to foist their garbage to the public via ubiquitous, invasive, insidious enticements, but it's not freedom for someone to respond? OF COURSE the individual is not going to respond on the same level as the corporation, for (what should be obvious) differences of funds, favor of law, and personnel (to name just a few). So the respondent uses limited and extra-legal means, earning the pejorative “vandal”.

Would you have no problem if Company X marketed their toxic slop as a “The NEW Delicious Taste-tastic!” with all sort of allure and attraction to draw children, uneducated, and impoverished people? God, I hope such people as this billboard corrector continue, for I see the aforementioned example as the future of our hyper-capitalism. Anything to 'save the economy', I guess.

Saying that the billboard *vandal* (a disparaging term, but definitively accurate) and the vandal of the Bergen mural are alike is as flawed and shortsighted as saying that David's defeat of Goliath was the same as the guy who mugged the old lady.

I'm a vegan, strong liberal and live the concepts of sustainable food consumption. That said, it bothers me not one bit for McDonalds to advertise. You know why??? Because I don't have to eat there!!! What a country!!!!