Graphic for Liberal-friendly businesses to ID themselves

[Pab Sungenis]

In a discussion on making "Not One Damn Dime" day a regular event (it's here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x297602), we were discussing how it can have a negative impact on liberal-friendly businesses, the kind of people we DON'T want to drive out of business when we protest with our money.

The suggestion arose (I may have been the one to bring it up) of coming up with a graphic like the Jesus fish is for fundamentalist Christians: a way to mark ourselves as blue-friendly businesses, yet not drive away those who don't agree with us by being too blatant. I slept on it last night, and awoke inspired this morning.

May I put forward a modest suggestion. It's a classic image, and gets our message across subtly. Ladies and gentlemen, the Peace Dollar:



The Peace Dollar was minted by the United States from 1921 until 1935 to replace silver dollars that were melted under the Pittman Act to help pay for World War I. Famous numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed the coin to help commemorate the end of the "War To End All Wars." The coin, designed by Anthony De Francisci, advertised to the world America's desire for continued peace until the minting of silver dollars was halted in 1935. Today ir remains the image most non-collectors think of when they hear "silver dollar."



I suggest that one of the more able artists among us create a slightly-abstracted rendition of either side of the coin. (Perhaps the obverse or "heads" side, since the inscription "Peace" on the revers might tip off the Freeper types as to what we're signifying too easily.) We could then print stickers with the design, to be distributed liberally (pardon the pun) to Blue businesses, to show us all where we should spend our money to have the most effect. (And maybe help some of the small businesses among us.)

Comments?

[NMDemDist2]

1. I have switched markets and now plan a little better to go to a store

chain owned by a man who ran for Governor as a Dem here

it always cracks me up to see the "W04" stickers on the cars in the parking lot :evilgrin:

[skylarmae]

2. this is a good idea. I for one would

and do try to spend my money blue...The easier to identify the better, I say. It would have to be subtle though, just to protect the store owners from any kind of repuke retribution. Might have to be changed from time to time to keep ahead of the red.

[GOPFighter]

3. Great idea!

I like the "Buy Blue" graphic. Perfect for websites. I say use the reverse "Peace" side of the coin. Support for Bush's war is going to tank big-time in the coming year.

BTW, I like the expression on Lady Liberty's face. That's the look of someone just being told Geaorge Bush was going to be staying in office for four more years!

[Pab Sungenis]

4. Heheheh.

One writer at the time called the image of Liberty a "flapper who's shouting 'Hey! Lissen!'"

She does look a little shocked. But cut the designer some slack. He modeled it after his wife.

I agree that the reverse side makes a powerful statement, but which one is more easily recognizable?

[Pab Sungenis]

5. Oh, and....

Feel free to copy and use the "Buy Blue" graphic if you want. Just something I threw together this morning.

[noamnety]

6. small crit

I love the concept in the bottom graphic - with the statue of liberty.

The composition looks a bit crowded. I'd shrink the coin slightly, and adjust the color slightly so it's closer to the other tones in the image. (On my monitor at least, it has a slight pink cast.) I'd also shrink the text considerably. Let the words and the graphics have a bit of breathing room.

As for which side of the coin to use ... one says Peace. The other has the president's inaugurination mantra (liberty) combined with the government sponsored religion: "In God We Trust". Basically the coin has a blue side and a red side, I'd much rather see the blue side - the other has a lot of negative associations at the moment, thanks to the shrub. Leave it to him to ruin the word "liberty."