The United Kingdom breaks our hearts. This is the country that gave us Monty Python, The Who, Sir Elton John, Shakespeare, Harry Potter. Basically that awesome speech from Prime Minister Hugh Grant in Love Actually. Don't pretend you haven't seen that movie. Now the UK just gives us reasons to laugh at it (see The Latest in UK Political Correctness: Non-Crime Hate Incidents and Video: Angry UK Protester ‘Fights’ Trump Lookalike Dummy). Now the controlling government limeys want to crack down on advertising. Which is bad enough when the government takes it upon themselves to interfere in business. But the UK wants you to snitch whenever you see a sexist stereotype.

The rules will also ban adverts that suggest that transforming your body will make you romantically successful, while also clarifying rules on the sexualisation of young women.

The Advertising Standards Authority will enforce the new code from June 2019. Members of the public will be able to report adverts to the regulator if they feel they breach the code.

Define "the code." Because even if the code is narrowly defined, you're asking people to look for things they find offensive. Not only to look for that which causes them offense but actively encourage being offended. This is the problem with the "heckler's veto." Where anytime five idiots have the same stupid opinion about something, that thing can get banned. Related Knife Control: UK Judge Proposes Ban on Pointed Knives.

The ASA’s Ella Smillie, who helped to devise the new rules, said: “We don’t see ourselves as social engineers..."

STOP!

Okay, continue.

"...we’re reflecting the changing standards in society. Changing ad regulation isn’t going to end gender inequality but we know advertising can reinforce harmful gender stereotypes, which can limit people’s choices or potential in life.”

If you're a weak-minded person, then sure. But you're probably also weak-minded enough to...snitch to the government whenever you see something that offends you.

If the people really have an issue with advertisers using sexual stereotypes, then they'll shame companies for using them, or simply refuse to patronize that company. Yes, it really is that simple. At least in America, it's that simple. The government getting involved makes us want to shoot a commercial where Brodigan tells Courtney to make him a sandwich, while he can't figure out how to change a diaper, only for Courtney to make a diaper sandwich. Plot twist.

Here's the biggest problem with the UK government, and really all liberalism and all governments: addressing the symptom instead of the disease. Advertising doesn't create gender stereotypes, sexism, or pick your ism. Advertising is trying to appeal to something which already exists. The reason ad companies continue to go with sexy advertising is because people like sexy things. Men like hot ladies. Not because they're interested in perpetuating negative stereotypes about women, but because men like hot ladies. That's it. Knowing this basic, biological truth, ad companies use hot ladies.

The easiest thing the UK government can do here is not to crack down on actual acts of sexism, like say women being attacked with acid for being women, but to cowardly try to shame advertisers. Yes, cowardly.

Similarly, with crime, the UK government doesn't look to stem the cause of the crime, but to crack down on the tools used in the crime. Which again, is a problem of liberalism. For more on that insanity, watch the video below.

NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE PODCAST? FIX THAT! IT’S COMPLETELY FREE ON BOTH ITUNES HERE AND SOUNDCLOUD HERE.