Illinois legislators passed House Bill 29 on Oct. 26, which lowered the legal age to get a tattoo from 21 to 18.

Changing the law opens up a huge venue of expression for teenagers. What better way to tell the world who you are than with some permanent ink? It was ridiculous that Gov. Blagojevich could be so narrow-minded to say that someone who’s old enough to drive, vote, buy cigarettes, porn and the ever-classic argument be drafted is not old enough to get a “tat.”

Really, all this comes down to something more important than citizens’ rights to express themselves. It attacks one of the most basic principles of our country: capitalism.

Since the 2001 middleweight bout between Felix Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins, a new advertising trend has taken off. Hopkins played the part of a walking, punching billboard as he danced around the ring with the words “Goldenpalace.com” plastered in foot-and-a-half letters on his back. It was a temporary tattoo, but it has started a disturbingly permanent trend.

Since then, corporations like Goldenpalace.com have started inking their names on anyone willing to have a permanent or temporary reminder of their status as a corporate whore.

One model offered up her cleavage as an advertising opportunity as she had a temporary tattoo placed on her bosom (another Golden Palace purchase). But it’s not just athletes and models catching the trend.

One woman, a skin care expert, sells her forehead to a business for a month. A pregnant woman even let her stomach be a billboard (that’s a good way to start a college fund).

Corporations who use this tactic feel it’s another way to get their names mentioned in every day life and do so in a shocking way. Imagine what you would think if you were at the pool and a beautiful woman took the chair next you. She takes off her shirt and there’s a huge Coors Light tattoo inked across her chest. Somehow you might feel a little parched and ready to ride the silver bullet.

Plus, if it’s a permanent tattoo, it’s a one-time purchase that will last for years (unless the one selling the body space celebrates with a huge party, and in the processing of blowing all the cash, parties him or herself to death).

The shamelessness of today’s big business advertising knows no limits. It has even gone beyond people prostituting their bodies to make a buck.

Because of space constraints, businesses have begun advertising in cemeteries in Japan. I can just imagine Marlboro, one of the world’s largest corporations, with a billboard right above the headstone of a two-pack-a-day smoker who died of lung cancer.

Maybe I’ll rent out my epitaph to Nike. “Just do it” has always been an ideal for me.

At any rate, House Bill 29 could be good for Illinois citizens. Not only will it give teenagers a chance to express themselves, but they can, in turn, make some quick cash as well. Maybe the amendment will help boost our economy, not only in the increased numbers of tattoos sold, but also the dispensable income that anyone over the age of 18 willing to sell their bodies can get.