Monday, October 17, 2005
Our Newest Op Ed
Washington's adventures in advertising
- By Michael M. Bates
On Monday, the Washington Post ran a story about Medicare's new prescription drug program. The government will spend $300 million over the next three years to advertise the benefit. By Thanksgiving, Americans will be exposed to over $7 million worth of TV commercials about it.
This is a continuation of a long honored Washington policy: Instigate new programs and then do extensive "outreach" and advertising to encourage participation.
Politicians and bureaucrats join together in this endeavor. The more people they can sign up, the more evidence that the program was absolutely, positively necessary to begin with.
The pols take bows for munificently providing essential human services. The bureaucrats expand their territory, increase their influence and protect their jobs.
A classic win-win situation. Except for taxpayers....................
Click HERE To Read On
- By Michael M. Bates
On Monday, the Washington Post ran a story about Medicare's new prescription drug program. The government will spend $300 million over the next three years to advertise the benefit. By Thanksgiving, Americans will be exposed to over $7 million worth of TV commercials about it.
This is a continuation of a long honored Washington policy: Instigate new programs and then do extensive "outreach" and advertising to encourage participation.
Politicians and bureaucrats join together in this endeavor. The more people they can sign up, the more evidence that the program was absolutely, positively necessary to begin with.
The pols take bows for munificently providing essential human services. The bureaucrats expand their territory, increase their influence and protect their jobs.
A classic win-win situation. Except for taxpayers....................
Click HERE To Read On
# posted by Publius @ 10/17/2005 02:00:00 PM 
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