As I watch less and less television, I begin to understand more and more why I don't.
Much has been written about the absolute crap-for-brains thinking that goes into the programming in TV, but not nearly enough has been written about the bare-faced hypocrisy in the commercial area which is so insulting to any semi-literate viewer that he or she would be justified in following the bumper sticcker injuction, "Shoot your television."
For an example, what level of intelligence does it require to beieve Chevron and Exxon want you to practice conservation? I can understand these companies being interested in wind, solar or tidal energy because all these potentially mean more money and happier stockholders. But conservation, unless I misremember my early education, means using LESS. Those of us who use less gasoline, heating oil or petroleum-based plastics will save money, which means we'll spend less, which means less money going to Chevron and Exxon, which will result in lower profits and less happy stockholders.
Do you believe Exxon or Chevron really want unhappy stockholders? Yet the commercials roll on, showing happy children covorting on a lovely green field that was once a deep pit iron mine, thanks to the caring of the National Mining Association or hordes of pain-free seniors square-dancing to the music of the Tylanol Gypsies. It seems all the world's corporations only exist to make the world better and guarantee a better life for us all. Money doesn't enter into it.
Recedntly, I saw something that should really get some kind of prize. A commercial for Bank of America had just finished touting B of A's efforts to encourage kids to save money. It showed a big plastic bag full of loose change and lauded the wise parents who encouraged their kids to sock some moola away for that proverbial rainy day. Maybe it was just fate that the news program which the bank was sponsoring had a piece about a mother who got very angry when her 6 year-old got a credit card application from - Bank of America! Out of curiosity, she allowed her son to fill it out in his handwriting, including his age, income and all requested data and sent it off. Guess what? In a couple of weeks, good old B of A issued a card to the kid with a $600 limit.
I could laugh if I didn't get sick cleaning up the barf.
Corporate behavior is getting worse, corporate ethics are an oxymoron and corporate excesses are killing our country. Is anyone concerned?
Much has been written about the absolute crap-for-brains thinking that goes into the programming in TV, but not nearly enough has been written about the bare-faced hypocrisy in the commercial area which is so insulting to any semi-literate viewer that he or she would be justified in following the bumper sticcker injuction, "Shoot your television."
For an example, what level of intelligence does it require to beieve Chevron and Exxon want you to practice conservation? I can understand these companies being interested in wind, solar or tidal energy because all these potentially mean more money and happier stockholders. But conservation, unless I misremember my early education, means using LESS. Those of us who use less gasoline, heating oil or petroleum-based plastics will save money, which means we'll spend less, which means less money going to Chevron and Exxon, which will result in lower profits and less happy stockholders.
Do you believe Exxon or Chevron really want unhappy stockholders? Yet the commercials roll on, showing happy children covorting on a lovely green field that was once a deep pit iron mine, thanks to the caring of the National Mining Association or hordes of pain-free seniors square-dancing to the music of the Tylanol Gypsies. It seems all the world's corporations only exist to make the world better and guarantee a better life for us all. Money doesn't enter into it.
Recedntly, I saw something that should really get some kind of prize. A commercial for Bank of America had just finished touting B of A's efforts to encourage kids to save money. It showed a big plastic bag full of loose change and lauded the wise parents who encouraged their kids to sock some moola away for that proverbial rainy day. Maybe it was just fate that the news program which the bank was sponsoring had a piece about a mother who got very angry when her 6 year-old got a credit card application from - Bank of America! Out of curiosity, she allowed her son to fill it out in his handwriting, including his age, income and all requested data and sent it off. Guess what? In a couple of weeks, good old B of A issued a card to the kid with a $600 limit.
I could laugh if I didn't get sick cleaning up the barf.
Corporate behavior is getting worse, corporate ethics are an oxymoron and corporate excesses are killing our country. Is anyone concerned?
posted by The Bogus Economist | 8:11 PM
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