Friday, February 04, 2011

Apathy As Advantage

This morning's story, detailing a new advertising campaign from the government promoting tax cuts, comes on the heels of a similar item earlier this week, showing another Economic Action Plan ad ramp up. I think any independent observer would agree, relative to past governments, accepted norms, that these Conservatives spend OBSCENE amounts on advertising, advertising that is thinly veiled partisan propaganda.

There is no coincidence here, these various ad campaigns do "dovetail" the party ads, which taken together represent a blitz. The trouble is, obviously, WE are paying for these ads, particularly insulting the EAP ads pumping a program which the government is trying to "wind down". Is that good value for the taxpayer? The fact the government can and WILL get away with these ad buys, slotted for prime spots, is a testament to the role voter apathy plays in our political process. I would submit, a more engaged electorate would crucify these obnoxious expenditures, and yet this stuff goes on year after year and no evidence of any implication.

The Canadian Taxpayer Federations speaks out, but that organization rarely penetrates, their kneejerk reaction to everything and anything has rendered them mostly predictable background noise. We do have media stories, as the above links show, but they never seem to generate much outrage. The government is almost brazen here, even though any statistical measure shows a real problem. The Conservatives have made the right calculation, knowing they can push the envelope and face little backlash. These partisan ads, disguised as government business, are the classic example of how apathy can be used for full advantage.

10 comments:

Greg said...

Sadly, this is traditional in Canada. I am old enough to remember the Ontario Tories "Preserve it, Conserve it" campaign, years ago. Playing with government advertising cash is as Canadian as maple syrup.

Steve V said...

That's not true, at least not in terms of magnitude. These guys are spending 3, 4 times what the previous gov't did. This gov't simply has no peer, never have we seen such an abuse of the public purse for partisan advantage.

Tof KW said...

Actually Steve, I think on a comparative basis there is one other government that self-advertised on the taxpayer's dime at a similar level. The Mike Harris not-so-progressive Conservatives. And lookie here, a lot of their alumni just so happen to be in the federal government now. Wow, what a freaky coincidence eh?

BTW - one of the things McGuinty did that I really approve of was to put stringent guidelines on provincial advertising. The federal Liberals should adopt this policy and batter the Harper government with that. That might help enlighten the apathetic voters.

Tomm said...

Good post.

TofKW also makes an excellent point with respect to a LPC campiagn plank.

Steve V said...

You might be right, I don't remember Harris. On the federal scene, they are a different animal.

Tof KW said...

Thanks Tomm & Steve. I've made this point a few times now that the fed Libs should talk to McGuinty about this, and lift his advertising regulations as a campaign policy. The Libs then can hammer the government on this in the media, and eventually the taxpayers will notice each of these EAP ads and signs and begin to snarl (ending their effectiveness for the sitting government).

If you notice any of the Ontario spots now on TV for job re-training, they are all very neutral, even colours used are pastels (no partisan colours). They don't even use Ontario's official colours (green & white), which I don't understand except that maybe because there is a Green Party now? Also I don't see them on prime-time TV. Watch how many there will be on this weekend's Super Bowl vs. Harper's EAP ads.

For those that don't remember the Harris years, the Ont government at that time really hit us with print and broadcast advertising blitzes. There wasn't a pothole repair on a provincial highway without a blue & white 'Ontario BILD' sign & Harris' name on it as premier. It was so blatant that the McGuinty government enacted our current stringent guidelines.

BILD is done now too, I don't think it's part of the ONT government anymore. For those who don't remember, this stood for Building Industry & Land Development - and does anyone else notice any similarity to a certain ex-premier from the 70's? This just shows what a very old problem this is in politics.

Shiner said...

A very good idea TofKW, take positive campaigning another step and actually make it substantive.

Kirk said...

Steve, your second link for "item" points back to this post.

Steve V said...

Thanks for the heads up Kirk :)

Jerry Prager said...

The Harpercons are master adscammers, and I remmeber Harris' propaganda budgets.