Why do they always send the poor?
Monday the GAO (Govt Accountability Office) report on Advertising spending was released to the public. Its 160 pages list, in detail where all of the money for all of the money for advertising, public relations, and media relations goes. (Public service announcements -- you know, the things which actually might help ppl -- are discussed separately, and amount to much less, only a few hundred million.)
The exponential increases in spending under Bush's administration are noted by worthy news sources all over the web and even the ad industry was like "damn. 137 contracts."
An xamination of these contracts would note a huge spike in spending in 2003 -- when we invaded Iraq and started murdering civilians (that's right I said murdering civilians, like in taxis or just driving along). Another huge spike began in January 2005.
You're damn right you got ppl saying "support the troops". We paid damn near $1.8 million to an ad agency to give ppl the slogan. The gov't got what it paid for.
But that's not what I'm focusing on. I want to show how you how insidious and vile this spending actually is. Looking in detail, I want to show you where the money is going, what segment of the population they're targeting:
Air Force -- For the NASCAR Bowling Program, provide Coca-Cola logoed items, including: portable radios, victory T-shirts, hats, coolers, and Fast Lanes game pieces and NASCAR playing cards. -- from page 38
Air Force -- Develop items for the Stars and Strikes promotion for bowling centers, coordinating the design, production, and printing of all elements for promotion. -- from page 43.
Army -- Conduct extensive research and collect information for message development that presents the Army's strategic perspective in the Global War on Terrorism. ($2.5 million) -- from page 54.
This isn't counting $197 million Navy advertising contracts, or Marine advertising which is double that.
The Navy gets these contracts so they can achieve goals such as "1,000 new recruits per week."
As opposed to the ad agencies, I just want you to listen to the way the Department of Defense refers to the "troops":
"To meet its human capital needs, the Department of Defense (DOD) must convince about 200,000 people each year--the majority of them recent high school graduates--to join the military." -- GAO (2003)Human capital. So now that we see that ppl are completely xpendable, I want to just stand behind a System of a Down statement 100
The US Army (PDF link from hqda.army.mil) had to revamp its advertising analysis. It's really not about recruiting blacks and Hispanics (despite "Yo Soy El Army" and "El Navy" campaigns). CHECK. THE. QUOTE.:
i.e., how poor you are -- your socioeconomic status.
Only the Air Force "To Be A Pilot" campaign utilized things like monitor accessories, mouse pads, &c., things which a tech kid would have (i.e., more disposable income). A disproportionate amount of money was design8d for lower income levels and things that I guess us poor folk enjoy.
Bowling and nascar, poor white boy!
Basketball teams, poor black boy!
Eres tu el Army?
Estamos en Babylon!