Here you go, faithful readers. Here is the ad that your government paid $2.5 million to air during the Super Bowl. That figure, of course, doesn’t include the tens of dollars paid for the D-List actors or the failed comedians who came up with the theme.
Almost immediately after it aired, the Census Bureau took to Twitter to explain why they didn’t just throw your money down a toilet and flush lustily. You see, if even one percent of Americans saw that godawful ad and, for some reason it persuaded them to send in their census form, we save $25 million dollars!
Of course, if 1% saw that ad and decide not to send in their census form in protest of the almost insulting awfulness of the ad, we’ll spend $25 million more. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
That $2.5 million is only the tip of the $340 million iceberg of taxpayer cash the Census Bureau will be spending to hype this year’s enumeration. Thanks to Amanda Carpenter, we know the Bureau has sent agents to throw parties, go tailgating, and hang out tchotchkes emblazoned with the Census logo in the hopes that more people will answer up. However, the article notes that when the government spent 360 percent more to market the Census in 2000, the response rate actually dropped. This year’s marketing budget is double what we spent in 2000, which only goes to prove that the Federal Government sucks at marketing. And economics.
Michelle Malkin has done yeoman’s work documenting the rampant waste of this census’ marketing effort. Her column is definitely worth your time. You’ll get more information about the census and how our government is burning through your money than you will from Washington’s ridiculous commercial.
Tags: 2010 Census, Big Government
I couldn’t believe that stupid ad. I mean, if you already know what the census is about, you would get the message. But assuming they are targeting ignorant people, this sure didn’t do a thing to clear it up for them. I was telling my mom about the commercial (asking her if she’d seen it since I wasn’t watching the game). Right about that time, it came on…my mom didn’t even understand the message.
Actually, it wasn’t until I saw this commercial that it clicked in my head that it was a continuation of a commercial I’d been seeing for two weeks. That’s how effective the commercials really are at getting out the Census message.