Government Waste

While Congress is considering a $700 billion bail out to refuel the nation's economy, I cannot help but be reminded of some government spending that really irks me:

The United States Postal Service - Why do they advertise? Not only does the Federal government spend money on media air time and print advertising, but there is also money spent on creating the content for this advertising. I work in marketing and I KNOW that this stuff is not cheap. Think about it. Why does the post office need to advertise? Americans with any type of physical address or P.O. box get mail every day. When I've finished composing a letter I don't stop and wonder how I'm going to send it. I put it in an envelope and walk 20 yards to my mailbox to send it. I don't need to call anyone to pick it up or do anything special (other than stick a stamp on the envelope--and these days I don't even have to lick them anymore).

The Lottery - I realize that this is a state government issue, but it's another example of government spending gone wrong--and it also has to do with advertising. Again, I ask the question, why does this arm of government advertise? If people stop playing the lottery, then let it dissolve. It seems ironic to me that the government would spend money to entice people to gamble. I'm not so much against the idea of gambling a dollar or two on the lottery (although I've only played it a few times in my life), but why do we have to spend money reminding people about it?

Ok, that's my rant. I promise to get back to more meaningful topics like cardboard boxes and McRib sandwiches.

Great Mysteries of the World - Volume 1

The world is filled with mysteries. For instance, why is it that the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles to Mexico every year (why not go to Disney World)? I think about things like this every day to the point that it makes my head hurt. Therefore, I've decided to start jotting some of them down in a little post I like to call, "Great Mysteries of the World - Volume 1." Enjoy.

1. The Disney Vault - Since I brought up Disney World, it only makes sense to ponder the notion of the mysterious "Disney Vault" where Walt Disney movies go to die or hibernate. Again, I bring up the monarchs--think of how much more money the folks at Disney could make if their vaulted movies were covered with beautiful frolicking monarch butterflies?. But what is this "Disney Vault" anyway? Who decides when a movie needs to go there? Is it like a punishment that a movie gets for bad behavior or poor box office performance? When a movie re-emerges after "serving time" in the vault, does it become tougher? For instance, if Mary Poppins serves a few years in the vault does that movie suddenly gain "street cred."

2. The McDonalds McRib Sandwich - Just when you think that the McRib is down for the count, it comes back and it's always announced with great fanfare by the marketing folks at McDonalds (well, it used to be this way--these days it just pops up somewhere under the golden arches). Even more mysterious is the fact that there are no actual ribs in a McRib sandwich. I think this has something to do with the fact that no real meat is used in the laboratory where the McRib is produced. And where does the McRib go when it's not around? I believe that the remaining supply of McRib sandwiches end up in...you guessed it...the Disney Vault. When Mary Poppins is released to DVD and Blu-Ray in 2010, pay close attention as the McRib sandwiches (which are scientfically engineered to have a shelf life of over 150 years) will find their way out of the vault and next to your french fries.

I'll come up with Volume 2 when I have enough good ideas. Feel free to send them to me by leaving a comment.