Second Biggest Problem in America: Stupidity
Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart
Let’s get away from the subject of politics. Personally, I
hate all politicians, and even more political parties. I write about the
subject daily because I keep my promise; to inform the American people of the
truth.
I want to talk about a situation which is nearly unanimous
among all Americans. I will discuss the evils of the “boob tube,” and how our
nation’s people are brainwashed daily. I am referring to television
commercials.
In 2007, a new television series was offered to the public.
It was given a satirical title, “Mad Men,” based on the advertising industry
and the “ad men” who created and developed what we see on our televisions. It
was very entertaining, filled with laughter and a small insight into the
lucrative and deceptive world of television advertising.
The greatest offenders, offering ads which are intended to
create sales of products which can be harmful, are produced by the
pharmaceutical industry, followed by insurance companies, the automobile
industry, and ads for specific products.
The cost of creating and producing television commercials is
outrageous, so why are these companies eager to spend millions of dollars, placing
their commercials at specific times of day when their target audience will most
likely be watching the ‘boob tube?’
I won’t get into the worst of all, the ads which fill our
screens endlessly for about 10-12 months every election year. Whether the ads
are about specific candidates or propositions, they are filled with lies and
often conspiracy theories.
A professional,
complex spot with actors, a crew, and a director can cost $20,000–$30,000 or
more to make.
Production costs can reach $150,000 to over $1 million if
you involve celebrities, famous directors, or extensive special effects
I don’t know how much a “Jardiance” commercial costs to
make. However, it is somewhat elaborate with a large cast. So let’s make an
educated guess and assume that to make one commercial would cost at least
$100,000. (I chose Jardiance as an example because whatever I watch, it seems
like there is at least one commercial for this product claiming to lower A1C
for patients diagnosed with diabetes).
Now let’s assume that the ad is placed on a national network
during popular broadcasts with the largest audience. Each time the commercial is
aired, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent for a 30-second ad.
Therefore, the first time the ad appears on your television,
Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company spent at least $400,000.
If the ad appears four times a day for just one week, the
pharmaceutical companies already spent more than $8,400,000.
Now let’s add some common sense. Why would they spend
millions of dollars advertising a product they claim will be so effective that
patients will dance and sing its praises?
I have the answer.
Over the last 10 years I recorded dozens of drugs with side
effects so severe, and in some cases life-threatening, they faced class action
lawsuits. They paid hundreds of millions of dollars in out of court settlements,
and were happy with the outcome. Why? Because their profits were already measured
in billions of dollars.
All of these drugs were on our televisions during commercial
breaks for months.
Profits before people.
Now for the insurance companies.
All insurance companies have departments devoted exclusively
to refusing payment for claims from their customers.
Let’s keep the cost of commercials at a minimum of $400,000
or less. Why would any reputable insurance company spend such outrageous
amounts of money, knowing that their net profits will be reduced? You might get
a clue when I list the companies rated worst because they refuse to pay claims.
Here are the 10 worst: 1. Allstate. 2. Progressive. 3.
UnitedHealth. 4. State Farm. 5. Elevance Health, (formerly Anthem). 6. Unum. 7.
Federal Employee Benefits. 8. Farmers. 9. Liberty Mutual. 10. USAA.
I would like to offer a personal note about USAA. It claims
that if you or a parent or grandparent served in the military, you are also
eligible as a prospective client. A few years ago, after I turned 70 years of
age, the company who I paid thousands of dollars to over decades, began to
raise our fees. We are on a fixed income. I began to search for another company.
I included USAA.
I filled out a questionnaire online, and was rejected. I was
a little shocked. My father served in the United States Navy during WWII, and I
enlisted in the USAF after I graduated from high school in 1964. The truth was
my age. They refused to insure me because I was a septuagenarian. Their ads are
all lies.
I could go on and on about commercials, but just know this
one fact.
Any company willing to spend hundreds of thousands or even
millions of dollars on television commercials is lying about their product. If
it’s a politician asking for your vote, they are most definitely lying.
Just like the internet, you cannot trust what you see and
hear on television. 90-95 percent of everything you see and hear is false.
Another quick, personal note. I had my own business for a
number of years. Through all those years, I placed one ad in a magazine so our
customers would know our name and what we offered. By the time our business was
two years old, every person who was employed by me since day one was as busy as
he our she wanted to be. Our only advertising was word of mouth.
Op-ed by James Turnage
Follow my blog and be informed
Sources: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/
https://www.coloradolaw.net/insurance-industry-10-worst-deny-claims/
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