I live in the metro New York area, so network tv stations that I see come from that state. In the last two weeks, I have repeatedly seen commercials telling those who suffered damage from hurricane Sandy to contact a special state agency which will help folks who are not getting proper payment from their insurance companies. The commercials are amazing; let me explain.
First, Sandy hit this area about five and a half months ago. That means that it took the state of New York five months to go on the air supposedly to help folks with insurance problems. That five month period covered the entire winter. Anyone whose home was left unrepaired would have suffered greatly due to the delay. Very few people would have continued fighting with the insurance company for all that time; most would have settled for what they could get in order to survive. It is beyond belief to think that the state would be much help now. So why run a massive advertising campaign?
Second, the bulk of the damage in this area was done by high water. The properties that had flood insurance most likely got that insurance through the federal insurance program. Is the state now going to help citizens deal with the federal insurance program? I don't think so. So why run a massive advertising campaign?
The answer is simple. The politicians in New York are running these ads to make themselves look good. They won't accomplish anything for the victims of the storm, but a great many other people will think that the ads show just how much the state politicians care. These politicians are using tax money to promote their own re-elections.
As bad as this seems, it is a common practice in New York. Before the Sandy ads, the state was running ads announcing how New York is a great place for business and telling people about all the great programs that the state has put into place to "help" business. Of course, if the point of the ad were to attract business to New York from other states, it would run in those other states, not in NY. The people in business in New York already have a pretty good understanding of the economic climate in the state; they don't need the ads to tell them. But once again, the people who are not involved in business are the target. The politicians who have done much to poison the business climate of the state are trying to use taxpayer money to convince uninformed voters that the state government is moving heaven and earth to help business.
Governor Cuomo and the New York political establishment should be ashamed.
First, Sandy hit this area about five and a half months ago. That means that it took the state of New York five months to go on the air supposedly to help folks with insurance problems. That five month period covered the entire winter. Anyone whose home was left unrepaired would have suffered greatly due to the delay. Very few people would have continued fighting with the insurance company for all that time; most would have settled for what they could get in order to survive. It is beyond belief to think that the state would be much help now. So why run a massive advertising campaign?
Second, the bulk of the damage in this area was done by high water. The properties that had flood insurance most likely got that insurance through the federal insurance program. Is the state now going to help citizens deal with the federal insurance program? I don't think so. So why run a massive advertising campaign?
The answer is simple. The politicians in New York are running these ads to make themselves look good. They won't accomplish anything for the victims of the storm, but a great many other people will think that the ads show just how much the state politicians care. These politicians are using tax money to promote their own re-elections.
As bad as this seems, it is a common practice in New York. Before the Sandy ads, the state was running ads announcing how New York is a great place for business and telling people about all the great programs that the state has put into place to "help" business. Of course, if the point of the ad were to attract business to New York from other states, it would run in those other states, not in NY. The people in business in New York already have a pretty good understanding of the economic climate in the state; they don't need the ads to tell them. But once again, the people who are not involved in business are the target. The politicians who have done much to poison the business climate of the state are trying to use taxpayer money to convince uninformed voters that the state government is moving heaven and earth to help business.
Governor Cuomo and the New York political establishment should be ashamed.
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