Maybe its a wake up call?
If the government is taking care of advertising for tourism, perhaps the president is right when he says “business owners cannot do it by themselves.”
Maybe seasonal business folks, hotel owners, and purveyors of vacation trinkets are just not what they used to be. Maybe no one can make it in a free market any more without a lobbying pimp begging off a new favor from an elected Lansing bound personality who might be a little more accommodating now-a-days. Sadly it seems that without the benevolent helping hand of the economic developers, some folks just might roll belly up in short order. Like babes in the woods, they ought not be left alone to their own devices.
At least that’s the way its played.
And what if its true? What if those who have their hands out to ask government for that new commercial that makes us all feel good about our region, couldn’t survive without it? In a bizarre sort of affirmative action manner, government must surely respond, right? Because if those businesses fail, by golly we would lose jobs ,and our region wouldn’t be flush with cash!
And everyone knows those who play that game, could not possibly be good enough to make it work without a helping government handout.
Whats that? Am I insinuating that the folks who use government provided, taxpayer funded advertising, are incompetent? What? They are not? They could survive?
OK. Then I must reluctantly agree.
Then they must be gangsters, organized criminals, or something. ..Right? Or Something.
How else would one explain the taking of someone’s earnings (by force) to give to another? How else can higher taxes EVER be justified when unnecessary allocation of those taxes is being made. Making more money for SOME doesn’t make it sound any better, does it?
So, there is one answer or another. They need it or they don’t. Pretty simple. They are unable to survive or they are able to survive.
Why would we artificially support a business that isn’t viable, and ought to go the way of the dodo? Why would we hamper the competition to failing businesses, making THEIR operations harder to maintain, by keeping alive competitors who would naturally fail? And if that business is doing fine, why would we subsidize its existence?
Funny. It doesn’t make any sense to me either.
And it shouldn’t make any sense to our legislators either, unless they are getting something out of it. Given they represent more than simply a few hoteliers, it seems strange any legislator would support business subsidies that are designed to merely fill rooms. It seems strange that any legislator would accede to such plans that increase government cost, complicate government’s role, and burden the non recipients of such largess with the bill for services performed.
Of course constituency has its rewards.
What the heck, maybe that legislator needs the job and bennies, and frankly, what some might want out of it is not his money anyhow. If a hotel association wants a plan like Pure Michigan, what better way to enhance it than by using resources outside its immediate fee structure. Why raise money internally from members, when the teat is out in the open and ready for milking. Why bother using the local chamber, or the visitor’s bureau resources solely, when the local rep is ringing the dinner bell, and all you have to do is line up like piglets on a sow.
The only thing he will ask. Keep him there.
Fight for him, so he can keep that spigot open for you.
Never mind that its disappointing if you don’t need the help. And perhaps its a message you might be in the wrong business if you do.
Look at yourselves. Look in the mirror, and ask yourself if what I have said is completely off the mark.
No, not really, and you know it.
Take a stand. Pressure your chamber to do ITS job. The convention and visitors bureau as well. Don’t let your associations drag you into a false sense of entitlement of other people’s money.
otherwise ..
Lobbying for taxpayer paid success simply proves the president right. Maybe you can’t do anything for yourselves.
And that’s too bad. And a little pitiful.
