My Take on the Pure Michigan Advertising Campaign
In 2009, the State of Michigan spent approximately $12M for a national advertising campaign to promote tourism to Michigan, called Pure Michigan. Currently, the State legislature is considering reducing the funding for the program to only $5M for 2010. From a State budget perspective, this seems silly since the results of third-party research provided by Longwoods International suggest that the program was wildly successful. In sum, the findings suggest that the Pure Michigan campaign induced about two million incremental trips to Michigan, $600 million worth of revenue for Michigan businesses, and added $41M in tax revenue to the State’s coffers. So, how can I possibly be opposed to such a program? Because it’s funded by taxes, silly (i.e., legalized theft, extortion). And I am fundamentally opposed to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Michigan, Rent Seeking, Seen and Unseen, Subsidize This!
Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em
Tonight at midnight the statewide smoking ban goes in to effect here in Michigan. Not exactly sure how that works… does a bouncer come around at midnight and remove all the ashtrays from the bar? Immediately start kicking people out for burning squares? Do the Gestapo come in and start issuing citations? Probably “Yes” to all of the above. Logistics aside… I’ve been covering this topic for a few years now as the proposals and bills have been stalled or shot down or whatever. But here we are, hours away from what is essentially an irrevocable ban. Short of full collapse, the likelihood of this ban ever being popularly overturned is zero. I don’t really know what to say that I haven’t already said. I listen to the radio and I … Read entire article »
Agorism FTW
According to examiner.com, the Detroit Institute of Arts and a group called Let’s Save Michigan are trying to inspire the state of Michigan through Works Progress Administration-style artwork. They will accept submissions until February 15, 2010. For what it’s worth, the winner isshould be Thor’s Mitre Saw: … Read entire article »