This Is Funny?

     One of the most valuable lessons people can learn when it comes to dealing with others is, "saving face".  What does it mean?  Simply put, it boils down to not humiliating another human being in front of other people.  

     If we have a 'beef' with someone, have that beef in private.  It doesn't matter what role we have in society.  It could be as simple as a husband and wife or the manager who has hundreds of employees, don't read someone the riot act in front of their peers.

     The great state of Illinois seems to be above this humble rule of life.  In order to push the envelope on getting people to sign up for the mandated government healthcare, they have resorted to humiliation.  Oh yes, they call it humor, but humor at whose expense?

     The state is running satirical ads with certain comedy based websites that the younger generation of this country, ages 18 to 34, like to frequent.  The purpose of this is to get these youngsters to get health insurance, because if they don't, the whole affordable healthcare thing probably won't work in the long run. 

     One of the ads is supposed to infuse the idea that if you don't have health insurance, you could end up in financial humiliation. It shows a young man dancing in a pizza costume trying to attract customers,  Instead, he is made fun of by passing motorists.  The voice over says, "Without health insurance, you could face fines and big medical bills.  And then you'll have to dress up like a pizza."

     Just when I thought it might be impossible to come up with the next great oxymoron, the state of Illinois has succeeded at dumbing itself down.....once again.  So, it's OK to make fun of someone who has a job, even though that job may not be the most glamorous of positions.

     This would maybe be funny, if it was coming from anywhere else besides one of the most broke, financially humiliated states in the Union.  

     This state has a HUGE mess with its pension system.  It has unpaid bills that amount to billions of dollars.  It taxes its residents out the wazoo and then spends more money than it takes in. It wants to make business owners raise the minimum wage and then turns around and  makes fun of someone with a, more than likely, minimum wage paying job.

     Sigh......it's not funny, it's sad.

     Maybe the funniest part of the whole thing is the fact that this marketing campaign cost $33 million.  Someone's laughing all the way to the bank.

     I fail to see the humor in that.