Re: Why do my hard earned tax dollars support a bike team?



C

Churchill

Guest
"Marty Wallace" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Sam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Alex Rodriguez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > In article <[email protected]>,
> > > [email protected] says...
> > > >Hey,
> > > > Why does the US federal Government support a bike team in France? I
> > > >work hard for my money, and think the taxes I pay could be better
> > > >used. What a Boondoggle!
> > >
> > > Like any other company, you have to advertise to get more business.

> USPS
> > > wanted to get more customers in Europe to use their service, so they

> > sponser
> > > a bicycle racing team. For the money they spend, they get an

excellent
> > > return on investment. So they continued to do so until ignorant folks
> > > started to complain.
> > > -------------
> > > Alex
> > >

> >
> > I would like to see some proof that they are getting bang for their buck

> in
> > terms of promotion and advertising. I doubt they are.
> >
> >

>
> My God you're an idiot.
> The fastest rider and the fastest team in the biggest race in the world!
> And you want proof?
> If you don't think thats good promotion and advertising then you tell us
> what is.
>
> Marty


Speaking as a non-American I would never have heard of the "USPS" if it
wasn't for the Tour, so their marketing worked in my case :)

USPS is smart to do this, they are getting all of Europe focused on their
name, cycling 'I sense' is much more popular in Europe than North America :)
 
In article <[email protected]>, Churchill wrote:
>
> "Marty Wallace" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Sam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> > "Alex Rodriguez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:[email protected]...
>> > > In article <[email protected]>,
>> > > [email protected] says...
>> > > >Hey,
>> > > > Why does the US federal Government support a bike team in France? I
>> > > >work hard for my money, and think the taxes I pay could be better
>> > > >used. What a Boondoggle!
>> > >
>> > > Like any other company, you have to advertise to get more business.

>> USPS
>> > > wanted to get more customers in Europe to use their service, so they
>> > sponser
>> > > a bicycle racing team. For the money they spend, they get an

> excellent
>> > > return on investment. So they continued to do so until ignorant folks
>> > > started to complain.
>> > > -------------
>> > > Alex
>> > >
>> >
>> > I would like to see some proof that they are getting bang for their buck

>> in
>> > terms of promotion and advertising. I doubt they are.
>> >
>> >

>>
>> My God you're an idiot.
>> The fastest rider and the fastest team in the biggest race in the world!
>> And you want proof?
>> If you don't think thats good promotion and advertising then you tell us
>> what is.
>>
>> Marty

>
> Speaking as a non-American I would never have heard of the "USPS" if it
> wasn't for the Tour, so their marketing worked in my case :)
>
> USPS is smart to do this, they are getting all of Europe focused on their
> name, cycling 'I sense' is much more popular in Europe than North America :)
>
>


Also, I think the USPS is privatized and therefore not supported by the
US government. Complain instead about how the US government does support
the US automakers, US highways, and the US petrolium industry. Talk about
a boondoggle. Since when is it the responsibility of any government
to 'bail out' a corporation (Chrysler) or a city (New York)?

Mike
 
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 14:59:57 -0000, Mike <[email protected]>

>Also, I think the USPS is privatized and therefore not supported by the
>US government.


Correct!

The USPS doesn't get a penny from the Treasury anymore, so far as I
know.

It is not however a private corporation...I can't remember how its
status goes.

-Luigi
 
"Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:VucHc.45732
>
> Speaking as a non-American I would never have heard of the "USPS" if it
> wasn't for the Tour, so their marketing worked in my case :)
>
> USPS is smart to do this, they are getting all of Europe focused on their
> name, cycling 'I sense' is much more popular in Europe than North America

:)
>


But this is pointless because the USPS doesn't serve European customers.
That is, as I understand it, Europeans can't even use the USPS to send mail
or packages from Europe to the US.

However, even though cycling isn't as popular here, Lance has very high name
recognition in the US and the commercials featuring him racing through
"sleet, snow, gloom of night, etc" are actually pretty effective images for
a delivery service.

As for the USPS advertising in general -- of course they have to advertise.
They're in competition with FedEx, UPS, Airborne, etc for the package
delivery business, which is the potential growth area. The rise of the
Internet has greatly increased package delivery (due to internet shopping)
while it has reduced ordinary mail delivery (due to email).

Mark
 
On Thu, 8 Jul 2004 10:08:57 -0400, "Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Speaking as a non-American I would never have heard of the "USPS" if it
>wasn't for the Tour, so their marketing worked in my case :)
>
>USPS is smart to do this, they are getting all of Europe focused on their
>name, cycling 'I sense' is much more popular in Europe than North America :)


It's not bad advertising in the US, either, and having seen the budget
numbers for what they spent supporting Lance & Co a couple of years
ago, I think they're doing pretty well particularly since they're
getting a lot more than just some forgettable and tawdry billboards
and print ads. (By comparison, it would have cost several times as
much to support a NASCAR entry of any note, and would not have given
them a penny's worth of international recognition, nor would it have
reached the upper-echelon US business decision-makers whose attention
they also wanted to draw.)

Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.
They demand their bread and circuses loudly. (Some of our local post
offices were selling USPS cycling jerseys a few months back, and they
sold out rather quickly. I was surprised that this was the case.)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.
 
"Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

[...]

> Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
> has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.


How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating surrender
monkeys? :)

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
> "Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
>
> [...]
>
> > Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
> > has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.

>
> How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating surrender
> monkeys? :)


I don't even know if there are any French in the race; the top
competition is Spanish, Italian, German and American, with a few
Aussies, Dutch, and Russians thrown into the mix.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...

>Since when is it the responsibility of any government
>to 'bail out' a corporation (Chrysler) or a city (New York)?


Both paid back what they got with interest. So it was one of the better
investments on the governments part.
-------------
Alex
 
David Kerber wrote:
> I don't even know if there are any French in the race


Didn't the French national champion almost win today's stage?

Bill "no quips about quitting, either" S.
 
On Thu, 8 Jul 2004 12:46:05 -0400, David Kerber
<ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
>says...
>> "Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> > Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
>> > has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.

>>
>> How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating surrender
>> monkeys? :)

>
>I don't even know if there are any French in the race; the top
>competition is Spanish, Italian, German and American, with a few
>Aussies, Dutch, and Russians thrown into the mix.


There are lots. Today's Maillot Jaune is the French National
Champion.

The French are in an awful Tour de France slump, though.

-Luigi
 
In article <[email protected]>,
David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
> says...
> > "Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]
> >
> > [...]
> >
> > > Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
> > > has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.

> >
> > How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating surrender
> > monkeys? :)

>
> I don't even know if there are any French in the race; the top
> competition is Spanish, Italian, German and American, with a few
> Aussies, Dutch, and Russians thrown into the mix.


Haha, man he has to be talking about the Green Bay Packers!

Dave in Minnesota
 
"DRS" wrote:
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
THIS REMARK: How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of
cheese-eating surrender monkeys?
 
"Leo Lichtman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> "DRS" wrote:
> Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
> THIS REMARK: How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of
> cheese-eating surrender monkeys?


You left out both the context and the emoticon. Your criticism is
ill-informed and pointless.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
 
The USPS is run as a private company. I am sure they get help from the
government and many many tax breaks but it is (by the most part) a private
org.

Biff


"Dave Jackson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote:
>
> > In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
> > says...
> > > "Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]
> > >
> > > [...]
> > >
> > > > Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in

France*
> > > > has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual

Americans.
> > >
> > > How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating

surrender
> > > monkeys? :)

> >
> > I don't even know if there are any French in the race; the top
> > competition is Spanish, Italian, German and American, with a few
> > Aussies, Dutch, and Russians thrown into the mix.

>
> Haha, man he has to be talking about the Green Bay Packers!
>
> Dave in Minnesota
 
Mike wrote:
>
>
> Also, I think the USPS is privatized and therefore not supported by the
> US government.


Not exactly true. I don't know about their monetary support, but when
the USPS decided to take over some residentially-zoned land in our
village, they were definitely "supported by our government" - as in,
they came into town, laid the site plans on our mayor's desk, and said
"By the way, we know this violates your zoning, but your zoning laws
don't apply to us. we're an arm of the federal government."

This enraged the citizens quite a lot, as you might imagine. In the
ensuing meetings, I had one of their representatives yell at me, saying
"Look, if we want to, WE CAN TAKE YOUR HOUSE!"

So Lance or no Lance, I'm not a fan of the USPS.


--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com.
Substitute cc dot ysu dot
edu]
 
DRS wrote:
> "Leo Lichtman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
>> "DRS" wrote:
>> Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
>> THIS REMARK: How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of
>> cheese-eating surrender monkeys?

>
> You left out both the context and the emoticon. Your criticism is
> ill-informed and pointless.


But at least he didn't top-post it!!!

Bill "ya gotta try harder, Leo" S.
 
( :< )

> Talk about
> a boondoggle. Since when is it the responsibility of any government
> to 'bail out' a corporation (Chrysler) or a city (New York)?
>
> Mike


( :< )

Consider this Mike:

What would happen if the NYC gov't or Chrysler collapsed? Certainly
more economically painful (short term)than propping them up. Whether
or not we are interfering with governmental and corporate "natural
selection", that is another discussion. Look at the short-term
political consequences for those who chose to let the natural course
of things occur. In the case of NYC, you are talking the shutdown of
the world's largest financial center. Not good at all for anyone
making THAT decision, in addition to a global shift in economic power.
In the case of Chrysler, tens, if not hundreds of thousands of
workers suddenly and painfully glutting the job market. They will
drive down wages, eat up resources (unemployment insurance payments)
without contributing and the cost of re-education/re-training that
many workers? Yikes!

Not necessarily advocating corporate and municipal welfare, but if
changes can be enforced as a condition of assistance, is that not
better than the alternative?

App, who believes in the social benefit of paying his property taxes
that fund schools despite his lack of children.
 
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 13:51:44 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Mike wrote:
>>
>>
>> Also, I think the USPS is privatized and therefore not supported by the
>> US government.

>
>Not exactly true. I don't know about their monetary support, but when
>the USPS decided to take over some residentially-zoned land in our
>village, they were definitely "supported by our government" - as in,
>they came into town, laid the site plans on our mayor's desk, and said
>"By the way, we know this violates your zoning, but your zoning laws
>don't apply to us. we're an arm of the federal government."


Still true.

>
>This enraged the citizens quite a lot, as you might imagine. In the
>ensuing meetings, I had one of their representatives yell at me, saying
>"Look, if we want to, WE CAN TAKE YOUR HOUSE!"


They were much nicer in our town; in fact, we actually welcomed the
new post-office plan. The old post office in our town was erected in
the Eisenhower adminsitration, and was crumbly, and nasty. Now the
town will level that old pile and build a park.

And at least they didn't go Postal in the classic sense, and start
exercising their second-amendment rights forcefully in your direction.


-Luigi
....who is on VERY good terms with his local letter-carrier. Just in
case.
 
In article <[email protected]>, Appkiller wrote:
> ( :< )
>
>> Talk about
>> a boondoggle. Since when is it the responsibility of any government
>> to 'bail out' a corporation (Chrysler) or a city (New York)?
>>
>> Mike

>
> ( :< )
>
> Consider this Mike:
>
> What would happen if the NYC gov't or Chrysler collapsed? Certainly
> more economically painful (short term)than propping them up. Whether
> or not we are interfering with governmental and corporate "natural
> selection", that is another discussion. Look at the short-term
> political consequences for those who chose to let the natural course
> of things occur. In the case of NYC, you are talking the shutdown of
> the world's largest financial center. Not good at all for anyone
> making THAT decision, in addition to a global shift in economic power.
> In the case of Chrysler, tens, if not hundreds of thousands of
> workers suddenly and painfully glutting the job market. They will
> drive down wages, eat up resources (unemployment insurance payments)
> without contributing and the cost of re-education/re-training that
> many workers? Yikes!
>
> Not necessarily advocating corporate and municipal welfare, but if
> changes can be enforced as a condition of assistance, is that not
> better than the alternative?
>
> App, who believes in the social benefit of paying his property taxes
> that fund schools despite his lack of children.


I don't know what to think about welfare. I'm sure it is justified
in many instances, but how to be objective and fair... still that's
a different topic.

The comment about shutting down a financial center and shift of global,
economic power is valid and I'd not considered it that way. However,
letting Chrysler fail I don't mind. I don't want people out of work,
nor families hurt, etc., but I don't like cars either. I do one one,
two actually, but all things being equal I'd prefer to use public
transport or my bike. Still, that's a personal stance and not necessarily
a political nor popular stance.

I like Microsoft less than auto manufacturers (Chrysler).

A side thought... government is for the people, to further a national
goal. Is it necessary for a government to keep its national
industry active (oil consumption (even though the plastics industry
consumes more oil than the automotive industry)) or to let the citizens
vote with their paychecks by purchasing from another company and
letting a behemoth(?) die? (rhetorical)

Mike
 
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 02:40:31 +1000, "DRS" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>"Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]
>
>[...]
>
>> Recently, of course, the fact that Lance has been winning *in France*
>> has been scoring points with some of the less intellectual Americans.

>
>How could anyone be impressed by beating a bunch of cheese-eating surrender
>monkeys? :)


The people involved are easily impressed. Many of them are still in
the process of catching up to the punch lines of the whale oil lamp
jokes.


--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.
 

Similar threads