Demian posted this video earlier in the week, but I just saw the Pennsylvania ad on the news this morning and wanted to share a few thoughts. Talk about creepy! The narrator begins her "Orwellian" message:
Your name is Tom ... You live just off of 5th Street ... Nice car, Tom — nice house. What's not so nice is you owe Pennsylvania $4,212 in back taxes. Listen Tom, we can make this easy. Pay online by June 18th and we'll skip your penalty and take half off your interest because Tom, we do know who you are.
Believe me, you need to listen to get the full effect. Justification behind the ad? It's simple. Pennsylvania, like many other states, is experiencing a budget crisis ($1.1 million deficit) and resorting to scare tactics in an effort to make up those funds. This particular ad is targeted to tax delinquents, who PA Department of Revenue says are costing the state millions each year. By running an ad to jolt taxpayers into paying up before June 18 – when the 54-day amnesty period runs out – the state claims it's being helpful by sparing individuals from increased penalties and interest rates.
PA Department of Revenue says it's working, judging by the 14,000 applications from delinquents and $16 million in back taxes they have received since the ad began to air.
Well, duh. You're telling me this wouldn't scare YOU into paying your taxes?!
While I understand their need to collect revenue, this is not the answer. The ad is sinister and threatening, not to mention it further harms the public's trust in our government.