Tuesday, June 16, 2020

How To Win Friends And Influence Your Favourite Media Uncles.


Update on the oh so predictable follow-up wurlitzer cranking....Here.


TheUsualSuspectsThrowTombStones
InBlueGlassedCutOutHousesVille



Here's a fun little item from Clarklandia's former speechwriter that apparently came out of nowhere:




So fun and engaging, in point of fact-filled truthiness, that the good Mr. Smyth of MediaLotusland swallowed it, and the hook attached, whole:



But, really, where did this most excellent case of trade-mark infringement come from, exactly?

The current director of the local division of the rootsey, but never plastic grassian, Canadian Taxpayers' Federation says she has no idea:



No idea whatsoever, despite the fact CTF was behind a prior 'event' that took place in Mr. Smyth's own backyard (i.e. the Ledge Lawn) last spring according to Kelowna Now's Dylan McCullogh:

A gigantic 30-foot tall version of the Monopoly mascot Rich Uncle Pennybags was inflated in Victoria on Wednesday.

However, unlike the classic board game, the mascot’s presence on the lawn of B.C.’s legislative building was for neither fun or games.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation was behind the elaborate stunt, that they say symbolizes a protest against a “government-forced” car insurance monopoly...



And even less of an idea whatsoeverafter, despite the fact that that same leader of the local CTF division previously went on the former Clarklandian speechwriter's turf-toed cetaceanous prop-organ grinder video monkey to decry ICBC's monopoly with, wait for it...

The Puff-Master Flash:


Imagine that!



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Of course, as you may have predicted, the little chat with Cluffmaster went dead viral on arrival with, as of this writing, 48 views....
Image at the top of the post is from, you guessed it, that CTF 'event' in May of 2019.



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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

vacuumed up by what BC party ?

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/government-to-receive-778-million-in-icbc-surplus-1.488752

RossK said...

Anon-Above--

Yup.

As soon as they can't milk it, they don't want it

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cfvua said...

Having a bit of experience purchasing insurance from various public and private sources over 30+ years of running a business, and personally, I feel a bit qualified to comment on how insurance works in BC.
Public insurance functions in other jurisdictions, so BC is not unique. I wonder if CTF is as politically motivated to take on those organizations or is it only ICBC that gets them going?
If ICBC is broken and in need of repair, which it is in some offerings, the people critiquing it need to recognize the causal factors and the government that gave the direction to break it.
Both parties will point the finger at the other on this which is not productive. Changes need to be made and can be quite easily. Exposure to risk is the easiest way and the policy that allows low rates for 5000 km per year is a good start. Now make it a 1000km per month and it covers a lot more low exposure drivers.
Get the Fleet Reporting Policy back to what it was meant to do and we are back to competitive insurance that addresses exposure to risk, which is what insurance is for. Allowing ICBC to offer cargo and CGL policies on fleets they already insure might not be a bad thing either, increasing volume which might help keep overall rates lower. Where are the CTF ideas, other than going private?
As for dealing with public vs. private, I'll take public. Mainly due to the fact insurers don't allow several brokers to shop a policy. Once one gets a rate the premium is cast in stone. Not really that competitive when you think about it.
Public needs to be managed better (it's not like managers aren't substantially rewarded) for sure and government and party influencers need to stay out of it. Looking at a couple of trade organizations here.
Condo insurance experiences of late should send a strong signal how private insurance can go sideways.

RossK said...

Really thoughtful commentary cfvua - thanks!

To be honest, my purpose in writing this post was to once again demonstrate how easy it is for the usual suspects to lead our local proMedia folks by the nose regardless the actual 'topic'.


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Anonymous said...

Meanwhile in the private insurance market...
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5613944

Keep in mind the BC Liberals did TWO studies to prove public insurance was a scam. Both studies came back negative - so the BC Liberals maliciously broke it... See what they did to BC Rail too.

e.a.f. said...

the taxpauers federation, what a fund group. don't know who they represent because I've never met any of them, met taxpayers but not those who say they represent us. don't know who decided they represent us, guess they just wanted to be important or screw around and be the second tier Fraser Institute. Never as good, never as slick, just sort of well very pedestrian.

They haven't been in the news and Horgan is doing well, so this in my opinion is their attempt at some attention. No one is paying attention at this time, folks. Half of us have parked the second and third car and may never take it out of storage.

They want to destroy ICBC, but it has survived this long and will continue to do so, even if they sell off the land they own. Hey they could use that land for affordable housing for those working in jobs at less than $150K a year with a nice mix of disabled, families, retirees, etc. Even would have a lawn.

Doesn't matter what that group calls itself I remember what life was like before ICBC. Don't care what they charge, I stay with ICBC. I can remember a time you had an accident and you didn't have insurance. those who call themselves the "tax payers association" or what ever can go fxxk themselves. they're nothing but shrills for the insurance industry and the B.C. Lieberals, in my humble opinion.

RossK said...

Anon-Above--

Thanks for that.

As for the non-stop prop flinging by GordCo, Inc., regarding BC Rails big, bad phantom debt?

Well, around here we know a thing or five thousand about that....


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e.a.f.--

In addition it sure would be interesting to know if Mr. Kay is running his 'enterprise' for 'free' (see what I did there?).

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e.a.f. said...

ah this explains a lot and the lack of job, one might have to find other methods of making a living and some bloggers are doing well with ads............perhaps he's auditioning for a position somewhere over the rain bow.

Keith said...

A couple of items worth reading about the CTF. For an organisation that is concerned about transparency in Government, as is often the case with with this and similar right wing entities, a shining example of hypocrisy.

https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2018/07/05/Canadian-Taxpayers-Federation-Get/


https://torontoguardian.com/2019/04/astroturfing-canadian-taxpayers-federation/


For the last while, couple of their spokes people here in B.C. used it as an audition for bigger and better things in the right wing bubble.
Sarah McIntyre went on to shill for Harper, then disastrously for Cristy Clark, Jordan Bateman went on to the Independent Contractors Association, just yakking to the choir to keep a cheque coming in.

RossK said...

Thanks Keith--

In addition to the two very fine folks you mentioned, there is also Mr. Kenney, Jason.


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Lulymay said...

Once upon a time, in the land of private insurance for vehicle coverage, my father went into the local agent in our small town in BC to renew on our modest very 2nd hand family car.

He was told that his current company would not renew his insurance. When he protested to the agent that he couldn't understand this as he had never had an accident.

The agent replied that he was aware of this, however, the insurance company's position was according to their "law of averages" predictions, he was about to have one and so they would not cover him any more. The agent searched around for another company that would provide coverage and found one, but at a much higher rate due to the risk my father represented!

As well, there were many drivers out on the roads who did not carry insurance. That was when licence plates were purchased separately from Motor Vehicle Branch so carrying insurance was not enforceable.

He was always a proponent of government managing both plates and insurance, as it was always against the law NOT to carry insurance but there was no way of enforcing it. As well, driver risk would be assessed fairly and based on their driving record. No-fault insurance is the fairest way to ensure all drivers are covered and protects everyone equally.

Having spent several months of the last 20 years in the US and having to purchase health coverage from private insurance providers, I can tell you that without question, they are still applying several forms of discrimination in order to maximize their profits (both with respect to age as well as any health-related issue one might have).

RossK said...

Thanks Lulymay--

It seems that throwing a cloak of strategic forgeterry is a major goal of many of the folks involved.


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Keith said...

Doh! Missed Mr. Kenney.

Jason must be in the C T F hall of fame and be a inspiration to all who follow in his footsteps.

RossK said...

Keith--

You bet!


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