Sunday, January 31, 2016
Why didn't they .... oh.
The constant sponsor for those 1950s FBI radio shows was Equitable Assurance. Typically for that era, the ads for each episode were written and narrated along with the script, not prepackaged clips. Equitable featured three different 'custom plans' in these episodes, more or less rotating per week. One plan was adjustable life, designed to expand with increasing income.
One specific pitch for this plan:
Next Tuesday is income tax day. Here in America there are many men and women who, as they drop their returns in the mailbox, will say to themselves "It won't be long before I'll be paying tax on a bigger income. And sooner or later, I'm going to make the TOP BRACKET.1 I'm on the way UP!"
Is that the way you feel? Is your confidence in your future success unshakeable? Then you'll be interested in Equitable's Plan For Men And Women On The Way Up.
The ratshit about Unlimited Opportunity has always been a main feature of USA STRONG. You still hear it today. Maybe it was valid in 1952. I dunno.
The 'non-commercial' part of these episodes always began and ended with a moralistic lecture on Crime And Criminals. A recurrent theme of these lectures was:
Criminals come in all shapes and sizes and ages, but one thing they have in common is an unshakeable confidence in their success. They know they won't get caught. They know the Big Heist is waiting in the future.
Hmm. If I'm a Man And2 Woman On The Way Up, wouldn't I notice that my characteristics are criminal characteristics? And if I'm a criminal, wouldn't I notice that my unshakeable confidence could be applied to a career with less chance of ending in jail?
No. Optimistic people don't notice those things.
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**Footnote 1: This sentence would be illegal now. Looking at higher taxes as an indication of higher status is not permitted. Paying taxes is for the Little People, not for the Chosen.
**Footnote 2: This sentence would have used or in 1952, but of course and is the only legally permissible conjunction in this sentence now.
Labels: Asked and answered
¶ 1:43 AM
