Sometimes I wonder how stupid they think we are. “They” can be applied to your choice of several options.
I subscribe to two magazines — “Golf” and “Smithsonian.” No sooner have I sent my annual payment in than I begin getting notices that it’s time to renew. I kept all of the mailings from one of them last year. The final tally was 10, including two “Last Chance” notices. I figure as long as I mail it in 2-3 weeks before the expiration date, why should they worry? But obviously, they don’t trust me to remember to do that. I would venture to guess between postage and paper and someone’s time, they spent about one-third of my annual subscription amount.
I also get two prescriptions. I used to get them from a local pharmacy but I got tired of the automated phone calls reminding me that it’s time to call in my renewal. These began about halfway through the 90-day supply and continued with increased frequency as the end of that period approached. It became a game of sorts, but it always struck me that apparently they know I’m an old fart and probably need reminded. We should probably appreciate that they don’t call every day to remind us to take those pills.
So now I get them from a mail-order pharmacy that has some sort of relationship with my Medicare Advantage Plan. They too send out the reminders but they come as emails and can be more easily ignored — but still aggravating. They obviously don’t believe I have the wherewithal to monitor my little bottles of pills to know when it’s time to order a renewal. I did choose the “Automatic Refill” option for one of them, just to see how it would work. I still get emails.
A side story; an intentional digression: For years, I have overheard customers come into the News-Banner office and tell our person at the front counter “I need to renew my prescription.” They were always older people. I would silently chuckle. Until one day, more years ago than I want to admit, I pulled up to the drive-thru window at our pharmacy and told the gal I needed to “renew my subscription.” I no longer chuckle when someone gets it wrong at our front counter. Well, I do, but with a different perspective.
Undoubtedly my biggest pet peeve when it comes to being reminded of things is this constant barrage we have seen this fall, telling us to be sure to vote. The Indiana Secretary of State’s office put together an advertising campaign in newspapers, television, billboards and radio, exhorting us with a big bold headline: “You need to vote.” I am curious how much of taxpayers’ dollars are being spent on this, but my inquiry has yet be answered.
Editorial cartoonists have gotten the fever:
You cannot watch an NFL game this fall without seeing “VOTE” stenciled on end zones and watching multiple promotional messages from different players encouraging us to vote. I am sure they all feel better, just as I once did a long time ago in a galaxy far away, when I wrote my one and only editorial encouraging people to vote. It made me feel like I’d done my virtuous, civic duty — until I got a bit older and crustier and, I like to think, wiser. Anyway, I don’t write those exhortations anymore.
Here’s the thing — as our friends like to say every Wednesday: While I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, I’m not stupid. You’re not stupid. We know when Election Day is and what’s at stake. But if someone needs to be encouraged and reminded to vote, do we really want them to vote? If they don’t have a clue that an election is approaching, they surely don’t have a clue as to who stands for what.
Meanwhile, another “they” — both political parties — are encouraging us to take advantage of early voting and doing it as soon as possible. Obviously, each party wants to get their voters out but I am flummoxed as to why we should be in such a hurry and can only conclude they also think we’re stupid: Go vote before your feeble mind forgets.
Meanwhile, I see U.S. Sen. Mike Braun was scheduled to be in Bluffton Friday. He also happens to be the Republican candidate for governor. The election is now about two weeks away but, we are told, this is not a campaign stop but rather a “Q&A on federal issues.” Which means the expenses for this informational town-hall tour which happens to be close to the election is being paid for by taxpayers.
How stupid do they think we are? Apparently, very.
miller@news-banner.com
