Politics

Creepy Pennsylvania Ads Threaten Tax Evaders

By Anne Landman

Pennsylvanians are getting spooked by scary TV ads being run by their state's revenue department. The state is trying to persuade tax dodgers to pay up by airing creepy, Orwellian TV ads to promote a tax amnesty program. One of the ads opens by showing a view of the Earth from space. A satellite camera then zooms in through the clouds and focuses a house in a Pennsylvania neighborhood. A blinking target appears over the house and the words "subject located" appear as a voice intones, "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." Critics say the ads intimidate and threaten all Pennsylvania citizens -- even those who have paid their taxes -- and it is an attempt by the government to frighten people. Tax amnesty programs have been popular among states to help address the budget crises, but none have taken such a harsh and threatening tone in their public discourse as Pennsylvania has to try and collect back taxes.

Full post as published by PR Watch on May 26, 2010 (boomark / email).