Unemployment is still sky high, and governments at all levels are facing budget crunches. It’s more important than ever to use tax dollars wisely. Take the case of “Dr. Evil Unemployment,” a taxpayer-funded program which provides superhero capes to unemployed people. What will they think of next?
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Dubbed the “Cape-A-Bility Challenge,” a $73,000 public-relations campaign by Workforce Central Florida features a cartoon character named “Dr. Evil Unemployment” and includes handing out about 6,000 red superhero capes to jobless Central Floridians.
The campaign, revealed Saturday in a report in the Orlando Sentinel, was met with derision by many unemployed who questioned spending more than $14,200 on capes and $2,300 on foam cutouts of “Dr. Evil Unemployment.” They said the campaign’s tone risked minimizing the severity of the region’s labor problems.
The campaign risks minimizing the labor problems? How about the fact that tens of thousands of dollars are being spent on this? Oh well, at least making the capes is providing a few jobs… probably in another country.
Once again proving that “truth is stranger than fiction.” Your tax dollars at work!
I’ve seen it all now. The person who dreamed this up and the person who approved this stunt needs to be fired and placed on the unemployment line. I wish someone would tell me that this was some sick joke. I would like to know just what was this supposed to do for the unemployed? The only people winning on this one is the cape makers and foam board makers. We the taxpayer and the unemployed are the losers or should I say victims of more wasted Tax dollars.
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! !
Yeah – fire them and force them to wear SUPERZERO capes!
Who ever made the capes made some money. Oh wait… made in China.
At a time when our nation is spending trillions more than we have, this is the resolution they give us for unemployment? I don’t even know where to start. What imbecile came up with this campaign? Whoever it was, there should be an IMMEDIATE recall vote and he/she should be drummed out of office. What, do they think unemployment is a joke? I’m sure the several tens or hundreds of thousands of unemployed people in the area really appreciated this program. Wonder how many meals they were able to buy with the cape? Or maybe they made the house payment? Maybe they were really able to fly and enjoyed a free vacation? Or more likely, the unemployment was the budget kryptonite it’s always been, and this “program” didn’t help them at all. It is a program like this that underscores just how out of touch the average politician is with the average American. While they’re enjoying six and seven-figure incomes and speaking engagements, the unemployed are trying to scrape by because no one can afford to hire when they’re not sure just how much more Uncle Sam is going to raid their pockets to cover the free meal programs they keep giving to the shiftless and lazy. I sure hope that whatever clown came up with this idea is immediately run back to the circus where they belong.
Bobby,
I am not even going to dignify this theft of taxpayer money, with any any reason or logic.
Thieves are doing what thieves do best. They steal.
Too bizarre for comment…
SERIOUSLY!?!?!??!
I’ve read this story, checked out the original piece in the Sentinal and gone to this group’s website. I just can’t believe how crass, insensitive and just plain stupid this idea is.
Like RichMoney – where do you even begin on this one?
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One of the big detractors on a resume is a gap in employment – an even bigger one is being currently unemployed. And so… what?
I want to own a ‘costume cape’ for what possible purpose – to announce to the whole world that I’m out of work? <b>Look Here Everyone! – I’m a SUPERLOOSER!
Oh, manoman, have I got sumpin to say…***? Yeah, ***?!
This campaign, on several levels actually ridicules having a job. It’s like, “oh, big whoop, I’m unemployed, big frickin’ deal, who cares? I’ve got gubbmint money comin’ in.”
I’m seriously under-employed to the point I might as well call myself unemployed, my gigs are so few and far between. I don’t get unemployment cuz I am considered self-employed. But if someone handed me that hideous cape, I’d prolly be getting 3 hots and a cot in the county jail…and the cape person would be getting the same…in the hospital.
This whole thing is a mockery of the seriousness of our economy, and a mockery of those desperately trying to keep a roof over their heads.
Whoevah dreamed this idiocy up musta been on medical marijuana, that’s the only excuse I can come up with.