Somebody in the mainstream press (or perhaps a blogger) needs to figure out how Donald Rumsfeld made his determination that bombs found in Iraq came across the border from Iran. Because we've learned that our information isn't the greatest, and that we'll trump up accusations simply to make an excuse for armed conflict.
If I read one more opinion piece lamenting the death of consumer loyalty, I'm going to wig out. This is one of those questions where the answer is as plain as the nose on your face, so I wish everyone would stop treating it like a big mystery. Marketing groups at many larger corporations are typically split into two areas - acquisition and retention. While the acquisition group tends to get the majority of the emphasis (new customer growth seems to be sexier than retaining existing ones), retention is typically underfunded and de-emphasized. It almost goes without saying that when your bank, automobile manufacturer, cellular provider, etc. starts taking you for granted, there's little incentive to stay with them. In many cases, the only force keeping you with them is inertia.
It's completely weird to me that a bank would wonder why their existing customers are switching to other banks when they're giving better deals and incentives to new customers while doing diddley squat for their existing customers. Why would I keep a checking account that charges me monthly service fees when the bank down the street is running a "free checking for life" promotion that gives me a $100 gift certificate to boot? See enough of those customer acquisition promotions and you begin to wonder - "What has my bank done for me lately?"
Lots of corporations wonder why their existing customers are defecting. It's because their competitors are offering better deals, and often because the company itself is treating its new customers way better than customers that have been with them for years. This totally flies in the face of Marketing 101, where one of the first lessons you learn is that it's much easier and less expensive to earn more revenue from existing customers than it is to launch an effort to acquire new ones.
So count me among the folks who wander from company to company, looking for the best deal du jour. And quit acting like the sky is falling because the economics of the very situation you created make it easier to switch than to hang on.
It's bad enough to have to consent to a search of any bags you're carrying in order to take the subway. It's worse when this kind of thing starts growing out of control. Thursday, I heard the first announcements on the Long Island Rail Road train I ride to and from work every day that all bags would be subject to search by police. Had no idea this applied to the LIRR, too. I suspect that if I decided I wanted to avoid being searched, the chances of getting a refund for my monthly ticket would be pretty much nil.
Won't this be interesting to watch, as we forfeit yet more personal freedoms in the name of safety? These bag checks are going to do positively squat, and won't catch terrorists. They'll catch plenty of other folks, though:
The Associated Press said Suffolk County police arrested Gilbert Hernandez, 34, during Thursday evening's rush hour at the Brentwood Long Island Rail Road station after they searched his van and discovered a machete, imitation handguns, an electronic stun gun and chukka sticks in the vehicle. The police told The A.P. that Mr. Hernandez had been convicted of possessing a pipe bomb in 1996.
Initial radio reports I heard about this incident indicated Hernandez was caught with a shotgun and some ammunition. Interesting how the hysteria takes hold.
Last I checked, machetes were not illegal. I can only assume "imitation handguns" means some sort of prop, rubber training gun or toy. Again, not illegal unless one brandishes it like a real weapon. Unless I'm mistaken, stun guns are not illegal. "Chukka sticks," also known as nunchakus to people who actually understand what the hell they're talking about, are illegal in New York State, but last I checked only merit a misdemeanor. (This never made sense to me, considering nunchakus are simply two sticks with a short length of rope or chain strung between them. Nunchakus with foam padding on them are available in martial arts supply stores in Manhattan. The story didn't say whether or not the "chukka sticks" found were practice models or the real thing.)
So basically, the broadcast media reported that the searches were responsible for nabbing this guy. And it was seen as a good thing. Until people came to their senses and realized the police hadn't nabbed the guy with a shotgun and ammo as previously reported. So instead of capturing a terrorist, the police have used this new infringement on our rights to crack down on some local lowlife with a collection of not-very-dangerous junk.
When are we going to get on track with the "War on Terror" and take some action that catches some ACTUAL TERRORISTS? Because in this case, it looks like cops caught some guy on his way to martial arts class.
Greenpeace? Under surveillance. The ACLU? Under surveillance.
Republican National Convention Protesters? Under surveillance.
PETA? Apparently still okay.
Hey, it's frustrating when your tax dollars go to things you'd never expect. It's doubly frustrating when they're going toward doing things that are the exact opposite of what I would do if I were in charge. Okay, so the PETA thing was a joke (well, partially anyway...) But how about those domestic resources being used to monitor, say, the next Timothy McVeigh or the assholes who bomb abortion clinics?
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