Reference :- The outcome of the UK election was perhaps significantly steered by an advertisement featuring Boris Johnson acting out a scene from the movie " Love Actually " .
Indeed yes , chaps . What a great advertising ploy . Rowan , your experience as an advertising executive shone as you explained the importance of this particular piece of clever plagiarism .
Unfortunately , actor Hugh Grant wasn't very pleased that his movie had been used to market a politician whom he despises . He pointed out that the card which said " and at Christmas you tell the truth " had been left out of the advertisement . Obviously it was deliberately left out for copyright reasons, and had nothing to do with Mr Johnson's propensity to perpetrate porkies .
But the marketing genius of the simple message , the charming Christmas theme , and the portrayal of Boris as a likeable eccentric was impressive . And it certainly worked . It appears that most voters were not interested in hearing detailed policies addressing complex issues . Who wants the surgeon to describe in detail how they are going to replace their heart valve ? Just sign the consent form and leave it up to them, I say .
Forty years of rampart capitalism and austerity have ruined the lives of ordinary folk in Old Blighty . Fortunately , we are told , Brexit is the miracle fix for that disaster . And a skilled marketer managed to promote that fix with a slogan containing three short words . That slogan , " get brexit done " translates as " make our lives better, we can't bear this anymore , for God's sake ! ".
My son Ken junior , is of an age where he is becoming aware of politics . He keeps asking me why the world is being run by a bunch of pantomime clowns who repeat empty phrases like " get brexit done ", or " make America great again " , or " get the budget back into surplus ". I tell him people are so busy trying to pay off debt, and so worried about their jobs , that they don't have time to look carefully at the political landscape , and want simple solutions . He says , that leaves them vulnerable to the first grifter who comes along with a catchy slogan and a ute load of suitable scapegoats .
It worries me , Rowan , but Ken junior can be heartless at times , and has concluded that "If people are too lazy to look past the propaganda in the headlines , and the blatant lies of politicians , they deserve what they get ". That sounds a bit harsh to me . No doubt Mr Johnson has all those issues to do with trade , Scotland wanting to leave the UK , and the Irish border , solved in his mind. Now he can just get on with it , unhindered .
He seems like a capable chap. It was impressive watching him explain his 300 million quid deal to export sheep to China post brexit , should the EU market collapse . I reckon when the Chinese actually hear about the deal, they will cancel their existing imports of sheep from New Zealand . They are fed up with being fleeced by Kiwi shepherds , and it usually only takes about five years to sort out the paperwork for biosecurity , import licenses, and supply chains .
Your comrade , Ken.
No comments:
Post a Comment