Consolidation of State Power Continues

10 Dec Consolidation of State Power Continues

If President Bush signs the bailout for the car companies, as he is expected to, Uncle Sam will play a very prominent role in the marketing industry as well. Here is some food for thought:

The draft rescue plan for Detroit sent to the White House by Congress yesterday calls for the appointment of a “car czar” who will oversee the Big Three automakers’ expenses over $25 million — which, by extension, would include media buys. Based on Advertising Age’s estimates of spending by General Motors Corp., Chrysler and Ford Motor Co., that would give the as-yet-unnamed car czar control over some $7.3 billion in marketing spending in the U.S. alone.

State power is reaching areas once unimaginable.

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