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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDid anybody else find that recent Cadillac ad repugnant?
I was wondering if anybody else would comment on this ad. I found it totally repugnant, and culturally tone-deaf too.
For the video-impaired:
Why do we work so hard? For what? For this? For stuff? Other countries, they work, they stroll home, they stop by the cafe, they take August off. Why aren't you like that? Why aren't we like that? Because we're crazy, driven, hard-working believers, that's why. Those other countries think we're nuts. Whatever. Were the Wright Brothers insane? Bill Gates? Les Paul? Ali? Were we nuts when we pointed to the moon? That's right. We went up there. You know what we got? Bored. So we left. Got a car up there, left the keys in it. You know why? Because we're the only ones going back up there, that's why.
But I digress. It's pretty simple. You work hard, you create your own luck, and you gotta believe anything is possible. As for all the stuff, that's the upside of only taking two weeks off in August.
There's so much wrong with this morally and factually it's hard to know where to begin.
Those four weeks vacation are paid vacation. Bill Gates isn't exactly an innovator, and Muhammad Ali opposed official United States policy on war, race and economics. We did get to the moon first, but we weren't the first in space, and China will be heading to the moon soon.
American economic mobility is lower than in most of the rest of the industrialized world. If you work hard and create your own luck, you're likelier to improve your station in France than in America. Heck, the American Dream is more alive in Pakistan than in America.
And no. A slightly better car isn't worth two fewer weeks of even unpaid vacation, much less paid vacation. I think most Americans would agree with that, too.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/speaking-of-not-understanding-what-it.html
Scuba
(53,475 posts)hlthe2b
(102,379 posts)white guys....
Something along the: "give yourself permission for the finer things in life... Take away that ridiculous liberal guilt! This will tell the average Joe Blow American what they should dream for--and it isn't shorter work hours and paid vacation... This ad will kill multiple birds with one stone. ALEC, in fact has already endorsed it"....
Yes, it is very repugnant and very likely written or at least targeted towards REPUGNANTCANS.
phantom power
(25,966 posts)Part of the recent Conservative melt-down, where they come out and say the stuff that they used to be smart enough to just imply.
It's doubly repugnant to me, because for the last few years I've been trying to find ways to take *unpaid* vacation, and failing. I'd fucking gladly give up a week or two of salary for an extra week or two of vacation.
And behold, here is this ad, trying to make a virtue out of all our most deeply unhealthy cultural neuroses.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)Where is MY Cadillac?
phantom power
(25,966 posts)More bagging on the 99% for being so obviously lazy if they don't live in a mansion. With a pool. And a caddy.
What are you, some kind of socialist from europe? Taking the summer off?
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)theKed
(1,235 posts)isn't necessary when it's true.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)I put it there because so many of us are in different circumstances when it comes to employment. If it were read in a certain way, it could have looked offensive. Wanted to make sure that wasn't the way it was taken. You are correct of course.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)I suppose I should be grateful for having a roof over my head.
It would be nice to be able to afford the $250 a month ACA premium, and a fuel efficient reliable car big enough that my oversized creaky self could climb in and out of. I'm not even considering a Cadillac in THIS lifetime.
catrose
(5,073 posts)Contractors don't get vacation. So I should have a fleet of Cadillacs? Or a really cool car? I'll pretend the 2003 Honda (bought used) is a Lamborghini.
Johnny Noshoes
(1,977 posts)Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)I said to my husband..... How obnoxious was that?
hunter
(38,328 posts)I do my best to avoid feeding the beast.
otohara
(24,135 posts)That Awesome American's design - American's like Bill Gates have no problem sending work overseas.
This commercial sucks on so many levels -
Armstead
(47,803 posts)I think there are lot of would-be "hardworking Americans" if they had something here to work for.
The jackasses like those portrayed in the commercial pull the rug out from under opportunity.
senseandsensibility
(17,146 posts)and the people that are giving up paid vacations, secure retirement, medical care, and higher education are receiving NOTHING in return.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)Sometimes it comes from the government. More often, it comes from business.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)badtoworse
(5,957 posts)broiles
(1,370 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Scruffy Rumbler
(961 posts)I shall never buy a new or used cadillac ever... I heard they are the Edsel of high end cars any way!
Lost_Count
(555 posts)phantom power
(25,966 posts)Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)This commercial only reconfirms the stereotype that Cadillac's (and Corvettes) are the cliche's......I mean cars of old white Republican (some teabaggers too) men. I would not consider a Caddy after watching that commercial.
-Germany builds some popular (and high quality) cars too. They also have some of the best technical schools in the world.
-GM killed their own electric car in 96' for unknown reasons. Tesla is more of an innovator than GM.
Digby points out many important facts that the make this commercial all the less meaningful.
phantom power
(25,966 posts)I mean, status/snob appeal in advertising is old as the hills, and Cadillac is, for obvious reasons, no stranger to that genre of ad.
But.. I don't recall ever seeing an ad that so explicitly based itself on the theme "be an unhealthy status-obsessed work-a-holic, so you too can have expensive status symbols at the expense of living a fulfilling life"
In fact, historically, status-appeal ads specifically *avoid* any inconvenient thoughts about how one actually acquires enough money to afford that kind of car, or whether one actually can afford it. They are selling the aspiration, not the reality.
This ad seems more likely to just cause people to reflect on how they already work like dogs, but won't ever be able to afford a luxury sedan. Rather like all the reactions posted here on this thread.
Really, I don't quite get it. But it's creepy.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)They haven't a clue how many "breaks" they enjoy, but they sure like to be reminded of how their "hard work" got them their ego tripper lead sled.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)Slower in the sense that we slow down and enjoy life instead of always in a hurry to meet somebody, to meet some arbitrary deadline, to make money. We should always take a couple hours in the middle of the day to enjoy lunch, like France. We should get at least mandatory four weeks paid vacation a year so we can spend more time with our family and friends, instead of spending time making money for our corporate overlords.
Europe has got it right. Europeans know how to enjoy life. Why can't we?
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)Where's my Cadillac?
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)Not giving people time off is bad business as well as not right. Good companies understand that.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)badtoworse
(5,957 posts)Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)phantom power
(25,966 posts)Because we more or less deliberately reinforce a culture where we worship the exact opposite of healthy attitudes towards work, leisure, material possessions and social status.
madaboutharry
(40,224 posts)is that he barely acknowledges his wife and kids. Big expensive house, but not really much of a home, iykwim.
donco
(1,548 posts)with that add.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)the businesses won't get my money. Cadillacs have never appealed to me, so it won't affect my purchasing decisions, but still.
And that actor who accepted the role is forever an asshole.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)and remembered the CSI episode he was in.
JEB
(4,748 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)... that looks like more fun than crashing my TV.
progressoid
(49,999 posts)But their target audience will love it.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)the pulling out of his electric plug at the end...cute.
"Wow Ah am soooo kewl..." (Cartman grows up and buys a hybrid...)
Xithras
(16,191 posts)I work in one of the most liberal parts of the country, and in my office a Republican would feel about as welcome as an Al Qaeda member, but I work with a lot of people who think exactly the way that commercial portrayed.
America is the best simply because it's America.
Your work ethic is a reflection of your value.
Vacations are for wimps.
My company gives us 6 weeks of paid vacation a year. That sounds generous, but it's a rare employee who uses more than half of it. Doing so is generally regarded as career suicide (the "good" projects would quickly be routed to the "reliable" employees who are around more). The mindset is "To be good at your job you have to love it, and if you love it you shouldn't need a vacation from it. If you don't love your job, you really shouldn't be here anyway".
Welcome to the new world.
I took six weeks last year. Luckily I can code circles around the pompous little twenty-something shits who sneered at me for doing so. When one of the twits derisively asked me how I could spend that much time on vacation without "getting bored", I pointed out to him that while he was banging away on his keyboard, I was getting laid on the beach. If the battle is between his worldview and mine, I'm pretty sure I win
phantom power
(25,966 posts)It's more or less always been this way. Certainly as long as I've been old enough to notice. I remember interviewing with a small company right out of college, where their vacation policy was: first five years: 1 week. 2nd five years: 2 weeks. 15+ years, 3 weeks. They lost me right there. No software is cool enough to be worth that kind of miserable lifestyle.
I guess what continues to amuse me, in a sad way, is how desperately we cling to this nonsense. You might think that we'd look at Europe, and say "hey, that's working out pretty well for them." But no, instead we double down.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)Innocents Abroad
Rex
(65,616 posts)throw unknown thousands of families out of their homes and then they get PROMOTIONS! Only in this fucked up country.
SamKnause
(13,110 posts)Hell, maybe Americans could give up their vacations, sick days, and holidays and own 2 Cadillacs.
I never had a job that offered paid sick days. (I had 2 union jobs)
I haven't be able to afford a vacation since the late 1980's.
You want to know what hard work will get you ?
It got me a disability check.
Vox Moi
(546 posts)There was a similar ad that ended:
"
let the Germans make their beer and let Switzerland make your watch
"
Jingoistic, dismissive, haughty and arrogant: things the world hates about America.
Americans love to tell themselves that we are the best at everything.
Americans love to think that 'I built this myself'
Americans love to think that virtue is our national product.
While watching these ads, I wondered what we think of a German ad that concluded:
"so let Americans work all the time making hamburgers
"
thesquanderer
(11,993 posts)There was a similar ad that ended:
" let the Germans make their beer and let Switzerland make your watch "
That was the one Bob Dylan did, oddly enough.
The tagline was that America will make your car. Which is funny because it was a Chrysler commercial, and they are now owned by Fiat.
Anyway, I don't really mind the Cadillac commercial. Commercials are commercials. It appeals to the desired demographic. Don't like it, don't buy a Cadillac. But I actually thought it was kinda funny.
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)Did I miss something?
I thought the ad was jaw-dropping stupid.
Blue Owl
(50,513 posts)n/t
onethatcares
(16,188 posts)by now
dawg
(10,624 posts)he can polish the fenders.
volstork
(5,403 posts)a house out in Hackensack? Is that all you get for your money?!
(You can't get there anyway-- you'd have to go through Ft. Lee and I hear there have been some problems with the bridge
)
zeemike
(18,998 posts)I'm moving out.
Blue Owl
(50,513 posts)texanwitch
(18,705 posts)We are suppose to.work our selves to death for a car.
You are lazy if you want a vacation.
Ratty
(2,100 posts)I don't see anything wrong with people becoming wealthy, even very wealthy. But yeah, this ad is pretty fucking repugnant.
MADem
(135,425 posts)It reminded me of that comedy routine that went along the lines of
"When we were kids, we didn't have any fancy pants (fill in the blank)....and we LIKED IT!!!!!!!"
I think it was Dana Carvey who did that bit...
Who the fuck is PROUD of having a shitty annual vacation? It is a stupid commercial and it makes me HATE the product!
volstork
(5,403 posts)volstork
(5,403 posts)for bringing this up. I vaguely remembered the ad from the Super Bowl, but never really paid attention to it until last night when I happened to see it. I was appalled; glad others were, too.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)The guy came off as greedy, arrogant, Republican asshole.
But I wouldn't want to seem like a purist. The guy could have been one of those new Democrats that we must embrace, you know.
ErikJ
(6,335 posts)It got them going, "YEAH! Take that you lazy French loving libs".
Then the last scene he is shown unplugging his electric vehicle, exploding their tiny heads. And hopefully changing their minds.
jmowreader
(50,563 posts)Some "cheese-eating surrender monkey" walks down this stone hallway talking about taking August off, two-hour lunches with wine, all the things Republicans hate. Then he walks out the front door of a 900-year-old chateau, locks the door with his key, gets in his Lamborghini with his tres-smoking-hot wife and drives away.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)on their deathbed anyone has ever said "I wish I had worked more and had more stuff."
dawg
(10,624 posts)I want to stop by the cafe. I want to take time off to do the things that make life worthwhile.
To hell with having a more expensive car. Lot of damn good it does me if all I do is drive it to work.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)I don't know if this guy is more full of himself or full of shit...or both.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Think of all the people slaving away for peanuts ... Yeah, they voluntarily forego any vacation because they want more major luxury items. Uh huh. That's it.
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)but he is right we tend to work more than the Europeans. Take less vacation then them.
Of course no one seems to notice the Caddy is electric.
Marr
(20,317 posts)The crowd they're aiming at wants to think of themselves that way. They want to believe that they're in the Bill Gates class. They want to believe they're hard-working mavericks, superior to those who don't have enough ready cash to buy this mid-range "luxury" car. They want to believe that when you see them driving this car, you'll think they're a winner, that they know who they are, and that they're happy.
the_sly_pig
(741 posts)I don't understand why people find this exceptional. The target audience are those that value the perception of being rich. It's really no different than any other ad.
3catwoman3
(24,054 posts)one advertising class his sophomore year of college, and came away saying exactly what you just posted - "Marketing is lying for a living."
Armstead
(47,803 posts)Take off the "distinguished" grey hair and the suit, and he looks kinda familiar from memories of crappy movies I have come across.
Sancho
(9,070 posts)so I agree with the post.
Of course, this ad was aimed at people who already are sexist, racist, and elitist!
Personally, I'd have rather the wife been heading to work, and the family planning an outing to help the homeless, and some more ethnic representation.
Worshiping work and materialism is one of the worst consequences of "capitalism" as practiced in the US. This ad more than plays on that value, but it has plenty of other issues.
Ron Green
(9,823 posts)but they keep beating it.
Dollface
(1,590 posts)I would love to stroll home and stop at a cafe rather than leaving work in the dark after 12 or 13 hours just to get up the next day and do it again. But I do get health insurance for only $1,000 a month through my employer. Oh wait... those other countries get that too, don't they.
PumpkinAle
(1,210 posts)have these cars assigned to the "company" and not individually so never have to actually pay for the cars they drive everyday - no insurance, no payments, no repair bills, nothing because even their gas is reimbursed.
Once again tax right-offs and "good" accountants ensure the rich stay rich and are getting things for free that the poor can only dream about - as they work harder and harder to try and pay for heating, lighting and that luxury of luxuries ... food.
TomClash
(11,344 posts)The ad, not your post. The post was spot on.
Tikki
(14,559 posts)Tikki
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)hatrack
(59,593 posts)Manned flight, obviously yes, but the first probe to reach the Moon was the Luna, an unmanned Soviet spacecraft that made a hard landing on September 14th, 1959.
Oh, and the Soviets were the first to photograph the dark side of the Moon as well.
pintobean
(18,101 posts)along with every other union built American car.
But yeah, that ad rubbed me the wrong way.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)chrisa
(4,524 posts)That way, I'll look like an even bigger douchebag.
You damned slackers with your lives and stuff. It's not like there's anything to do other than working anyways.
Yup.
bkanderson76
(266 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)why aren't you like that? You create your own luck, aka..pull up those damn boot straps, by yourself.
Pathetic but some might run out and buy that car after they saw the ad.
AllyCat
(16,228 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)The idle rich in particular really BELIEVE they EARNED their fortune from their OWN "hard work" because it's absolute HELL to dress up in a suit and fight traffic to get to a mandatory board of directors meeting every quarter.
eggplant
(3,913 posts)Do you honestly think this ad is meant for you? Do you think that the writers didn't mean for it to be over-the-top douchy?
Could you write an ad for a REALLY expensive car that wouldn't offend you? I'll bet you can't.
So complain all you want that these cars exist at all or that our society values crap like this more than its people, but sheesh -- it's just a freaking ad. It's not going to sway the argument in either direction.
Honestly, don't we have more important things to be fighting for than bitching about this ad?
Throd
(7,208 posts)Getting people to freak out, who would never buy their product anyway, is just free publicity.
If I ever buy a Cadillac, it will be a '67 Eldorado, not something that looks like a chrome insect.
LittleGirl
(8,291 posts)I had not seen this one. Thanks for posting.
The reasons he mentioned about not taking vacations is one of the reasons my husband and I are planning to move back to Europe. He misses his 5-6 weeks of vacation. He misses going to work and not worrying about it being his last day on the job. Because in this state, you have a right to work for as long as the boss allows it. Or H.R. defends your position. I guess you can always sue.
My husband and I came to the states in '09 and he became a citizen in '12. We're going to go back and live in Europe and save 10% of his salary on healthcare costs and actually have public transportation to use. We will also not have the stress of losing not only his income, but everything we own because some boss has a tantrum and fires you. Unemployment in this state tops out at $240 a week (before taxes, thanks Reagan). How can you go from 6 figures annually to less than 900 a month? You can't so we're planning our exit. We can get the American dream in Europe for a lot less stress.
Paladin
(28,276 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Just before hurrying off to his private mega-rich repuke "47% of the American people are leeches" gala.
Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)Sheesh, what a load of crap. Fortunately, I have a sweet old '64 Beetle that runs just fine, so I don't even need to give consideration to whether I should buy a piece of shit Cadillac.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)technologically.
It is priced similar to the Tesla, except the Tesla is all electric, and allows a 300 mile range on the electric, while this allows a 38 mile range on the electric before kicking into gas. For 70K I would have really thought they would have given a greater all electric range similar to the Leaf, so I have my doubts this will be a big seller.
As for the OPs comments, Bill Gates was an is an innovator. In addition, he uses his billions to try to erase poverty around the world along with Buffett, which is more than I can say for most of the 1%.
Ali was against a war which was based on lies, and killed over 60 thousand American soldiers, and over a million people. Yes, Ali took a stand, and he was hurt by it. They removed his title because he stood for his convictions.
As for your evaluation on our innovation in space we did plenty that was innovative.
Perhaps you are not aware of the human genome or the other scientific advances, that not only Americans are making, but others in the world are also.
There are plenty of innovations going on here, and because you don't recognize them, doesn't mean they do not happen
dhill926
(16,364 posts)Was gonna post on it myself.
meti57b
(3,584 posts)CherokeeDem
(3,709 posts)I have a friend who lives in Paris France... they are just as productive as we are on a day to day basis and a lot happier... she gets about 5 weeks vacation. I am envious of her... she has time to rejuvenate and decompress... we don't get that here.
I found this ad to be extremely annoying....
3catwoman3
(24,054 posts)...American exceptionalism?
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)We work harder and get less in return, that's something to be proud of???
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)I commented to my husband about how disgusting it was when I first saw it.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)Anything that tries to get American consumers to THINK ( about *anything* important; in this case, why they live the way they do) is probably a good thing.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)I'm dealing with this coming from family members!
CFLDem
(2,083 posts)because it summarizes the sort of uniquely American cocky can-do attitude that allowed us to accomplish the 20th century.
And I fully intend to go back for my moon rover.
And for all you haters-
A-Schwarzenegger
(15,596 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)That is their brand and they re sticking with it.
Squinch
(51,021 posts)food in their kids.
Not for a pool or a Cadillac, you dumbasses.
CFLDem
(2,083 posts)Squinch
(51,021 posts)KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)don't like (?)
rather than spend time at the pub or with your kids? "stuff" ?!
No thanks.
jmowreader
(50,563 posts)Is there a law I don't know about that says the front of every car made in America must look like a pickup?
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)but if I had a choice between that, and living in Europe- give me Europe.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)receiver3645
(1 post)No one has mentioned that the U.S. is 35th in life expectancy, behind all those countries that take August off. So, we're not just talking about 2 weeks a year here.
Enjoy the ELR. It's a good thing that most will lease it or trade it in after just 3 or 4 years, while those europeans with August off will be driving their cars while the stereotypical asshole that McDonough plays is lying in a box.
brettdale
(12,384 posts)Its wrong for so many reasons.
I hop the guys kids love that daddy is spending more time at the office than with them.