Comments on: Your tax dollars at work?

Your tax dollars at work?

shoepal — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:21:31 -0800

Your tax dollars at work? Apparently the FAA is paying $50 a click to make sure that Americans are well informed passengers. What ever happened to Public Service Announcements? Anyone want to buy a $200 screwdriver?

By: geoff.

geoff. — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:34:21 -0800

If this is true, I urge everyone to not click the link. The next highest paying is 80 cents so 50 dollars seems maybe like a clerical error. Nevertheless it's your tax dollars so you'd only do yourself a disservice to click it...

By: sexymofo

sexymofo — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:54:27 -0800

Hmmm...I think they regard the FAA link as a sort of PSA and are not charging at all. I'm basing this on the note that says in bold "Overture is placing public service links at the top of the listings at NO cost to the charities" and "Public Service Listing" including in the description of the FAA link.

By: dcgartn

dcgartn — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:55:28 -0800

I clicked it 437 times! Finally, I actually have some control over where my tax dollars are going.

By: machaus

machaus — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:57:08 -0800

so maybe that was the easiest way within their CMS system to get it to float to the top. notice the descending cost... nothing to see here people, hey you, get off that grassy knoll.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:04:15 -0800

Ah! Good think'n Machaus. I bet you're right. It's an inside hack. I hereby withdraw my post. (perhaps the man behind the curtain will work his magic)

By: ggggarret

ggggarret — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:24:59 -0800

yeah, it says the same thing for 'new york times' - i think they can just work out some deal that leaves them at #1 but they don't get charged for it... or at least not that much.

By: mtstover

mtstover — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:30:51 -0800

There is also a note at the top of the page: "Special Note: Overture is placing public service links at the top of the listings at NO cost to the charities."

By: jeblis

jeblis — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 19:36:17 -0800

And the note next to the faa. "Special Service Announcement" They're not paying anything. This just keeps it at the top of the list.

By: SilentSalamander

SilentSalamander — Tue, 18 Dec 2001 21:46:08 -0800

By: donkeysuck

donkeysuck — Wed, 19 Dec 2001 19:27:49 -0800

as of 7:24pm PST they've delisted the $50 price tag and replaced the 'Cost to advertiser:' tag entirely. sorting is now a little screwy: Anthrax query: 36.DoD Anthrax Information Presents the threat of anthrax spores used as an agent in germ warfare. Explains the disease and methods of prevention and cure. www.anthrax.osd.mil Air Travel query: www.faa.gov doesn't even show up anymore.

By: donkeysuck

donkeysuck — Wed, 19 Dec 2001 19:30:23 -0800

um, replaced = removed