The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Apr 20, 2011 at 12:17pm
It would be funny if it weren't so outrageous.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida officials are investigating an unemployment agency that spent public money to give 6,000 superhero capes to the jobless.
Workforce Central Florida spent more than $14,000 on the red capes as part of its "Cape-A-Bility Challenge" public relations campaign. The campaign featured a cartoon character, "Dr. Evil Unemployment," who needs to be vanquished.
[...]
Workforce Central Florida Director Gary J. Earl defends the program, saying it is part of a greater effort to connect with the community. The agency says it served 210,000 people during its last fiscal year, placing nearly 59,000 in jobs.
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Comments :
Apr '11
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Now I'm an old comic book geek such that one of my goals in life still remains "Be a Superhero." Who knew I just had to be unemployed in Florida to accomplish this.
Meanwhile, we're being told by our elected officials that we can't cut anything from our budgets. Maybe if we A) got rid of superhero capes and B) were able to fire not just the people who came up with the idea, but the entire bureaucratic complex that allowed this idea to travel far enough along the pipe that it was actually implemented, maybe then we'd find spending cuts!
It's not just that the capes cost money. There's a process conceive, discuss, design, and implement all this that requires time, resources, and manpower -- all which translate to money down the drain.
May '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Whoever hired Director Earl needs to be unemployed, and take Director Earl with them.
May '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Well, it's still pretty funny.
Oct '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Clever devils these beurokrats be... Whats next ? A game show where one picks doors 1 thru 3 to get a job ?
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
C. U. Douglas:
It's not just that the capes cost money. There's a process conceive, discuss, design, and implement all this that requires time, resources, and manpower -- all which translate to money down the drain. · Apr 20 at 12:39pm
Indeed. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the capes were part of a $73,000 marketing campaign to gain publicity for the unemployment agency.
$73,000 is peanuts compared to the numbers we throw around when we talk about national financial issues, but it's really symptomatic of system-wide waste.
Dec '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
"Workforce Central Florida Director Gary J. Earl defends the program, saying it is part of a greater effort to connect with the community."
Goodbye Earl!
Jul '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
The irony here is that apparently "Dr. Evil Unemployment" has a job.
Jun '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
"... but it's really symptomatic of system-wide waste."
Absolutely. And what a cloying, insulting approach to handling the unemployed. They need contacts and intelligent advice for getting back to work. Would you ever trust or respect a jobs counselor who handed you a super hero cape?
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Senik's rule of government #827 -- Any time you hear a government official use the word "community", you're about to get screwed.
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Workforce Central Florida Director Gary J. Earl defends the program, saying it is part of a greater effort to connect with the community.
Dec '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Two things:
This turkey was leftover from the pitiful Crist Administration and this is the Orlando area, where progressives and Disney rule.
Local radio, here in central Florida, had a ball with scenaria in which the typical people we know might be unemployed (over 12%, here) and one of these cretins offered a cape. You should hear their horrible ads, as well. Just a clueless agency spending Stimu-bucks leftover from the Crist administration and, believe me, everybody will be gone under Governor Scott.
I know! Now that they're unemployed, we can hand them capes!
Jan '11
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
If the cape can double as a sleeping bag or rain tarp, I can see the advantages. :-(
Sep '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
My tax dollars went to Florida and all I got was this lousy cape!
Sep '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
"Look, down in the gutter! It's a bird? It's a plane? It's Cape-A-Bility Man! Yes, Cape-A-Bility Man, already depressed about losing his job is now having his self-esteem further crushed by government employees who want him to play dress-up and fight cartoon villains."
And as for, "a greater effort to connect with the community," hasn't Obama already helped tens of millions of Americans become more connected to their local unemployment agencies?
Oct '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
this is part of liberals attempt to dumb down america.
Jun '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
Are you sure this didn't come from The Onion? That is too dumb even for state government. (And I live in SC, home of Alvin Greene and Mark Sanford)
Jan '11
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
This is all part of the shovel ready programs..first making capes next it will be masks then briefs to put over your trousers. But watch out when they produce signs saying "SOCK" "BIFF" and "KA-POW".
Sep '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
That brings up the next question, were the capes made in China?
May '10
Re: The Government Solution to Unemployment: Superhero Capes!
<Sigh> How many times must I reiterate this? NO CAPES!