YinzPitt

So I was reading an article today about people who owe back taxes to the state of Pennsylvania.  Not a big deal for me really, as I pay may taxes just like all the other good citizens out there do yearly.  However, people are scared because of the ads they have shown making it look like too much big brother, and not enough asking for you to pay the state.

My thoughts on this subject are rather cut and dry, if you think it’s too Big Brother, then you must not be aware of the surroundings and what century this is.  The fact of the matter is, if you don’t pay, you owe.  No matter how much you feel it’s unjustified, you’re not going to win.  Ever.  So just pay up.

This article however goes on to point out that the government is taking it too far with how harsh they are being towards delinquents.  In the PG article it explains why the state is going this route:

“It’s tough. It’s edgy. We needed to cut through the clutter and motivate tax delinquents [to] get their attention,” said Stephanie Weyant, department spokeswoman. The state wants not only to spread the word about the amnesty period but also explain that a crackdown — and extra financial penalties — await those who are tracked down after the amnesty expires.

The ad campaign was selected by the state, and by focus groups, out of a half-dozen concepts presented by the state’s primary advertising agency, the Philadelphia-based Neiman Group.

Good for them personally.  Too many times people try and take advantage of a system while it penalizes the rest of us.  The article also goes on as saying:

If the state indeed hoped the ads would create a buzz, mission accomplished.

The TV ad has gone viral as bloggers and tax policy experts have criticized it, while Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell — who OK’d the ads — has been on Fox News to defend the campaign. Many of the critics are conservative writers and GOP groups, drawing a connection between Big Government and Big Brother.

A radio version of the ad carries a similar tone, telling listeners: “We are your telephone; we are your mail … we are going to make your life very complicated.” A second radio ad is more subtle but still ends with the tagline, “Find us before we find you.”

A newspaper ad announces the “imminent death of Mr. Nice Guy.”

Ms. Weyant said the fact that the TV ad has been seen by people across the country on the Internet is also a benefit of the campaign. “There are people in every state in this country who owe Pennsylvania back taxes,” she said. “We couldn’t afford to buy national advertising.”

I actually think it’s kinda neat that they have decided to take the edgier route honestly.  Sure, Republicans(which I am one) won’t like it, and will use it to rail home their agenda, but it gets the point across, and being designer/media creator, it does it’s job VERY well.  However, you have people who disagree with the notion and it’s stringent message.

“I think it’s outrageous,” said Joe Kristan, tax shareholder with Roth & Co. in Iowa. He also writes about tax policy on the company’s Tax Update blog.

“We had [a tax amnesty program] a few years ago in Iowa. And what you’re having in Pennsylvania is much darker than anything we’ve seen here. It’s a very intimidating campaign. It might be effective, but it’s intimidating.”

Iowa’s campaign offered sympathy to the taxpayers. A tax amnesty ad in Oregon took the same approach. Louisiana’s amnesty program was pitched as a “Window of Opportunity.”

Like many commentators, Mr. Kristan bristles at the suggestion — made by the Department of Revenue — that those who haven’t paid their taxes are “scofflaws” or intentionally cheating the state.

Pennsylvania Amnesty Tax Screen Shot From Commercial

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