Ratings Push Or Slap In the Face
Upon rising in the mornings I generally turn no the news (CBS), turn on my computer and then fetch the newspaper from the front deck. After getting dressed and finding breakfast I retire to the couch to read the paper, watch the news and eat breakfast before I begin writing for the morning. Yes, I am creature of habit, but then again, so are most people. Last Friday, CBS Morning Show started a series called Dave Price, No Way Home. I thought this would be in interesting stunt to boost ratings and could quite possibly produce some humor for me to begin my day with.
Apparently they were dropping Mr. Price off on the west coast and he was to make his way east and return home in a week. He was only to have $50 and could not use any credit cards nor accept large gifts such as airline tickets home or hotel accommodations. He was to “work” his way home. When this began I thought it would be intriguing to see what kinds of odd jobs he would do to earn some cash and help him get back to NYC. As of Tuesday morning all was going well and seemed to be educational as well.
This morning I turned the news on and as I ate breakfast I watched the next chapter in Mr. Price’s trek home. However, the more the segments ran, the angrier I found myself. Yes, it was fascinating that he spent the night in a frat house and earned $20 for cleaning the bathroom. However, the job he is doing right now making $12 an hour made me sick. I am one of thousands who lost my regular $10 an hour job when the recession was hitting a year ago. I am still out of work and opting instead to be a freelance writer. There are so many people who would have gone to companies such as Omaha Steaks (where Mr. Price is working this morning) and applied for jobs. These people are turned down because of the lack of funding to be able to pay them. In fact, many of them would probably be willing to work for minimum wage just to be able to have some kind of an income.
In an economic recession, I find it a slap in the face to the many unemployed folks like myself that CBS would televise how easy it is for one of their employees who already has a well paying job to be able to walk in and get a job in a company making an hourly wage that makes me and others like me drool with desire and longing to have any kind of a job. What qualifies Mr. Price to work in a company such as Omaha Steaks besides his celebrity status and wanting to boost his networks ratings irregardless of what it might do to the mindset of those who would watch and thereby boost those ratings?
Irresponsibility in boosting ratings. It is possible to help those who are unemployed due to the recession while boosting ratings and in fact, may boost those network ratings even more. If Mr. Price must obtain jobs in nationally know companies or major organizations or any kind, then use it to benefit those who could use the boost to their economy. If these places are willing to hire a man who has no qualifications, besides celebrity, for a few hours to get national recognition for their company, let them go a step further and use it to find qualified workers to hire on a permanent basis to further ensure the longevity of the company.
Take odd jobs if you will, like cleaning bathrooms in a frat house, but if you choose to work in a major company, help fill that kind of a job with someone who truly needs and deserves it. As for Omaha Steaks, I have ordered from them in the past. However, I am very reluctant to order from them unless they use this opportunity to help those who want and need jobs to obtain jobs in their company. Being a celebrity making a great salary and then throwing it in the faces of those who helped make you a celebrity by frivolously getting jobs they would love to have just to work for an hour or two is, in my opinion, just plain wrong.
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