How to Lower Taxes and Produce Government Revenue: An Open Letter To The White House

Much ado has been made this election season over the issue of taxes, and in turn, government maintained-and-funded public spaces or programs. Some, like Bernie Sanders or Jill Stein, argue that we should raise taxes, particularly for the wealthy, in order to fund an increasing number of social programs that will work to the benefit of the everyman. Others, like Ted Cruz believe we should lower taxes across the board, believing that extra money in the pockets of the average citizen will lead to increased spending and a more prosperous economy. As the debate rages on, the one thing we know for sure is that there is no way to appease everyone. That is, until now. What nobody has put forth is my solution, and although no, I am not running for president, there is a way to lower taxes across the board AND increase the amount of money available to the Feds, effectively pleasing the entire spectrum of presidential candidates.

Today’s reality, whether we like it or not, is a world in which advertisements are everywhere. They seemingly fill every crevice of our daily lives, and can be so ubiquitous that we may not even notice them. At this point the “Sprint Cup” has become part of NASCAR’s identity (for those who still watch it). In the sports world, advertising is increasingly valuable. Recently, the 76ers - by all accounts the worst franchise in basketball at the moment - signed a $5 million per year deal with StubHub just to put a small patch on their jerseys. Obviously sports stadiums and television broadcasts are saturated with commercials, but advertising's effect goes beyond that. Virtually all aspects of public life have some form of commercial branding on them, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For the business in question, this can pay for operating costs and allow for them to keep prices low. For the general public, these ads are not a hassle and can lead to more informed consumers, becoming part of the fabric of entertainment and information.

One aspect of everyday life however, is almost completely devoid of advertisement. This area would be government property: publicly owned and operated offices and buildings, offices, schools, and other such edifices. It’s important to note I am not referring to political offices, the white house, or legislative buildings. Instead, think of the opportunities to sell the naming rights to school fields, arboretums, libraries, museums, and other publicly controlled locations. About 850 million people visit museums per year, which is just a fraction of the untapped potential advertising has.

Many public edifices face difficulty in supporting themselves, instead having to rely on taxpayer dollars to stay afloat, so at least this proposal makes our community amenities more self-sustainable at no cost to the average citizen. Detractors of my proposal will suggest that these potential ads will “corrupt” the aura of public space, making it less enjoyable and/or wholesome. To this I offer: would visiting the Omaha Zoo: Presented by Quiktrip or the Orange Leaf Municipal Arboretum really be that different than those locations in their current state? Stop kidding yourself, it wouldn't.

And why stop there? Inundating our schools with corporate sponsors may seemlike the plot to an Isaac Aismov  novel, but it’s not as far-fetched as one might think. Corporations already provide many items and products used everyday at school, such as lunch menu items and foods, club t-shirts, computers, etc. It’s important to note that in these cases, logos on the products in question are displayed prominently, as they would be in stores. If logos and product placement already are widespread throughout our schools, more would not provide any foreseen and realistic downfalls. At the very least we may indulge in a slight improvement in the quality of our lunch or other school-issued products. Protecting the students’ “cultural innocence” should not either be a cause for concern. Especially at the high school level, students are mature enough to understand the realities of an advertisement-driven society. Teenagers have long been a sought-after target consumer market, making these school ad campaigns exponentially more valuable. In-school clubs already solicit tickets, shirts, foods, and drinks, often in a much more invasive manner than corporate sponsors would, and just like the clubs, the school administration (and by proxy, the government) would have full control over the advertising’s breadth and scope.

Because an effort like this is largely unprecedented, it is impossible to estimate the exact value these advertisements will bring to our government and its offshoots such as school districts, but it is safe to say that with widespread implementation will come tax relief and/or increased revenue. With this, it is feasible that we can both lower taxes and provide funding for government programs to aid the average citizen. The endgame for this plan is a world in which our collective goals and interests are accomplished at the cost of only large, willing corporations, not the wallets of blue-collar citizens,and programs are maintained that exist for the betterment of society and its people. So no, there will not be an “official tire of the White House” or an official sports drink of your state's senator, but we would be well-minded to consider the benefits of an ad-rich public space.