The Subtle Ironies of Daytime TV

When I workout I often watch AMC. They have a set of commercials that I think are ironic without intending to be so. All three promise a free lunch. I don't begrudge any of these companies trying to make a buck - but I find each annoying in the frequency of their ads.

For example -

The Scooter Store - This place uses medicare money to obtain electric scooters for people who need them. There is nothing illegitimate about that - except that they try to guarantee that "if you qualify, you won't have to pay a penny." Clearly this company is a rent-seeker trying to get as many people as possible to use this particular medicare benefit. If you don't have to pay a penny how can it be a store?

Weight loss pills - There are dueling fat pills (Hydroxycut and Lipozene) both promise significant weight gain without changing your diet or your exercise routine. Americans are overweight (this is especially ironic when I am in a gym) because they either consume too many calories or they don't get enough exercise. These two products can possibly help take off weight momentarily, but the only sure way to keep weight off is to moderate food intake and to keep active.

Physicians Life Insurance Company - This company sells limited purpose life insurance to people 50-80. It states that funeral expenses can be high and that a "responsible" person would make plans for those expenses. It then offers an insurance policy that requires "no physical exam" or pre-qualification - at the same time it says that for the first couple of years "benefits are limited." Most any life insurance company will make a similar bet - but it depends on how much the limits are and what the premium is. What I find ironic here is the name of the company - isn't the job of physicians to help assure that you don't have to pay out those "final expenses" for a long time. Seems like the physicians and the insurance are at cross purposes.