4 ms·

The response rate could be hundredths of a percent of users and still generate a massive number of emails/calls/faxes.

jxcole 15y ago
You are absolutely correct. However, representatives are not idiots and I think that it's likely that they will be aware, just like you are, that despite the incredible number of faxes/calls/emails they receive the number of people who actually care are likely to be only hundredths of a percent. Since it is unlikely that the politician will lose an election due to hundredths of a percent of a drop in their ratings, you can bet they will just turn their phones off for a few days rather than actually changing their political stance. Keep in mind a company like Fox or Universal is in a position to offer them what amounts to free commercials on their networks. That is what this potential black out is competing against. Update: I was unaware of this rule: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule. However, studios could still offer things like interviews for candidates that it doesn't offer to other candidates, which may not exactly be a commercial, but would have a similar effect.
- fennecfoxen 15y ago
  Ah, the good old equal-time rule. Because if the media could do whatever they wanted with their air time, that would be some sort of "freedom of the press" and we can't have that. It might be "unfair". </bitterness>
  - dhume 15y ago
    If they're going to take up scarce public resources (i.e. RF spectrum), then the public has a legitimate concern in ensuring such resources are used in a way that benefits the public.
  - rhizome 15y ago
    "Their" air? Who owns the spectrum again?
- fragsworth 15y ago
  > despite the incredible number of faxes/calls/emails they receive the number of people who actually care are likely to be only hundredths of a percent No. Regardless of volume, for everyone who makes a fax/call/email, there are dozens or hundreds who still care but did not contact their representative. Instead, they vote against them later.

You are absolutely correct. However, representatives are not idiots and I think that it's likely that they will be aware, just like you are, that despite the incredible number of faxes/calls/emails they receive the number of people who actually care are likely to be only hundredths of a percent. Since it is unlikely that the politician will lose an election due to hundredths of a percent of a drop in their ratings, you can bet they will just turn their phones off for a few days rather than actually changing their political stance. Keep in mind a company like Fox or Universal is in a position to offer them what amounts to free commercials on their networks. That is what this potential black out is competing against. Update: I was unaware of this rule: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule. However, studios could still offer things like interviews for candidates that it doesn't offer to other candidates, which may not exactly be a commercial, but would have a similar effect.

fennecfoxen 15y ago
Ah, the good old equal-time rule. Because if the media could do whatever they wanted with their air time, that would be some sort of "freedom of the press" and we can't have that. It might be "unfair". </bitterness>
- dhume 15y ago
  If they're going to take up scarce public resources (i.e. RF spectrum), then the public has a legitimate concern in ensuring such resources are used in a way that benefits the public.
- rhizome 15y ago
  "Their" air? Who owns the spectrum again?
fragsworth 15y ago
> despite the incredible number of faxes/calls/emails they receive the number of people who actually care are likely to be only hundredths of a percent No. Regardless of volume, for everyone who makes a fax/call/email, there are dozens or hundreds who still care but did not contact their representative. Instead, they vote against them later.