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The money is spent on political advertising, organizing and polling. The intention is to influence votes on some electoral question, most often on selection of
by chernevik 14y ago
The money is spent on political advertising, organizing and polling. The intention is to influence votes on some electoral question, most often on selection of officers but here on a particular referendum.
A not-unimportant percentage goes to political consultants.
In financial markets it is well understood that brokers' fees, though a tiny fraction of transactions, are an important driver of marketing activity. It is widely thought that these fees create dangerous conflicts of interest requiring extensive regulation.
The possibility of similar forces in other arenas is not so carefully noticed.
- dvanduzer 14y agoYour concern here is over potential influence peddling in the influence peddling market?
- afterburner 14y agoNot just to influence votes, but also to get out the vote. Getting out the vote doesn't necessarily change peoples' opinions, just encourages them to express it.
- bcbrown 14y agoIt can change the outcome of the electorate as a whole, if the less-likely-to-vote voters vote differently then more-likely-to-vote voters.
- afterburner 14y agoYes, I completely agree, that's the point of getting out the vote. I'm just saying that part isn't concerned with changing minds, just getting the minds to the voting booth so the vote is affected.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]