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November 12, 2008

Should you be mad at people who give money to political causes you dislike?

I'm a pretty informed guy. I go out of my way to learn about issues and use that learning to vote well. Let's say that I saw a convincing argument in a TV advertisement that made me prefer a particular position or candidate and voted accordingly. Or if you weren't planning to vote this year, but the commercial raised an important issue for you, and now you are going to you are going to vote on that issue in the manner that the commercial suggests. Not that that's ever happened, but bear with me. Let's further assume that the advertisement's contents are accurate, although perhaps in a presentation that does not paint the alternative in its most favorable light.

Is it fair to say that the person who paid for that advertisement bought my vote? I think not. In fact saying so is insulting. I was convinced. When you are persuaded by an Op-Ed in the NY Times you don't say that they bought your vote, you say that you were convinced, and TV should be no different, even if the content was paid for and partisan. Given that the NY Times loses money and is clearly partisan, that shouldn't be the difference if there is any.

I strongly prefer that voters bear the significant moral responsibility for the positions they take. That's the way we want it, because we want voting to be a serious matter where people endeavor to do what is best. To transfer the majority of that responsibility to the people that advocate from the public is an idea that undermines the premise underlying democracy. To take the opposite position, by believing that most voters are essentially mindless automatons that just do what the richest guy with the biggest printing press says, then to what purpose to is an institution that in some way illuminates the people's will? Why bother having elections at all?

My understanding is that even the very best large campaigns only manage to move outcomes by a few percentage points. The money contributed to them reflects public support of the candidates and positions, it largely does not generate that support.

So next time some state initiative passes that pisses you off, be mad at the millions who votes for it far more than the thousands who chipped in to run the advertising campaign. Likewise for candidates who advocate positions with which you disagree. I didn't want Obama to be our next president, but I hold no special animosity for those that donated to his campaign instead of merely voting for him.

Posted by OneEyedMan at November 12, 2008 5:39 PM

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