Staggering Billions Spent On Attack Ads

[scribblet]

I find this absolutely unreal - the amount of money the U.S. spends on elections, it seems they are always in election mode. Imagine what could be done with that much money, but do they have any controls and limits on election spending ? I am extremely grateful that we do have limits. 4-5 weeks of campaigning is enough for enyone.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/Court+decision+unleashes+breed+attack/3749041/story.html

The battle raging for control of Congress is being fuelled by an unprecedented flood of money that will far outstrip the amount of spending for any mid-term election year in American history by more than US$1-billion.

The record amount of cash — estimated to be more than US$4-billion by election day — is unleashing a huge number of attack ads that accuse politicians of everything from cheating, lying, being unpatriotic, a threat to children, having ties with the mob — and other criminal organizations — to being “just too dangerous.”

[BubberMiley]

Damn Regina girl troll machine is broken. Okay. I can do it.

Why do you care about what people in another country spend on their elections?

How's that?

[scribblet]

Why do you care what they do in the U.S. at all, considering it's your most active forum.

[bush_cheney2004]

Why do you care what they do in the U.S. at all, considering it's your most active forum.

....because there's not much else going on for him in Regina!

As for the election spending....Americans do it because...they can. Canadians are better at pinching pennies....hard.

[Michael Hardner]

Damn Regina girl troll machine is broken. Okay. I can do it.

Why do you care about what people in another country spend on their elections?

How's that?

B_C's favourite line on these things, of course....

I concur - how the richest country in the world wants to waste its money is not our concern, except that we usually follow their ways a few years later...

[bush_cheney2004]

B_C's favourite line on these things, of course....

Alas...the Vicarious Americans need something to do....that long cold winter is coming!

I concur - how the richest country in the world wants to waste its money is not our concern, except that we usually follow their ways a few years later...

...who's fault is that?

[Michael Hardner]

Alas...the Vicarious Americans need something to do....that long cold winter is coming!

I sometimes pity the US for not having that extra spectator sport that Canadians have, i.e. watching the political drama of another country.

...who's fault is that?

I would only call it a fault if it were a bad thing, or maybe if it weren't inevitable. But by watching your steps and missteps maybe we can learn and make better choices.

[bush_cheney2004]

I sometimes pity the US for not having that extra spectator sport that Canadians have, i.e. watching the political drama of another country.

Americans can watch the political drama in Canada, it's just so damn boring...in two languages!

I would only call it a fault if it were a bad thing, or maybe if it weren't inevitable. But by watching your steps and missteps maybe we can learn and make better choices.

You mean like making dope illegal before the Americans did?

[Michael Hardner]

Americans can watch the political drama in Canada, it's just so damn boring...in two languages!

Yes - unlike our football, which is more exciting.

You mean like making dope illegal before the Americans did?

Well, we're quicker on the gun (sorry for the metaphor) when it comes to legislating, banning or controlling things that offend or may cause harm, I would say. Such as it is with our tobacco legislation, for example...

But with media, you lead and we follow. And so it goes with politics, which follows media.

[Shady]

George Will puts political spending in proper perspective. Proctor and Gamble will spend much more money advertising its products than all the money that's spent on 500+ house races, 20+ senate races, and 10+ governors races combined.

[Argus]

I find this absolutely unreal - the amount of money the U.S. spends on elections, it seems they are always in election mode. Imagine what could be done with that much money, but do they have any controls and limits on election spending ? I am extremely grateful that we do have limits. 4-5 weeks of campaigning is enough for enyone.

The Americans have been betrayed by their Supreme Court. First it stated that corporate entities were entitled to be treated as though they were people, and so refused to allow bans on their donations or advertising. Then it refused to allow any kind of interference or limitation on so-called third party advertising. Of course this just allows corporate and other wealthy interests to buy even more influence with the already sordidly corrupt political class. If you want to be elected in the US today you find yourself one of the big money men, prostitute yourself to their agendas, and then you're in. That's how it works in a plutocracy.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes - unlike our football, which is more exciting.

Could be....most of the players are American. I can usually get the Grey Cup on rabbit ears if I drive close to the border, but it's kinda fuzzy.

Well, we're quicker on the gun (sorry for the metaphor) when it comes to legislating, banning or controlling things that offend or may cause harm, I would say. Such as it is with our tobacco legislation, for example...

I love it...your metaphor is very...ummmm....American.

But with media, you lead and we follow. And so it goes with politics, which follows media.

No kidding....it began with booting a certain king in the ass!

[bush_cheney2004]

.... If you want to be elected in the US today you find yourself one of the big money men, prostitute yourself to their agendas, and then you're in. That's how it works in a plutocracy.

That's right...and in Canada, you make a deal with a Hell's Angels gang.

[Topaz]

The reason they raise so much money for elections, is in the US whatever is left over from the fund raising, the candidate gets to keep for themselves, I was shocked when I heard this.

[Michael Hardner]

George Will puts political spending in proper perspective. Proctor and Gamble will spend much more money advertising its products than all the money that's spent on 500+ house races, 20+ senate races, and 10+ governors races combined.

What kind of perspective is that ? To my mind the idea that political advertising and soap advertising should be compared in this way is exactly part of the problem.

Product Awareness is not what the public needs, as it leads to shallow thinking and to candidates campaigning only on hot-button issues. ( Go ahead and throw the environment into that if you like, I don't care.)

The system needs to go the other way - more towards higher food chain discussions on both sides.

[bush_cheney2004]

Product Awareness is not what the public needs, as it leads to shallow thinking and to candidates campaigning only on hot-button issues. ( Go ahead and throw the environment into that if you like, I don't care.)

But this product approach is exactly what it is....comparisons and criticism of a competing "product", be that an entire political party or person. The same thing happens in Canada, just on a smaller scale.

The system needs to go the other way - more towards higher food chain discussions on both sides.

No way...we want organic food!

[Michael Hardner]

But this product approach is exactly what it is....comparisons and criticism of a competing "product", be that an entire political party or person. The same thing happens in Canada, just on a smaller scale.

Right, but we recognize that not all products are equal. Many products need certain types of attention to make sure they are used best.

Some examples include food, medicine, dangerous machines... and advertising for certain things too.

As such, it would be good if more people paid more attention to issues. I think most people think that. The system as defined by the founding fathers tended to have more public involvement (as per Neil Postman "Amusing Ourselves to Death") because the issues were more important to peoples' day-to-day lives.

We can't make the masses care as much as we do on MLW, but we can make the system more attractive to members of the public who take the time to read and discuss issues.

[GostHacked]

B_C's favourite line on these things, of course....

I concur - how the richest country in the world wants to waste its money is not our concern, except that we usually follow their ways a few years later...

It usually is a precursor to what goes on here in Canada. This much is true.

Bush_Cheney2004

No way...we want organic food!

There is no organic food, it's mosty genetically modified, and the ones that are claimed to be organic, are not 100% organic, I think the term is a joke because the classification of them is a joke. We've not had organic food for a couple decades now. It's all genetically modified.

[Shady]

What kind of perspective is that ? To my mind the idea that political advertising and soap advertising should be compared in this way is exactly part of the problem.

Product Awareness is not what the public needs, as it leads to shallow thinking and to candidates campaigning only on hot-button issues. ( Go ahead and throw the environment into that if you like, I don't care.)

The system needs to go the other way - more towards higher food chain discussions on both sides.

That's all well and good. Higher food chain discussions are great. But that's not an invitation to limit one's free speech rights.

The reason they raise so much money for elections, is in the US whatever is left over from the fund raising, the candidate gets to keep for themselves, I was shocked when I heard this.

That's complete nonsense.

[waldo]

The Americans have been betrayed by their Supreme Court. First it stated that corporate entities were entitled to be treated as though they were people, and so refused to allow bans on their donations or advertising. Then it refused to allow any kind of interference or limitation on so-called third party advertising. Of course this just allows corporate and other wealthy interests to buy even more influence with the already sordidly corrupt political class. If you want to be elected in the US today you find yourself one of the big money men, prostitute yourself to their agendas, and then you're in. That's how it works in a plutocracy.

that January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision pushed open the door - wide open - to allow corporations to, without limit, spend funds to advocate or defeat the election efforts of U.S. federal candidates.

the best government (corporate) money can buy!

[bush_cheney2004]

...We can't make the masses care as much as we do on MLW, but we can make the system more attractive to members of the public who take the time to read and discuss issues.

It doesn't matter...a post modern America wants to be entertained more than engaged with "issues". Cynicism abounds.

[bush_cheney2004]

.....There is no organic food, it's mosty genetically modified, and the ones that are claimed to be organic, are not 100% organic, I think the term is a joke because the classification of them is a joke. We've not had organic food for a couple decades now. It's all genetically modified.

Errr..lighten up Francis...it was a joke, i.e. when it comes to politicians, Americans are bored with highly processed candidates.

[Michael Hardner]

That's all well and good. Higher food chain discussions are great. But that's not an invitation to limit one's free speech rights.

There may be room for some legal limits, but since the act of limiting itself would be done by political parties themselves it may be better for them to voluntarily agree to changes - as they have done in Canada for example.

[bush_cheney2004]

There may be room for some legal limits, but since the act of limiting itself would be done by political parties themselves it may be better for them to voluntarily agree to changes - as they have done in Canada for example.

No way...that would be ....UN-AMERICAN. Limits are for Canada.

[Michael Hardner]

No way...that would be ....UN-AMERICAN. Limits are for Canada.

VOLUNTARY limits, though...