What if? It's the basis of many stories. We ask. We ponder. We wonder.
On Tuesdays I throw one out there. What if? It may be speculative. It may stem from something I see. It may be something I pull from the news.
Make of it what you will. If a for instance is not specified, interpret that instance as you wish. And if the idea turns into a story, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements 😉
This month I have fallen into a "what if?" mini theme: the U.S. election. And today is no different.
Are you sick of the political ads yet? In California, we are inundated with ads for and against the various propositions on the ballot. They get old quick.
While one of these ads was on in the background, I had a weird thought. I wondered how much money the ones who funded the ad would lose if the vote went the other way. (I can't remember which proposition it was for and whether they were for or against it.) Because, seriously. Why else spend so much money to get these ads to play all the freaking time?
And that leads me to this week's "what if?"...
What if they were required to disclose in political ads how much money the funder of said ad would gain if the vote goes their way? (Or, conversely, what if they were required to disclose how much money they would lose if the vote went against them?)
I'm not sure it would make much of a difference. Look at how many things are known about candidates now that should be taken negatively, yet brushed off. Some votes do know the monetary gains for their candidate and still believe it will still benefit them somehow.
ReplyDeleteI have become so cynical and think it wouldn't make much of a difference to have these kinds of disclosures. It might not be a bad idea, though, for those who pay attention. Our House race is quite heated and I am so sick of the candidates and their ads. I've known for months who I plan to vote for. I wish there was an off button just for the commercials.
ReplyDeleteI already know the millions that go into this. I'm just praying Harris gets in.
ReplyDeleteI don't pray, but as they say, "From your lips to God's ears!"
DeleteI hadn't really thought how much money the funder would lose or gain by the vote going one way or another.
ReplyDeleteIt's not about winning or losing. The huge contributions get funneled toward other goals in the latter case.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, however things turn out we'll all wake up after the results and go on about our day. :D
That stated, please note that Harris offers zero policies while echoing Trump's proposed changes, all reversals from her past. And her campaign, "Trump is Hitler" begs questions:
If Donald Trump is the reincarnation of Hitler, then isn't it her duty to steal the election at all costs?
Why do some of the smartest people known support him? Elon Musk, love or hate him, has nothing to gain and much to lose such as self and familial safety.
Donald Trump isn't the anti-Christ nor the Messiah. All POTUS rely on competent staff. What needs to change is the productivity of the United States Congress and how everyday people perceive main stream media reporting.
Bingo. All I want is to be left alone and no acrimony between people. Naive, probably, but there you are.
DeleteHe’s a tired,weak misogynist racist who has been found by a court of law to have committed sexual assault and by another court of law to have committed business fraud. Lack of morals used to be an automatic disqualification, that 47% of the population is willing to overlook that is a sad commentary on our own morals and ethics.
DeleteSongbird is correct, she's been paying attention.
DeleteDarla, you said it!
ReplyDeleteI'd just like a list of contributors. Many of the sources of election funds would scare people.
I am SO SICK of political ads. I am especially so over all the GD texts on my phone. I never hit the links and I rarely (if ever) read them. I just hit "Delete and Report Junk."
ReplyDeleteWe have several congressional elections which could legitimately flip the House, so of course we are inundated. Not as many presidential ads, NY is solidly blue.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to know who benefits from a proposition,follow the money. My former congressman retired because he was spending more time raising campaign funds than doing the job he was elected to do. Now he owns a bookstore
I like to read who supports them, in the fine print under pros and cons in the ballot pamphlet. Certain organization's approval will meet mine too.
DeleteI vote no on all of them. Most propositions come with a hidden price tag that no one has worked out. I just have a standard policy of saying no. Initiative petitions in Oregon, to get on the ballot require lots of signatures, are often poorly or vaguely written, maybe with good intent, but I just say no because I don't know who is behind them or what their intent may be and I don't really trust very many people anymore.
ReplyDeleteAh... just like the big grocery chain wants! Their huge sign in the parking lot urges us to vote NO on ALL of them! I read the all, looked at how was for and against. If I am totally opposed to certain politicians or organizations I won't vote the way the want. I didn't vote NO on ALL of them. Yes, I'm in Oregon. I didn't agree to that one the grocers have an interest in.
DeleteLot of time I look up those and where they are getting fund though.
ReplyDeleteI bet everyone would be floored over that amount of money that gets spent on one person bashing the other. For once I would like to see nice clean ads.
ReplyDeleteImagine if political ads had to show exactly how much money their backers would make (or lose) based on the vote. It’d definitely make us think twice about who's really behind those constant ads. Transparency like that could totally change the game—maybe even lead to some surprising election results!
ReplyDelete