If you ask people why they buy certain products, they will most likely mention some combination of quality and price. Nobody is going to say they buy products due to advertisements. Similarly, nobody is going to list campaign ads as a reason for voting for someone.

Yet the effectiveness of advertising is well documented and considerable money goes into it. What does it say about us that we are so influenced by advertising? This is especially curious regarding things that people would know about without advertising, like McDonald’s restaurants.

I find particularly upsetting that money is so important in political campaigns. This has made politicians captive to large corporations. The recent decision in the Supreme Court regarding corporate campaign contributions is only going to intensify this effect.

Topics: politics, campaigns, money, consumerism, finance, advertising