Reasons To Vote

This activity is rational because candidates must gain and maintain public support. The extensive campaign that most candidates go through requires large sums of money. This money is used to become visible to the mass by the media. The media is responsible for linking the elites with the mass. This is why the elites use the media so much. The media portrays the candidates in a light that will get the most ratings. Candidates spend more money to help put a positive spin or a higher approval rating on their campaign. Yet, this usually results in bad-mouthing another opponent. This, however, is not bad because the media is attracted by scandals, and they give most of their attention to scandals because that is what will attract the mass. The candidate acquires money from direct mailings and party affiliation. Direct mailings are frequently sent to members of large corporations who have large quantities of money at their disposal and who also would have a stake in the outcome of an election. This interest group identifies in a way that if they give money to support a candidate, then once elected the candidate will return the favor and remember them by supporting a policy or other favor that would benefit that particular interest group. A party affiliation is made by a candidate to give the public a recognizable symbol because of some similarities between candidates. These similarities are a result of the candidate’s attempts to please the mass. He/she will try to appeal to as wide range of voters as possible. The candidates will acquire a general platform, but will make sure that platform is wide enough that as many people, or voters, as possible are able to hold it up.

The mass reacts rationally. About 50% of the mass bothers to vote at all and usually less if it is not a presidential election. This is because they are so disenchanted with the candidates as a result of negative advertisement campaigns, the depiction of candidates in media and their cookie-cutter policies. The mass cares more about economic security rather than political involvement. Most people would just as soon vote for a candidate that has been around while the economy is doing well, rather than risk it by voting for someone who does not have all that much experience. They hear politicians who are for “freedom of speech, free enterprise, etc…” and agree with these candidates.