The algorithms that drive advertising for real companies are smart. Online ads for software or other services do an excellent job of reflecting my tastes as expressed here, or in my past purchases.
Online ads for political purposes are dumb. They consistently assume that I’m a standard Repooflican who loves guns and hates taxes. I’ve never written anything pro-gun, never handled a gun, and never bought anything remotely related to guns. I’ve never written anything opposed to taxes, and often agitate for more taxation and less debt. I’m neither R nor D, which should be amply clear from my online writings and from my contributions.
The most peculiar focus of advertising right now is the “election” in California where Katie Porter is running against Adam Schiff. 80% of email spam relates to this pair. The video ads served by Youtube are also intensely focused on this pair.
Why do they want me to be interested in a fake “election” a thousand miles away? I’m not even interested in the “elections” right here** or nationally.
More broadly, why is so much national-scale money going into this particular pair? Apparently Schiff is an internal kingmaker, with the power to influence who gets the Speaker job or choice committee assignments. Since Congress serves no purpose and does no work, only the internal squabbling matters now. Political operatives are willing to spend huge amounts of money to shape the internal choices so the total destruction of the world can be branded with OUR brand instead of the WRONG brand.
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** The local political operatives are smarter, or at least more efficient in using their funds. I never get any online ads from local or Wash state candidates.
Polistra's Mill 