Marketing electoralism in the USA

[zigtag]

That's something that could only happen in America

Voting is compulsory in Australia.

[claptonpond]

Interesting stuff. Looks like a desperate rearguard action by capital to try and convince people that what passes for representative democracy in the US actually works, and that there's no need for fundamental change. That they're desperate is, I think, a good sign.

What I find particularly interesting is that they seem to be using consumer politics as their model. I.e. "Vote for/buy from Corporation A because it's marginally fluffier/less evil than Corporation B (and your vote/purchase could make all the difference)." Aiming for the kind of people who don't buy Nike or Gap because they think that the alternatives are somehow better and that their boycott will actually make a difference.

I don't think the same tactics would work quite as well here in the UK, and I don't think turnouts are low enough yet for them to try. And the two-party monopoly isn't as strong here, so there are more apparent alternatives and people are less likely to be totally disillusioned. Also, they can and do use the threat of fascism here to make people vote for the mainstream parties.