There are two basic methods on how to advertise to an audience, treat them as idiots or as your partner.
Both methods are effective.
Yell, scream, repeat and only use the vocabulary of a year 7 student in your advertising message is seen most nights on TV or heard on radio.
Logic, reason, validity, are attributes less prevalent on these mediums, more often used in both digital and press media.
What do you respond to better?
Especially if advertisers can say what they want, no proof or truth required!
The winners out of the federal election were the minor parties; One Nation, Nick Xenophon Team, Derryn Hinch Justice Party, the Green’s and Katter’s Australian Party.
Despite both major parties saying don’t do it, many voters gave their first preference to the minor parties and independents. Why?
Because people are getting sick of being treated as idiots?
Labor’s Mediscare campaign may have won them more seats this time, but as Mediscare is being exposed as Mediscam what effect will that have on their long term credibility – their brand.
The Liberal National Party coalition is no saint either, with stunts like the difference between a promise and core promise.
Why should the voter bow to the two parties demands while they continue to treat voters as idiots?
Arguably Labor and Liberal are doing more damage to themselves, making the minor parties and independents more appealing.
How can you advertise Medicare is to be privatised without any proof?
If it’s deemed a political advertisement you can. Basically say what you like, yes even lie. If you’re not happy about a political advertisement it is recommended to either complain to the advertiser or your member of parliament.
True, that’s what the Advertisers Standard Bureau recommends, there’s no official body to complain to.
Thus any advertisement deemed as political can intentionally misinform the public.
How dangerous is that?
Is there a political future in ‘keeping the bastards honest’?
There wasn’t for the Australian Democrats so why should we believe the minor parties will be any better.
Are we in fact encouraging extremism without the need for truth in their advertising?
It would be refreshing and heartening to think with this tight result that at least one politician pushes for a requirement of truth in political advertising.
After all if you’re in business you have to substantiate your claims if called upon to do so and risk an ACCC penalty.
Why do we not have the same standards for political advertising?
Do we really want a Donald Trump slur campaign next time?
Doesn’t democracy deserve better, don’t the public deserve truth?
But political strategists believe we have a short memory, in other words we are considered idiots and advertised to accordingly.
The risk though in this digital age it’s harder to hide one’s lies.
To the successful members of the new parliament, particularly those of the major parties take this election result as a wakeup call, more and more voters are becoming disillusioned with you.
Put your party before your ego and superannuation payout, consider the damage you are doing long term to your party’s brand and do something about it. Make the truth a requirement in political advertising.
A post election survey indicated 87.7% of the voters surveyed believed parties and candidates should be fined for false and misleading advertising. Only idiots you think would ignore this!