The Kentucky days of buying votes with “a half pint and a buck” are a legend, but today the preferred method to influence votes is the 30 second attack ad.
With just days until the election, most TV and Radio ads are political spots. Generally the ads say almost nothing about important policy positions. Most are just nasty attack ads grabbing a comment or photo, often “out of context”, to kindle an outrage.  Huge sums are being spent knowing that millions of people will vote solely on a nasty TV ad.   It is sad that many voters don’t make an effort to really understand the positions that candidates take on critical issues.  So shame on us as voters if we are so easily manipulated, and don’t make an effort to study the candidates.
This problem is compounded by the $Billions being funneled into these ads by national PACs and distant people who stand to gain when their preferred candidate is elected.
Example: Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX has reportedly spent $276 million in campaign contributions, just this month, all across the nation, to support his preferred candidates. Obviously these PAC’s and major donors believe they can sway our votes.  Interestingly, Mr. Musk’s major customer is our federal government. As has been widely reported, over the last two decades his companies have received an estimated $38 billion dollars in federal government direct payments or tax subsidies. So, it is not surprising that he wants to influence us as voters, to elect people that will continue these federal spending programs.
Our local, state or federal governments need great suppliers, to build high-quality schools, roads, and jet fighters. Every government supplier should be expected to compete via established fair and equal bidding processes. I search for representatives in Congress who will carefully control government spending, and get the most “Bang for our tax Buck”, through honest and open budgeting and spending practices. We also need to be sure we are not buying things we don’t really need. 
For example; I hope congress will continue to debate the value of a manned moon station, at a time of exploding federal debt.  
In my research for candidates that best match my own political views I will refuse to be influenced by 30 second attack ads.  My vote is not for sale. […]