Why We Should Get Rid of Political Advertising--Now!

Read this essay, written by Bob Welke, and answer the questions which follow. You may need to read the essay several times to fully understand.

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  1. Welke has worked in the advertising business for 30 years. He discusses the old adage, "nothing kills a bad product faster than good advertising". Explain this quotation in your own words. Why does it NOT fit for political ads? (4)

  2. What are "attack ads"? Why does the author criticize their use? (3)

  3. Do attack ads work? List the arguments on both sides of the debate. (4)

  4. Why are gen Xers less likely to become politically involved than previous generations or young Americans? (2)

  5. "There wasn't any VH1 when those words were written. There weren't any Web sites, transit ads or caller I.D.". Explain what the author is trying to express with this reference to technology. (3)

  6. Do you think there is a difference between political campaigns and propaganda? State your opinion clearly in a paragraph and use examples when possible. (4)

J. Neeb,
May 12, 2002