Monday, May 23, 2005

Noticed any 'astro-turfing'?

Does anybody remember reading letters in our local and regional Dead Tree media supporting the Labour Party. One wonders how many of these actually came from genuine citizens wishing to express their political opinions.
According to this news report on Guardian Unlimited it seems a lot of hoodwinking was going on.
'How Labour used its election troops to fake popular support Documentary shows activists writing letters to newspapers and posing as 'local people' to greet Blair on campaign trail In America, they call it 'astroturfing': the faking of grassroots support for a politician or a product whose popularity is on the slide. '
Thanks to Stuart at Independence for bringing this to our attention. I don't suppose the Labour Party are the only ones to do this by any means, just further evidence of how vile things have become I suppose.

1 comment:

Nairn said...

I do remember now an advert in the local rag quoting two local citizens citing how great New Labour was/had been for them. I felt more suprise rather than 'I must vote that way too'. I have never been a sucker for 'this one washes whiter' adverts so wasn't taken in. Won't hold my breath for local Green candidate to win me over - is this because I'm no as green as am cabbage looking?