I just finished a book about the French-Indian War. In it, French and English diplomats are always giving gifts to the Indians to sway them to their cause. The gifts are usually trade objects: hard goods you can actually use, axe-heads, pelts, salt, etc. Diplomacy - in those days anyway, this just isn’t done anymore - consisted more or less of understanding the cultural cues, customs and value systems of the people who you’re trying to get something from and then GIVING THEM BRIBES. There’s no such thing as bribes though: it’s all about pooling together shared value communities, and reciprocity. Or at least perceived reciprocity. Everybody thinks they’re getting the better deal. It’s the nature of trade. Who’s using who?

Whoever wants to win the election should give out free plasma TV’s.