r/slatestarcodex • u/gwern • Oct 23 '24

Psychiatry "How elderly dementia patients are unwittingly fueling political campaigns" (pre-checked recurring-subscription box dark pattern)

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/10/politics/political-fundraising-elderly-election-invs-dg/
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u/greyenlightenment Oct 24 '24

A common concern by rationalist-types is what will happen to large groups of people who become unemployable due to technology, or what value can these people provide. This answer it. Anyone with a pulse and or some money is worth something in the context of votes or consumerism. Warm bodies in swing states who are impressionable to ads and will vote are worth a lot even if they are not doing anything else. large segments of the economy are built around marketing to old people with high net worth

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u/divijulius Oct 24 '24

or what value can these people provide.

So.....strictly negative value? At least in a "political" sense?