How much does Google spend on politics?
Asked by
ETpro (
34605
)
May 30th, 2013
You can find anything on Google, right? Well try to find the answer to the above question. Just an oversight, or do you think that their own political spending information is deliberately hidden by Google because making it public might call into question their “Don’t be evil.” slogan? Citizen.org has a petition asking Google to be more transparent about their political activity.
You can read what little is known of the search giant’s political actions on the Citizen.org site. What is known gives me pause. Besides, sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Since Google makes public the lobbying and political spending of so many other corporations and organizations, it seems only fair to ask them to be open kimono about their own such spending. I signed the petition. Care to join me?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
7 Answers
I look at this completely opposite from you, @ETpro .
I give Google the highest marks for transparency and honesty in the industry. Sure, they are no perfect, and they are probably hiding something or another, but when you compare them to others in the tech industry (Microsoft in particular, Oracle, Cisco, IBM, and even Facebook), Google is a shining light of rectitude and openness.
I will never sign your petition, because I think you are unfairly dumping on Google. Microsoft plays similar games in BING – where is your outrage?
Anyone who considers the big picture will rapidly discern that Google is a good guy, not a bad bug, in this area.
Also, in one search, I found this, this, this, this and 30,599,996 additional hits from a simple Google search. lol
@elbanditoroso I get your point. My concern is when you set yourself up as the good guy, you need to play by a different rule-book than the Dark Side uses. I’m about as far from a Microsoft apologists as any human can get, but right now, Google search directs first to properties Google has a financial interest in, and only after a few pages of them do you get to results that are genuinely driven by relevance. Of course, on searches where no financial interests pertain, then Google eats Bing for lunch. But when all you get on Google is sites that don’t match your search, but do match Google’s desire for money, try Bing. The Evil Empire may pleasantly surprise you—at least for now.
@bkcunningham I was not familiar with News Meat but thanks for the link. It’s a useful site to know about. However, the topic is Google and they are nowhere on the list. And setting that aside, the right and the left about evenly divide the givings there, dating back over a period of 35 years. I’m guessing you thought that relevant because of some false belief that the media is way left wing, but the list proves that’s false. And to put it in perspective, the far right-wing Koch brothers spent more than that 35 year total of “media moguls” in 2012 alone, as did Sheldon Adelson. Adelson alone spent in 1 year nearly 3 times what the “Librul Media” did in 35 years. Wha Wha. Libruls are so unfair.
What does impress me is your search results links. I didn’t bother to check before I signed the petition, and I now deeply regret that. Thanks for educating me on measuring twice before cutting once. I thought I’d learned that lesson, but obviously more study is needed.
I had no false belief about the media, @ETpro. I provided a source that I trust and thought you might find useful and interesting when I’m bored.
Can’t link to it but in the recent New Yorker, there is an article on Silicon Valley’s involvement in politics.
@bkcunningham I did find it useful and interesting. Not to worry. I’m just saying I am going to filter it’s info against other facts that a relevant to the same discussion.
@janbb Find it if you can.
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
