The problem with political advertising is that in the short-term, negative advertising works. If one campaign makes things up and paints the other candidate in a negative light they are likely to succeed if the other doesn’t respond. Just as in the prisoner’s dilemma, however, the third worst outcome – where everyone goes negative reducing the voters respect for both candidates – is the one that prevails. Of course, this is not limited to advertising. The entire politico-electoral complex is devoted to using diversion and illusion on both sides to mesmerize voters