Whether or not Prop. 8 passes in California on November 4th, there’s one clear winner – California news media. According to San Francisco Chronicle,
…the mayor told guests on Wednesday that they need about $5 million from now until election day to battle Prop. 8, the most expensive social-issue campaign in U.S. history. Political analysts are expecting both sides to spend a total of $70 million.
Both sides happily pump the money into defending their positions, and it seems that the media industry is happy to receive extra $70 mln, with the ad market being down and all doom and gloom on the economic front.
In fact, <conspiracy-theory-start> it seems that the media itself every once in a while would be in the position to start a controversial issue, raise enough awareness for some activist group to put it up on the ballot, and then enjoy the windfall revenues that wouldn’t have come otherwise.</conspiracy-theory-end>
I like the cut of your jib. I wouldn’t put anything past the congolerated media giants these days.