No, they can find out how you voted in the U.S. (yet), but whether or not you voted is a matter of public record. And if you voted and your precinct went 90% Democrat or whatever, they can have a good idea.

Thing is, targeted marketing, or whatever it might be called, is done because it works…and the alternative is usually untargeted marketing, which is worse. “Can I interest you in a new mortgage? Vacuum cleaner? Bowling ball? Erectile dysfunction pill? Wouldja like to vote Tory?”

The way the Canadian system is set up, I’m almost positive they don’t know how I voted (except for the fact that I have publicly stated before that I am a big fan of Bill Blaikie and did vote for him in the last election, but that’s because I volunteered to say that). They can know that my area is primarily New Democratic, but that doesn’t mean that I vote NDP, there’s usually at least 1 vote for other people, I could be the one. Voting records asnd voting preferences should stay private, and if anyone tries to “guess” how you vote by what you buy or what you do, that’s what gets me. I’ve volunteered information before on my voting preferences (most recently in this very reply), but them trying to figure it out without me volunteering it really sits ill with me. (I do like the Green Party, both the Canadian and American versions, I am environmentally concious, I recycle (do they check my curb every trash day to “record” that? Because I don’t do it as a political statement!) I didn’t turn the lights out for Earth Hour because I was at work (where they were turned out, by a building management that is probably not a Green supporter). If I’m saying something they already know, having said it first publicly here, this still ranks up there with another thing I don’t like, targetted marketing.

And, for the record, I do hate every single political party.

But there is a difference. If I, say, sold a device that made airing out of fridges unneccessary, and then introduced myself to my neighbours whenever I see them moving in (see renovation trucks parked outside, but still no residents yet) say “Hi, I noticed you needed to air out your fridge while you were getting your house ready! Well, I sell the new FridgeFresh ™ that eliminates the need for that!” I don’t honestly know if they’d appreciate that, they might, but I”m not the type that would at all. I don’t like sales people, and I don’t like being “profiiled” based on my behaviours (which is what you alluded to at the start of your post, companies who have you fill out “comment cards” which have you give personal details about your life and “target market” to you from there. IMHO, using the knowledge that your neighbours participated in Earth Hour to “sell” the Green Party to them (which is what politicians do) wouldn’t sit well with me. Perhaps others (it must, because people still use that sales technique, so it must be effective) but I don’ts likes it.

If checking to see how and what your neighbors are up to, and making an effort to be aware what’s happening past your own mailbox, is “how the Green Party operates”, then count me proud to be a Green. Conversely, if the “better” approach is to stand by your window and fearfully grip the sill with white knuckles because someone (gasp!) looked at your house!…uh, well, I think I’ll just avoid that “getting more conservative” part of my life, thanks.