Where we collectively spend our money shows our current values. I remember reading a book that NASA has a budget of $18b--and the USA spends $60b on cosmetics. I'm pretty sure we can find similar dichotomies, like alcohol consumption vs. school budgets.

I had a little chuckle about parties diverting money towards third-party candidates to siphon votes away from the main rival. When I was in politics, I often wondered at how a political party could ask its members to buy memberships of the other party and tilt that party's internal elections. There really is nothing to stop any party member (or party) from doing that.

I even got to know one party member who had four memberships of different parties. She just moved around the back rooms to where she found the most action. She was an effective organizer for those internal party elections--and her services were in demand.

I had a left-leaning friend. He purposely joined Alberta's Conservative Party to vote for the worst candidate for premier. He voted for a Trump-like buffoon (circa 1992). The buffoon did win--and he served as premier for 14 years, getting the lefties all riled up in that time. I wonder how many votes for Mr. Premier came from his arch-enemies. For two years after, the conservatives kept sending my friend mail asking for money.

It's a strange world.