When something is good for us, most often the benefits are so self-evident that it is not required that we be relentlessly hounded into obeisance by some third party or another.

We know that if we don't drink water, we die. I have never received SMS messages telling me to drink water. We know that if we don't pay our bills, we will get sent to collections, and even worse eventually. We know that if we don't sleep, we will start to hallucinate. No one ever reminds any of us of that fact.

Conversely, one should be suspicious of an in-your-face ambulance-chasing lawyer, or car salesman who has the perfect deal just for you, and who won't stop following you around the parking lot. Phishing attacks work this way as well. They create a false sense of urgency, and promise catastrophic consequences if you don't immediately click the link to buy those gift cards for your boss.

I have received no fewer than six SMS messages today which read exactly like phishing attacks, or the used car salesman, "reminding" me repeatedly and incessantly "to vote."

If the benefits of this act were so self-evident they wouldn't need to unceasingly harangue me all day. They wouldn't need to resort to transparently silly psychological ploys, and scam language. Unless... it is a scam?

If there was a real chance of, let's say, abolishing the "Federal" Reserve, ending the income tax, and putting the nation back on the gold standard-- as in, actual reforms, from which all other good things would flow-- then maybe the conversation could be different.