Good point. But...
The folks hoovering up all the information are (unless they're governments) are trying to figure out a way to make money with it in a reasonably short period of time. That usually means, for the moment, getting the information to advertisers who figure that they can somehow make us buy something if only they know more about us...
People yelling online about the atheist muslim Kenyan usurper aren't a big demographic, I don't think. I don't see ads for power chairs and cruises and vacations in Davos and so forth in places I frequent that talk politics. Glenn Beck's big advertiser seemed to be GoldLine (and gold has tanked recently, so I assume they're lying low). Advertising still seems targeted to get people to buy stuff (or contribute during election seasons).
Online arguing is small beer compared to being a party insider and a big donor. I don't think the Koch Brothers would bother, unless it was to throw a few pennies around to try to reward the true believers in the trenches. They want to use their money to install people who will vote the way they want, not to win online arguments. People arguing online are usually already in a camp.
How would we know? Given the lack of disclosure these days, I assume the only way would be if someone inside squealed (as in Folkenflik's book on Murdoch's empire).
But we'll see. :-)
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
