On Saturday, Oct. 19, Elon Musk announced the first winner of his extravagant million-dollar giveaway in Harrisburg. Every day before the election, Musk will randomly award registered Pennsylvanians and registered turnover state voters with a million dollars if they sign his pro-Trump America super PAC petition. Although any party is allowed to vote, Musk is known to have a bias against the far left, or what he usually calls the “woke-mind virus.” I predict that no left-leaning individuals will be chosen for the giveaway. PACs or political action committees raise and spend money in support of candidates. Super PACs are a subgroup that independently advocate for specific candidates. Musks says his America PAC was created to support “securing borders, sensible spending, safe cities, the fair justice system, free speech, and self-protection.” The PAC petition he is promoting is “in favor of free speech and the right to bear arms.” There has been debate on whether this is even legal. Regardless of whether it is legal or not, I would argue that while it might not be buying voters, it is buying the influence of people. This extravagant flaunting of wealth by the world’s richest man is also a flaunt of power, and with this power, you can indirectly influence people’s votes. Are the people who are signing this petition doing it because they understand and believe in what it stands for? I would say it’s very unlikely that every person among the millions who have signed does. I won’t share my standing on the petition itself, but I do think a petition isn’t worth much if the results of it are arbitrary. It has become easier now more than ever to influence people’s beliefs and perceptions. Civic literacy is lower than it ever has been in the United States. I would say to my fellow students, yes, register to vote, but also most importantly, become informed, do your research, know what you’re signing, and know who you’re voting for; it is more important now than ever.