&gt; <i>Doctors tend to be Republican and free-market adherents.</i><p>This was based on an outdated[1][2] understanding and personal experience (my father is a physician and nearly every physician I knew supported Reagan).  I retract.<p>&gt; <i>Over and over people on HN come to the defense of advertising.</i><p>I know this because in my comments here I frequently criticize the role of advertising on the internet and society in general. The downvotes are many. Not everyone defends ads, but many do, and my comment is directed at them.<p>Here&#x27;s one thread[3]. I can&#x27;t spend more time on this, so if you guys still don&#x27;t believe me, you win (for the moment). I&#x27;d rather you were right anyway. 
-<p>[1] &quot;In the mid-90s, 72% physicians&#x27; campaign donations went to Republicans.&quot; <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.advisory.com&#x2F;daily-briefing&#x2F;2015&#x2F;04&#x2F;30&#x2F;how-doctors-political-affiliations-have-changed" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.advisory.com&#x2F;daily-briefing&#x2F;2015&#x2F;04&#x2F;30&#x2F;how-docto...</a><p>[2] &quot;The percentage of contributions that doctors have given to Republicans has mostly declined since 1996. It dipped below 50 percent in 2008 before rebounding in 2010.&quot; &quot;The study attributed the partisan shift to an increase in female physicians and the shrinking number of doctors running their own solo and small practices.&quot; <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;06&#x2F;03&#x2F;upshot&#x2F;doctors-arent-strongly-republican-anymore.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;06&#x2F;03&#x2F;upshot&#x2F;doctors-arent-stron...</a><p>[3] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=10398290" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=10398290</a>