I should know this one. What is it called when...

[Baitball Blogger]

...a government body tries to buy loyalties in a community in order to induce them to support the city's agenda or hide its secret? In other words, they bestow favoritism on certain individuals to keep them quiet and compliant?

[Redneck_Dem]

1. An election?

[Fla Dem]

2. Payola? Bribe? n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

3. I think it's some form of bribe.

Republicans would call it inducement incentives.

[Scuba]

4. "Hush money"

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Yes. Now you're talking

[Motown_Johnny]

6. Business As Usual

[Graybeard]

7. Patronage?

Government jobs and favors granted to a community in return for it's support in the election. Tends to keep the recipients quiet.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Patronage is probably on the button.

[Graybeard]

13. Kept Boss Tweed And Tammany Hall

in office for many years. And very near all politicians
since then too.

[KT2000]

8. Co-opting n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

12. No question that was the intent.

But someone had to be on the inside for it to succeed.

[DJ13]

9. Capitalism

[Squinch]

10. Citizens United