One problem is that surgery can have an enormous placebo effect, masking a reality of meager benefits in exchange for the risk and cost it entails.

FORBES: Is elective surgery overdone?

Matt A. Barreto, an associate professor of political science at the University of Washington and head of Latino Decisions, said the population growth had produced a higher Latino vote in every presidential election over the last decade, a number that had the effect of masking the political apathy of many Latino voters.

MSN: NYT: Growth in Latino population not fully reflected at voting booth - politics - The New York Times | NBC News