If a Politician promises to raise Teacher pay ...?

Question

or increase benefits for wellfare .... is the politician buying votes?

Answer 1

Absolutly. They are attempting to give people free things in trade for their vote. The use of "free things" is the trick here. Someone has to pay for this so their not even bribing people to vote for them they are instead stealing from the group not voting for them and giving it to the group that voted for them.