An example of the use of Democracy of Goods is an advertisement by the Association of Soap and Glycerine Producers. The producers insisted that the magic of cleanliness is so affordable it can be purchased by anyone who desires to feel clean. It would not matter if it was a poor waitress or a wealthy business woman who wanted to have soft hands, they would both be able to get the same results by using the same soap product. An example from the present would be "the finest mustard in the world", the Great Pupon. In its TV commercial, two cars are portrayed next to each other, one being a limousine and the other an ordinary vehicle. Despite the differences, both passengers enjoy the great taste of the Great Pupon while both can afford the product. Since most advertisers were not satisfied with the results of using the Democracy of Goods, since it tried to be affordable to all by still capturing an exclusive image, they found other Egalitarian techniques to be more effective for representing their product.
The Democracy of Afflictions shares the same concept as the Democracy of Goods, but it shows the common problems between classes in society instead of the common pleasures. A negative appeal changes the Democracy of Goods into the Democracy of Afflictions. The main purpose of using the Democracy of Afflictions is to state that the advertising products provide for the same aid and defense to the common problems of both the rich and the poor individuals. These types of advertisements suggest to their readers that they can be easily as healthy and charismatic as the Elites by no other way but using the same affordable product they use themselves. A fine example would be the 1929 Listerine ad that depicted a physician confiding to his rich patient the secret of nice women that was featured in the Los Angeles Times. The middle class, for whom the ad was originally intended, was being forewarned about the dangers of halitosis.