IPod Democracy

NRO ^ | 16 nov 07 | Jonah Goldberg

[rellimpank]

Paying for cheap votes.

A recent poll of New York University students found that two-thirds of them would trade their right to vote in the next election for a year’s tuition. And 20 percent said they’d give up their right to vote for the next president in exchange for a new iPod. Half said they’d sell their right to vote — forever — for $1 million.

Now, none of this really tells us anything new. We know that lots of Americans, particularly young ones, don’t place much value on their right to vote. If they did, they’d vote more.

[KC_Conspirator]

Thats why I am glad young minds full of mush do not vote.

[Allegra]

Ping!

[Malsua]

Er, uhm, million bucks?

I figure with a million bucks, I can pay a bum $50/election to vote my choices for me :).

[Vision Thing]

Ah yes. The ipod becomes the symbol of the powerless and apathetic yoots. Keep those earbuds on and max out the volume, you little hoodlums. Despite what your MTV tells you, no one of any substance wants you to cast your uninformed self-destructive votes.

[Wil H]

Here’s Civics 101 you moron students...

1. Sell me your vote for an Ipod

2. Once elected with your bought votes I’ll Tax Ipod usage to reimburse me for expense of bribing you....

How does that work for you?

[nyyankeefan]

IPod Democracy....

rock the vote!!!!

[mamelukesabre]

There’s just one problem with selling your vote for a million bucks.

If everyone sells their vote for a million bucks, what good is a million bucks? Suddenly a loaf of bread will cost ten grand and a months salary will be 2 million bucks.

[Malsua]

If everyone sells their vote for a million bucks, what good is a million bucks?

Well, if everyone did it, I could then NOT sell my vote and simply put the person in the whitehouse who I feel is the most qualified and thus the most likely to shower me with taxpayer grants.

[mamelukesabre]

Good point.

So then, at what point do you change tactics? When 50% of the population sells their vote? When 75% sells their vote? When 95% sells their vote?

Because you know you aren’t the only person thinking about it the same way you are.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Time to raise the voting age back to 21 (or maybe 23) for everyone who isn’t a member or honorably discharged veteran of the military, active or reserve.

[Malsua]

So then, at what point do you change tactics?

Soon as I get assurances that any grants will exceed the future value of the million. I can then take the moral high ground and denounce all the filthy "million for not voting" scum. It's simple really.

[Poser]

Half said they’d sell their right to vote — forever — for $1 million.

[martin_fierro]

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[Grizzled Bear]

Does this qualify as “Not a Ping?”

Whether or not it does, it’s freakin scary!

[Slings and Arrows]

Youth is stupid.

[rogue yam]

I figure with a million bucks, I can pay a bum $50/election to vote my choices for me :).

No kidding. Anyone with half a brain and who really cares about politics would gladly relinquish their right to vote for $1MM. Invest the money, retire, and then donate to and support through activism those causes you hold dear. You would have a much greater influence than through your vote alone. Duh!

[Swordmaker]

The Constitution originally placed the franchise with property owning men. There was a tangible value to the right to vote although it was reversed; you had to have value to vote.

[itsahoot]

Time to raise the voting age back to 21 (or maybe 23) for everyone who isn’t a member or honorably discharged veteran of the military, active or reserve.

This subject came up in Harry Truman's Presidency. Has asked if the voting age should be lowered to 18, because a man old enough to give his life should be able to vote.

His reply? Makes more sense to raise it to 28.