Vote Sale on eBay
Posted by Scott Bannon
So some 19 year old college kid in Minnesota offers his vote for sale on eBay and… what’s the punchline again?–oh yes, and he faces 5 years in prison plus $10,000 in fines.
I get that the idea of selling your vote like this can offend some people. Never mind that every time you pick a candidate to vote for based on the social program they will increase funding for, or reduce funding for, or who promises tax credits and/or rebates–either way financially benefiting your pocket–that you are in-fact selling your vote; but what this kid did was more direct and in our faces so he must be punished harshly for it, right?
Well, maybe not according to Deputy County Attorney Pat Diamond, who has said that this is “not a case where somebody has to go to prison”. Though, he didn’t make clear what specific sentence his office would recommend to the court.
He did add that this was “the kind of case where you need to make it clear to the person that what they did was wrong, and maybe put something back into the community.”
Wait, put something back into the community? Does he mean in the way of whatever fine this kid will pay? But won’t the costs of prosecuting the case tally nearly as much–if not more–taking from the community in the way of taxes?
Oh, I see, but by spinning it to look as though the tax payers would benefit while not fessing up that it’s more like a zero-sum game being played for the publicity value then Mr. Diamond earns a little political capital for some future election maybe… wait, noooooooo!!! That would be people selling their votes for the financial gains Diamond promised them from a 19 year old kid’s dumb prank. Oh, the irony…
Seriously, I know that I take silly angles of perspective at times and often leap far beyond the rational in my rantings, but can folks from Minnesota please comment here (or email me) and let me know that real crime rates are so low in your state that this is the way you want prosecutor offices spending their time and your tax dollars.
Honestly, if the people of Minnesota are happy with the rates of real crime on their streets and support this ridiculous waste of time and resources then I promise to post a lengthy Mea Culpa here, and praise the diligent efforts and work of Deputy County Attorney Pat Diamond. Heck, I’ll even place a “Visit Minnesota” graphic in the sidebar of this blog for the next 6 months to spawn tourism dollars for you.
But, I’m willing to bet that no significant number of Minnesotans (is that what you’re called?) are going to contact me with their support of this insane waste. Care to prove me wrong?
buxtohispano.com 
One Response to “Vote Sale on eBay”
By Mike Harmon | Reply to article
Hello.
I would like to put a link to your site on my blog roll if you want to do the same for mine. It would be a good way to build up both of our readerships.
thank you.