NationStates Jolt Archive

Would you sell your vote? If so, what would you sell it for?

A moderately high salary ($750,000 per year would be nice, inflation adjusted) , a luxurious penthouse apartment in any city of my choosing, access to the best medical care in the world and a binding agreement to fund a full-cyborg body when it becomes available. An endless life of luxury, with the complete freedom to do what I want...that's worth more than any polling booth.

If you give me those, I couldn't care less about my vote. Political rights are meaningless to me as long as I get what I want.

Not for sale

no one could reasonably pay enough for my vote to have it be worth my while to sell it.

A bowl of vomit. Face it, if voting changed anything, it'd be illegal.

Not for sale

Not even for happiness?

Dammit, I don't like pudding!

Would you sell your vote? If so, what would you sell it for?

I'd sell it for a Klondike Bar.

I'd sell it for a Klondike Bar.

Did this become a fad on this forum while I stopped paying attention?

I don't like giving up something like this and I think that doing so is somewhat wrong to do....... however, because I am cheap, poor, and because I don't think that my vote in an individual election will tend to be that important I think I could swing $100. If this were a permanent elimination of my voting rights though then I would have to take quite a bit more, and if this vote buying was a powerful trend going on that I thought might be threatening the goodness of government then my price would probably shoot up. If you were going to vote for a candidate that I would be willing to support though then I would be willing to reduce my price.

Would you sell your vote? If so, what would you sell it for?


It depends on what the vote covers. If the vote is to determine the new flavor of Doritos, then why the hell not? If the vote is to determine who will run the US for the next 4 years, it's doubtful.

A moderately high salary ($750,000 per year would be nice, inflation adjusted) , a luxurious penthouse apartment in any city of my choosing, access to the best medical care in the world and a binding agreement to fund a full-cyborg body when it becomes available. An endless life of luxury, with the complete freedom to do what I want...that's worth more than any polling booth.

If you give me those, I couldn't care less about my vote. Political rights are meaningless to me as long as I get what I want.

That's an an honest answer.

Ultimately, people will vote for what's in their self-interest. Sure, there are some die-hards who will vote for something that isn't directly in their interest, but they feel that it is in their interest in the long run. At least Vetalia is willing to admit that he has a price tag attached to his vote.

I'm willing to admit that there is one to mine too. My price is probably far lower. But I'm a man-whore.

*shrugs*

It depends on what the vote covers. If the vote is to determine the new flavor of Doritos, then why the hell not? If the vote is to determine who will run the US for the next 4 years, it's doubtful.

If someone offered you $50,000 to vote for them as President, you wouldn't take it?

That's an an honest answer.

Ultimately, people will vote for what's in their self-interest. Sure, there are some die-hards who will vote for something that isn't directly in their interest, but they feel that it is in their interest in the long run. At least Vetalia is willing to admit that he has a price tag attached to his vote.

The way I view it, I would have far more to gain from giving it up than I did keeping it. I can achieve happiness, comfort, indeed anything I want for a simple sacrifice, one that provided no benefit in the past.

I'm willing to admit that there is one to mine too. My price is probably far lower. But I'm a man-whore.

*shrugs*

Yeah, that's where greed comes in. I know they have a lot to gain from me giving up my vote, and so I'm in a great position to negotiate what I want on my own terms. Our mutual self-interest means both of us get what we want, and we're both happy in the end with maximum benefit for all involved. And ultimately, that's all that matters...we all get what we want.

I'd actually up the salary a little in retrospect, perhaps to around $1.25 million because I'm not getting any money up front, and that gives me a good chunk to invest as well.

If someone offered you $50,000 to vote for them as President, you wouldn't take it?

It would depend on whether or not it would cost me more in the long run. Electing some idiot who ends up causing massive damage because of their policies would end up having a much greater cost than whatever they paid me to begin with.

I always prefer compensation over time rather than upfront.

A hunnid,

The way I view it, I would have far more to gain from giving it up than I did keeping it. I can achieve happiness, comfort, indeed anything I want for a simple sacrifice, one that provided no benefit in the past.



Yeah, that's where greed comes in. I know they have a lot to gain from me giving up my vote, and so I'm in a great position to negotiate what I want on my own terms. Our mutual self-interest means both of us get what we want, and we're both happy in the end with maximum benefit for all involved. And ultimately, that's all that matters...we all get what we want.

I'd actually up the salary a little in retrospect, perhaps to around $1.25 million because I'm not getting any money up front, and that gives me a good chunk to invest as well.


See? This is what I'm talking about. People get the idea that democracy has to be some pseudo-religious ideal that everybody has to sacrifice for. That's not it at all. Democracy is 'non-violent conflict resolution'. Vetalia is willing to negotiate his say for a certain price, which is fair. (espescially since their are milllions who give up an equivalent say for nothing.)

Democracy is a decision-making mechanic, and that's it.

It would depend on whether or not it would cost me more in the long run. Electing some idiot who ends up causing massive damage because of their policies would end up having a much greater cost than whatever they paid me to begin with.

I always prefer compensation over time rather than upfront.

Let's say that there are 100,000,000 voters. You voting for said candidate increases their chance for victory by 1/100000000. Would you rather have the $50,000, or the 1/100000000 higher level of security? (Not factoring in that both candidates could be idiots... which they usually are.)

Did this become a fad on this forum while I stopped paying attention?

Someone had to say it.

Let's say that there are 100,000,000 voters. You voting for said candidate increases their chance for victory by 1/100000000. Would you rather have the $50,000, or the 1/100000000 higher level of security? (Not factoring in that both candidates could be idiots... which they usually are.)

Well, it's not that, it's the fact that selling my vote might cost me more in the long run. Ultimately, it's a cost-benefit analysis; if a significant number of votes are bought, and the person who bought my vote is elected, and his policies end up costing me $100,000, I lose money and possibly other things depending on what exactly happens. That's a risk I have to weigh when making this kind of decision; a lump sum just doesn't take in to account the longer term costs that might happen.

Oh, and I assumed "sell my vote" meant actually give up suffrage, in which case I'd sell it for the aforementioned price no matter what the person in question did with it (as long as the agreement was binding).

Legalization.

It depends on to whom I was selling my vote, how good/bad a politician they were, and whether my reward made up for any damage they may cause. However, since no matter who gets elected I'll always be fucked over, I'd most likely sell my vote for a fairly low price.

* Resists urge to mock the US for having a simplicitic 'first past the post' election system that was made for illiterate countries *

*Resists the urge to mock Europeans for having a populist parliamentary system where party loyalty is more important than constituent loyalty*

And you'd have to offer me a great deal, but for enough, I'd sell one vote in an election that wasn't going to be close. A million would probably do it.

* Resists urge to mock the US for having a simplicitic 'first past the post' election system that was made for illiterate countries *

FTPT sucks :(

*cries*

EDIT: *cries even more because he's too drunk too anagram first past the post correctly*

* Resists urge to mock the US for having a simplicitic 'first past the post' election system that was made for illiterate countries *

Obviously not very well.

FTPT sucks :(

*cries*

EDIT: *cries even more because he's too drunk too anagram first past the post correctly*

Preference based is probably the best, as in it has the least apparent faults.

I prefere the European style because of the multiple amounts of parties, from communist to fascist and so on, and govts have to form coalitions from all these groups to govern, I mean honestly do you see anything that democratic in the US?

I live in a state where my vote makes little difference. Doubtful anyone would want to buy mine. :p We're not exactly a "swing state."

Preference based is probably the best, as in it has the least apparent faults.

I prefere the European style because of the multiple amounts of parties, from communist to fascist and so on, and govts have to form coalitions from all these groups to govern, I mean honestly do you see anything that democratic in the US?

Yes. Not only do third parties actually have a larger affect than they tend to believe (they tend to bring issues into the common dialogue, so that they become important in politics), but our parties tend to be coalitions of their own. There are leftist democrats (the Progressive Caucus), conservative democrats (The Blue Dogs), leftist Republicans (don't remember their name), and far Right Republicans (the only ones left in the party after Bush and Co cleaned house).

Moreover, the U.S. system does not create politicians dependant on their parties to be placed up for re-election, but rather politicians dependant on their constituents. That is much more democratic.

Preference based is probably the best, as in it has the least apparent faults.

I prefere the European style because of the multiple amounts of parties, from communist to fascist and so on, and govts have to form coalitions from all these groups to govern, I mean honestly do you see anything that democratic in the US?

I agree with you 100%

I seriously believe that the swiss system would be ideal for Canada.

If someone offered you $50,000 to vote for them as President, you wouldn't take it?

Sure...it's not like they're looking over my shoulder at the voting booth. ;)

They can give me $1...or ELEVENTYBAZILLIONDOLLARS!!!1!...I'm still voting how I please.

Besides...I might actually want to vote for the guy, who knows?

Legalization.


...that too. :p

Its no wonder so many around here are leftists, you people are all pricing yourselves out of the market.
My vote goes for $20, in fact, if you make it $30 I'll go back and vote twice, and if you pay $40, not only will I vote twice, but I'll fill out a write in ballot for my dead grandmother.

fair enough, FPTP is a good system, I like it, it keeps stupid leftists out of Canada's government, instead we just get corrupt centrists, but now we are finally doing well under harper. But yeah, if someone were to pay me to vote for the conservative party of canada, I'd take whatever they'd offer since I planned to do it anyways. Liberal party, well, I ain;t no corrupt centrist, but I'll do it for anywhere over $200 CDN. Just don't tell noone. New Democratic Party (Canada;s left wingish hippie party) uh, well if you were pointing a gun at me, oh wait hippies don't believe in gun. Oh wait, the NDP doesn't have money to bribe me with, cause they're hippies. The answer is $200. If it was provincial ontario elections, I would vote for any party for $20 cause I don't care what happens here, because I'm from the west.

I honestly depends who the vote goes to, which I suppose echoes Vetalia. That vote purchase counts as income, and if the individual is going to raise income tax to 100% for that year, I don't think I'd do it. I'd have to weigh it out, but I'd definitely consider selling it if I could.

Of course I would sell my vote. My vote does not affect the outcome of elections at all, so it's basically worthless anyway. But hey, if I can get cash, or better yet, sex for it, then hell yes. I'd probably go as low as ten or twenty bucks.

meh. $5 maybe. I'm not big on voting

meh. $5 maybe. I'm not big on voting

That's the spirit. Damn, I wish someone would fuck me for voting, that would rule.

fair enough, FPTP is a good system, I like it, it keeps stupid leftists out of Canada's government, instead we just get corrupt centrists, but now we are finally doing well under harper. But yeah, if someone were to pay me to vote for the conservative party of canada, I'd take whatever they'd offer since I planned to do it anyways. Liberal party, well, I ain;t no corrupt centrist, but I'll do it for anywhere over $200 CDN. Just don't tell noone. New Democratic Party (Canada;s left wingish hippie party) uh, well if you were pointing a gun at me, oh wait hippies don't believe in gun. Oh wait, the NDP doesn't have money to bribe me with, cause they're hippies. The answer is $200. If it was provincial ontario elections, I would vote for any party for $20 cause I don't care what happens here, because I'm from the west.

Whatever party you prefer, if you think that the current Canadian government is vastly different from the previous one, you need to take a closer look. It's all about appearances. Harper doesn't waffle. Sure, he comes across as a tactician, instead of a believer, but that is his strength over Martin. Their politcs aren't really that different.

FPTP is inanely stupid. Espescially in our system, without the checks and balances that the US have.

My vote is not for sale. Not that it is worth all that much to begin with, but I feel voting enables you to have a right to speak out whenever the powers that be at the time do something you disagree with. Not voting means you should just be quiet.... you have forfeited the right to complain.

Or.... more accurately, you have forfeited the right to have your opinion be taken seriously. Or, for that matter, to even be considered.

i would sell mine in return for guitar skills rivaling that of yngwie, no more and no less

but i'm not old enough to have one or the other :(

i was told that the worth of an average vote in the US is comparable to the size of a deer tick in relation to the continent of asia!

Probably $100.
My vote is worth next to nothing in the first place, but I might as well make a reasonable amount on it if I can.

A bowl of vomit. Face it, if voting changed anything, it'd be illegal.

What he said.

Your single vote will never make a difference, and so it's worth whatever anyone is willing to pay you for it.