Here’s A Crazy Question…

Posted on 05/17/2008 at 10:27 am by Bob Cesca

Would you give up your right to vote for $1,000,000 USD?

According to the new Harper’s Index:

Percentage of NYU students who say they would “permanently forfeit” their vote for $1 million: 50

Would you do it? Be honest.

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  • rixxk

    Will you be sending a check or will it be direct deposit ?You can get more influence by contributing $1000/year than my vote has ever accomplished.

  • http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/ Paddy

    No, but I’d make Jeff take the million. ;)

  • http://www.libertylounge.net Scrum

    I would take the cash.My vote doesn’t cover my gas and food bills. (Unless I elect an official to give me free food and gas)

  • MajinMal

    I turned 18 in 2000. So my first vote was basically tossed out. And in every election since then I’ve been pretty jaded about the process.I kinda feel like it’s already been taken away from me for free. But I vote anyway because it’s the right thing to do.I wouldn’t give it up… Naaaa… But it’s tempting.

  • Terry4505

    I live in a state (NY) that is pretty much guarenteed to go democrat. That being said, things can change, political climates can shift, terrorist attacks can make otherwise sane people, very insane, and in that case, I wouldnt want to give up my right to fight for change…….that being said….

  • http://peaceandwisdom.net Chris Dornan

    As others have said, it is highly tempting isn’t it. I can hardly answer the question honestly–one would like to think one wouldn’t, on principle. If I knew it only applied to me and there was no chance of the process being subverted then it may be smart to take the money as a single vote doesn’t affect anything. If I thought there was any chance of the process being subverted then absolutely not. It is in no way worth losing the opportunity to live in a very imperfect democracy for any amount of money (assuming my current wholly adequate income).

  • midad

    I can see how the kids might do it…(great future you’ve been laying out for them Bush..NOT!)but at my age, nah, I have pretty much everything I need. And I am so opinionated!! No way are they going to take that away from me.

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    I’d definitely do it. Not that you could retire on a million nowadays, but it would free up some work time to do some canvassing, volunteer for a campaign or voter registration. That’s how I would justify it.

  • natashacrk

    Nope, not in a million years!

  • Andhakari

    I could do a lot more good with one million dollars than I ever could with a vote which may or may not ever be counted. Hell, I’m close to giving up my citizenship for free.

  • Nanotyrannus

    $1,000,000 is what they offered? Hell, we were just told to keep quiet for just $300.Wasn’t there just an Onion article titled “Potential Employee Uprising Quelled with Free Pizza” ?And no. I would not. I geek out on the political process and have gotten by so far on much less than a million.

  • http://www.ieatgravel.com Alaska

    I’d do it. And I’d trademark something similar to carbon-credits, except they would be “political-activism credits”. Then all the people that sold their votes could buy these credits and still feel good about themselves.I’d totally put together a powerpoint about it, and then turn it into a movie.