BUYNG VOTES
I just heard a news clip on Fox about a politician who was sent to jail for buying votes in Kentucky. Seems this guy paid $50 or so for people to vote for him and he got caught. I would guess must would see the wrong in this action and would agree that he be punished.
But is it the tip of the iceberg? Are all of our votes “for sale”? Or do we vote for the guy who has the best ideas for moving our county forward?
I think more of us are guilty of selling our votes than we want to admit. As a senior I confess that I like the entitlements I receive, social security and Medicare and don’t want them jeoparidized even I understand they are costly to us. Many others are on unemployment, welfare, free insurance, and a host of other entitlements. They don’t want to lose those things either. Will those of us on the receiving end vote for the people that are on the “giving” end, even we know it is someone else’s money being given?
Will the high earners vote for those keeping tax rates low? Will they have reasons other than just not wanting to part with more of their money or truly believe there are other solutions to fixing the economy? Will the folks wanting them to pay more taxes vote for the people seeking to tax the rich more do it out of spite or out of belief that it will do some good? Do they believe taxing the rich will put more money in their pockets some way?
I think this kind of “vote buying” is just as wrong as paying some guy a few dollars for his vote, but no one believes this is illegal. Obviously all the parties do it and it seems to be the way to win elections; pandering to the public.
I just hope that all of us who vote can do so with the best interest of the county in mind and get behind the folks who we truly believe can bring our county back to work and prosperity. But will we?
