There is quite the buzz across the internet about Starbucks giving away free coffee if you vote today (much less so about getting a free ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops or Krispy Kreme passing out star shaped donuts).
Those are all great gestures (and wicked smart marketing ideas). But if you need to be bribed to vote, then you may want to re-think why you’re doing it.
In this writers humble opinion, voting is the single greatest privilege right duty that we have. Already I hear there are grumblings about how long the lines are, and what a hassle it is to vote. If I hear that personally, I may have to smack someone in the back of the head. If you think voting is a waste of time, or a pain in the ass, try living some place where you can’t vote.
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I voted by mail two weeks ago, but I am going to try and get all the freebies I can today – because I am cheap and love the excitement of election day!
I hit the polls before they opened. Regardless of which candidate wins, we all win with a high voter participation.
**Bob´s last blog post..Why Buy Today?
jay, you’re my hero… this is breaking news and i’ll be sure to act on this information. thank you.
P.S. my vote was cast weeks ago. do i get extra from these places, ya think?
**Mark Eckenrode | HomeStomper´s last blog post..Blogging Triage (or How To Get More With Less)
Vote soon …. vote often
. All eyes of the world are on the US election today, and it appears the Democratic machine is going to roll to a hard earned victory. Democracy in action …. great to see so many people exercising their franchise.
Here, here! And if you remember, if you come across any war veteran, thank them for defending everyone’s freedom to vote! My dad was a WWII veteran, traversed through Normandy and the Ardennes, and passed away 2 years ago on this very day. Today should be a historic day for politics, and I’m extremely excited to vote blue!
I voted today with my daughter, it’s her first time to vote. The advance voting near me had lines with over 2 hours wait, but today there were no lines and no waiting.
**Tina Fountain´s last blog post..Cobb County Luxury Homes
I voted this morning. At 6am, there was a line an hour long, but at 7:30am there was only a 10 minute line and after 8am, there was essentially no line at all. If you live in a bedroom neighborhood, and can vote during the business day, you’ll save time.
But there have been years when I couldn’t vote during the business day, and have waited 90 minutes in line to vote. I can’t imagine doing otherwise.
**Steve Belt´s last blog post..Arizona Mortgage Rates October 31, 2008
You’re so right and I what I find so amusing is it’s the people who don’t vote who are the first ones to sit around and complain that they don’t like how things are. Look a year later and they aren’t happy, so you ask them who they voted for and they reply “I didn’t vote.” I’m just thinking you knucklehead!
Giving voters incentives or perks to vote is a federal crime, so the Starbucks, Ben and Jerry, and Krispy Kreme offers are now open to anyone whether or not they voted. They are making it a celebration of voting day. I waited 3 hours to vote early as did about 50% of Georgia voters. Today there are virtually no lines. The turnout is inspiring! I feel like today is a turning point in American politics.
Jay, I blogged on this this morning, as well. Some of the Chick-fil-a’s are giving a free chicken sandwich, too. I wholeheartedly agree with you your take. Blessings,
**Shar Rundio´s last blog post..All Kinds of FREEdom Today
Hi Jay,
You’re spot on. It’s disgusting to me the sheer numbers of people who don’t take the time to vote. Adding insult to injury, how many of these same individuals complain about this, that, and the other. Yet, again, they don’t vote. If they don’t vote, should they really be wasting our time with their complaints?
Another line that I often hear is, “it doesn’t affect me.” Wow … how selfish and unbelievably ignorant. All for one and one for none.
We get what we put into it, that goes with anything doesn’t it? Too many people are more concerned with their day to day musings, have time to eat popcorn and go to the movies, yet don’t have the time to research election issues, let alone vote.
We should all be tired of this attitude. An attitude that is slowly doing a substantial amount of damage to this country. We live in a great country but should demand much more of ourselves.
We can be better. We should be better.
**Property Qwest Blog – Real Estate News and Housing Data´s last blog post..Housing Predictions
I’ve heard some rumblings about the legality of these incentives, and I am always cautious when non-attorneys or law makers begin giving legal advice. The funny thing is, I’ve only heard RE.net lay people making this assertion. Not once has an attorney-general, or any legal entity make the statement.
Regardless, I am happy to see such large turnouts and I think it had little to do with coffee incentives, but applaud these company’s marketing techniques!
wish i was in usa so i could get freebies
Oh phooey, That will teach me to read your blog every day. I missed out on the freebies. But I did vote.
**Ned´s last blog post..How do I Make Money in Real Estate?
Very well said! I couldn’t agree with you more, and as a woman I take special pride in getting to vote-after all, it wasn’t so long ago that my voice wouldn’t have counted. And you are right-people can ridicule the government and complain about our country all they want-we have that right and through voting we have the right to create change. What a wonderful place we live!
I forgot to take the stubs off my absentee ballot, so unfortunately I was unable to collect my freebees from the mentioned retailers.