Vote the Italian Way
posted by zenie 03/08/2008 11:03:31 PM EST
If you like this story,
digg it!
Financial Times of London, although quite conservative, often brightens my day:
VOTES FOR SALE
Italians have found a novel way to express their disdain for politicians and make a bit of cash on the side: using Ebay to sell their votes in next month’s general elections.
Since the online auctioneer has rules against the selling of political favours, would-be vendors have advertised their votes as a “free gift” accompanying a pencil or a fine selection of salami.
“Get the first pencil in the world that is capable of turning the election in any direction. I don’t know who to vote for. Ideologies have collapsed. All parties are telling us to look out for their interests. I am looking out for MINE,” says Marco Bonanno from Alessandria, who promises to vote for whatever “devil” you want.
Of course, he says, he has to be trusted because you cannot see him vote. “But for years you have believed in the lies of politicians, so why can’t you believe in mine?”
Offered along with some sausage comes a free vote from someone “tired of seeing my country in the hands of nonexistent and corrupt politicians”.
About a dozen proposals could be found on www.ebay.it, attracting offers up to €2.5 – until Ebay stepped in following queries from the press.
