Recently, a City Worker spotted a Senate candidate telling people to go look at the City Record of "a friend." That candidate was almost in the top 3 in the Race, so he was very very close to becoming Senator.
The City Record on the "friend" account said that people should vote for the candidate's platform for a lot of reasons... and at the end, offered 1,000 clams to every person who voted!
Is this fair? Should it be okay to trade clams for votes?
Hey guys, this is DiGsTeR02 again. I know I haven't written in a long time, and that's because there haven't been any juicy topics! But we're in luck -- I discovered something in Whyville that I believe MUST be ended! So, sit back, open your ears, and fasten your seat belts... I mean... get ready! :D
Bribery. *shudders* Doesn't that word just make you cringe? Well, that's what I would like to discuss with you today. I have noticed, since the Senate Elections have started back up, that the two topics go together like bread and butter. I have gotten at least 15 Y-mails each day that ask me to vote for them or their friend.
What's wrong with that? Well, nothing!
However, about 50 percent of those Y-mails also say that they will pay me to vote for them. Pay? No way, Jose!
I like clams and all, but I work hard to earn my clams. I don't have people pay me. In my opinion, that wouldn't really be fair. What do you think?
Whyville is a place that's different from everywhere else. We don't have to follow the same old rules... especially since there weren't any rules posted in the tool where you create you Senate Platform. Were you told not to offer clams for votes? Actually, no -- so maybe it should be okay!
Personally, though, I vote for the person who has the best ideas, NOT my best friend, the person with the best looks, or someone that tells me they will pay me if I vote for them. I mean, think about it! I doubt that person would actually pay you, anyway. They are trying to bribe you and make you think you will get a reward for voting for them. I wouldn't trust a person like that in my entire life.
Have you noticed that the candidates who win are the ones who do things the fair way? A person who bribes will not get very far in life. Nor will they gain respect. I know some newbies might think that it's an awesome deal, because they need the clams desperately, but eventually I hope they realize that it's the wrong way to go, before it's too late.
But I don't want to tell you what to think. This is something that all Whyvillians should have a right to decide. Maybe it's not bribery after all, not in this case. Clams aren't *really* worth anything, so why shouldn't we have a right to use them to earn power and position in Whyville? You know my opinion, but at least so far Whyville's a kind of democracy -- it's up to the majority to decide!
The next question is, what do we do about these people who offer to trade clams for votes?
I think City Hall should tape the people who bribe others. It's not fair to our community. And think about it, if the person is successful with votes but they have really crummy ideas, and they win, Whyville might become a bore to people, and they will quit because of the lack of interest. Do we want that to happen? I sure don't!
But like I said, what matters is what the whole of Whyville wants -- this is supposed to be a democracy, after all! Or do we even want a democracy??? Tell City Hall what you think in the BBS below!
Until there's no tomorrow,
DiGsTeR02
Editor's Note: It's also been suggested that we charge the people for every vote they get -- So, for that person who offered 1,000 clams per vote, they'd be charged about 200,000 clams! (What's amazing is, that person actually had the money. Hey, maybe they really would have given the clams!)
Here are some questions for you to answer in the BBS, to help City Hall decide what to do next:
-Do you believe City Hall should remove such a person from the Senate race, or should citizens have a right to trade clams for votes?
-What kind of punishment should happen to this citizen, if anything? Think about it -- it's not cheating if we all decide it's not, right? Or is that wrong? Let us know what you think!
