tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post2976694476345363598..comments2024-02-19T08:12:53.815-05:00Comments on The Right Thing: SOUND OFF: THE COFFEE VOTEJeffrey L. Seglinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15648051034425906705noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-45713900344497333252009-01-07T13:16:00.000-05:002009-01-07T13:16:00.000-05:00I heard that this coffee shop had to give free cof...I heard that this coffee shop had to give free coffee to everyone regardless of whether they had voted due to it being illegal to bribe people when it comes to voting. I voted and bought my coffee at said coffee shop not because I had any problem with them giving out a free coffee but because I only like fancy coffee drinks. I think anything to encourage people to get out and vote is a good thing...Delicious Dishingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17718363661439719793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-69603859634473701662009-01-04T18:25:00.000-05:002009-01-04T18:25:00.000-05:00Jeffrey, I hope I’m wrong, but this is kind of ...Jeffrey,<BR/><BR/> I hope I’m wrong, but this is kind of like the coupon return issue, I think. The coffee shop owner is probably less interested in the integrity of the folks who said they voted (or might vote) than he/she is in generating business. His/her intent, I suspect, in rewarding people for their participation in the democratic process, is to get some business rewards as a result. <BR/><BR/> To be sure, that doesn’t answer your question, but you phrased it with an instant “out,” namely, “Would you consider … ?” Who among us hasn’t “considered” an option and rejected it? Personally (although I am no longer a coffee drinker), I would tell the clerk that I will vote later in the day, but if that’s not good enough, I would ask him or her if I would get a free cup of coffee the next day when I told him/her that I did in fact vote the day before.<BR/><BR/> To <B>really</B> tell the truth, I would turn down the offer and say it’s my responsibility (and everybody else’s) to vote, so thanks anyway, but I’ll pass up your offer. It’s like giving blood. When I first donated what is now over 10 gallons of blood, I was entitled to four hours off of work at my federal government job. After a while I realized that “the right thing” was to just give blood and forget the time off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-90533143482171980092009-01-04T15:00:00.000-05:002009-01-04T15:00:00.000-05:00LOL! Jeffrey, I was faced with specifically this q...LOL! Jeffrey, I was faced with specifically this quandry on election day! While I did consider jumping for the free cup of coffee pre-voting, I did relent and do the ethical thing by holding off. I had my fiancee's free cup instead when she opted for the upgraded cup, which is what Starbuck wanted anyway. :) Beautiful sales technique!<BR/><BR/>And Starbucks rewarding voting is NOT illegal vote-buying.<BR/><BR/>William Jacobson<BR/>Cypress, CABill Jacobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109292381489849674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-61752331849230292752009-01-04T13:41:00.000-05:002009-01-04T13:41:00.000-05:00It is a violation of laws to try to purchase a vot...It is a violation of laws to try to purchase a vote. I don't see this in the actions of the coffee shop. There is no mention of encouraging people to vote for one candidate over the other, or providing the coffee prior to the vote, which is where illegalities come into play. <BR/><BR/>On the contrary, the coffee was provided after the vote was cast, no matter how one voted (and even without proof one voted) as an additional reward beyond the self-satisfaction for civic participation. <BR/><BR/>It's also possible voters chose not to reveal they qualified for their free cup.Gossip_girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786223855142519646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-43640403558815090232009-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:002009-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:00I would have been mortified that my café flagrantl...I would have been mortified that my café flagrantly encouraged violation of federal and state election laws by bribing people to vote.swaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08524255701604905877noreply@blogger.com