Would You Give Up Your Right To Vote For A Million Dollars?

Published 11/15/07 (Modified 3/8/11)
By MoneyBlueBook

I was listening to the radio this morning and came upon an interesting discussion about the upcoming U.S. elections. The question proposed was this - If you could give up your right to ever vote again in an election for a million dollars-tax free, would you do it?

The seemingly innocuous question brought up certain fascinating issues. Just how much do we value our constitutionally protected right to choose our own leaders? With the U.S. election coming next November in 2008, I have already sort of decided who I plan to cast my vote for to become the next president of the United States. But would I be willing to give up that right forever for a million dollars?

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The radio show fielded numerous answers from callers and the overwhelming response was an emphatic - yes. The majority of callers indicated they would be willing to give up their right to vote for the money. About 70 percent said they would take the money and only 30 percent refused to give up their voting rights.

Just Show Me The Money

As an American, as much as I'd love to think or say that I cherish and value my right to vote so much that no amount of money could ever make me give up that right, I have to say that the reality is that we live in a "show me the money" society. I think, a million dollars would probably do more for my own personal life than the results of any election ever could. With a million dollars, I could buy a house, set myself up for life, and support my family and loved ones on a real and inescapably personal level. I could pay off my student loans, credit card debts, and invest the remaining amount for my future retirement.

Even if I were concerned that by giving up my right to vote that I would be permanently giving up my right to ever have my opinions heard, don't forget that with a million dollars, I could easily buy television and radio airtime and have my views projected into the public forum more powerfully than my single vote ever could. My single vote is only one of many, but money is money. With money, I could buy political sway and affect greater change in society than I could with a single lonesome vote. But I do respect and understand those who feel they could never part with their right to vote for any amount of monetary gain.

Just for the record, I have voted in nearly every single significant election since I was eligible to do so when I hit 18. But frankly I don't recall anytime in my life when a single vote truly made a difference in any election. The last time that happened probably was in high school.

Would anyone really forfeit a million dollars tax-free just to keep their right to vote? For real? Does the ultimate result of the election really impact how you live your day to day life on such a significant level for you to give up the possibly of living a more financially secure life? Not including those who are already very wealthy and don't need the additional money anymore, I just find it hard to believe there really are people like that anymore.

It's a Sign of the Times

Unfortunately, it's also probably an indicator that we have turned into a more selfish and cynical society. I think many people, including myself, often feel that our vote really doesn't make much of a difference anymore. Some feel that the media and special interest groups ultimately sway the course of elections anyway.

But I am curious to hear what others would do. Would you be willing to forfeit your vote permanently for the remainder of your life for a million tax-free dollars right now?

Side Note: The funniest call came from a woman who responded that as long as she was married she would probably take the money because her husband and her vote always canceled each other out every election anyway. But she added that if she were single, she might consider holding onto her vote and forsake the money because she is so opinionated and would want her opinion heard! :)

This entry was posted on 11/15/07 (Modified on 3/8/11) and is filed under Issues . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.

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8 Responses to “Would You Give Up Your Right To Vote For A Million Dollars?”

Chef says:
November 15, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Wow - what a question. I think that it's sad, but I'm definitely in the take the money category. Yikes, what does that say about me?
Raymond says:
November 15, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Chef, that just means you are a bad bad person.

Just kidding..I would take the money too.....
BuildAndSucceed says:
November 15, 2007 at 7:13 pm
In most situations, I'd probably take it. But again, it depends on the consequences. But just for my one single vote, there's absolutely no question that I wouldn't take the money. I'd volunteer to go to Jury duty too lol
the baglady says:
November 17, 2007 at 2:14 am
Since I'm not an American citizen I guess I can't sell a right I don't have. However if I did have the right to vote I'd probably sell it anyway because I feel the government is totally against my generation (twenty-somethings). We will have no social security and high living costs and taxes are all stacked against us. A lot of young people don't vote because there is a sentiment that things won't change. If every one of us twenty-somethings can sell our vote I think we'd do it just to offset the future costs we will have in this country and all the money we contribute to social security that we will never see.
Richard says:
April 28, 2008 at 12:40 pm
well i will put it to you this way i am on ssi i live in a trailer park i have found out that my park is cloesing down june 30 2008 the city where i live says my trailer is to old to move so it has to be destoryed i have no choise i dont get to vote or say any thing i get nothing for my trailer but the bill to destroy it i cant afford to get a house i have to find an appt i get $ 643 dollers a month a appt is 550 i still have to pay elec phone and get food so yes i would give up my vote cause i dont have any say now .....
Reverend Flash says:
September 28, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I sure would! My vote already counts very little on its own (I'm one of hundreds of millions of voters). In fact, there's even the possibility that thanks to election corruption and that great electoral college, my vote might not be worth anything at all - unless someone wanted to give me a million dollars for it.
Kingyo says:
May 20, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I would not give up my right to vote. I don't believe people understand what a wonderful right it is. I have worked with people who have come from other countries who cannot believe the ignorance of Americans. For them to hear "well, it doesn't matter what I think" or "my opinion does not count" they are in shock and turmoil. How can you say that, you can vote. If you don't like something you can tell someone and keep telling someone in order to get you opinion heard and voted on. We are fools, and we do not know how lucky we are to have such a right. I believe that the American people have gotten so use to people telling them what to do, they just rolled over and accepted it. They no longer think for themselves, the no longer feel pride for their country, they no longer respect their own rights, the no longer truly fight for what they believe in. . If the people are no longer willing to standup against something they don't believe in, how will the government ever know its not what we want? The government does not make the people; the people make its government.
Keith says:
June 3, 2009 at 8:41 pm
BYE VOTE, HELLO MILLION DOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)