Why isn't selling your vote legal?

We're all aware of how members of Congress get kickbacks for passing legislation that benefits special interests and how they have to pay back favors to the biggest donors of their campaigns.

Yet, for some reason, individual voters aren't allowed to sell their votes.

The counterclaim is often that allowing such a practice would corrupt the electoral process, but honestly, does it even begin to compare with how much parties corrupt the primary process or the legislative process?

Surely, even if 10% of the electorate sold their votes, would it really make that much of a difference?

Personally, I think a vote should be viewed the same way as any other commodity. If you want to make some cash on the side by selling your vote, how is it the government's business to stop you?

 

And as long as we live in a Republic the votes of millions will be up for sale when the one person they were stupid enough to elect takes a check to sway his vote.

In a direct democracy it would take millions of bribes to sway the vote.

 

I don't think it's even illegal, or that it should be, but it is and should be a private process, so if I told you I'd cast my vote for president how you wanted me to, there'd by no verification.

 

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I had thought for sure that literally buying votes among the public is considered bribery -- a criminal offense.

Strangely, the same isn't applied to things like lobbyism.

 

Our political system is one big "Shamwow" advertisement. All bluster and no substance.

 

How much do you think the average voter could get for his/her vote? Dollar amount.

 

You mean what the corporate world would pay for it? Probably $3.00 off your next grocery order (over $500.00), and a coupon for free bag of pork rinds.

 

Individual voters seeking entitlements and tax breaks sell their votes all the time, Serfin'.

As for people selling their votes, I don't see what the government can or will do to stop you when elected officials are more than willing to buy them.

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I guess that depends on the amount of the entitlement or tax break.

 

Is this how exactly the system works now. Various parties offer incentives for you to vote. You select your candidate based on who makes the best offer (In your eyes)

 

Thats it ?!! Why the heck have our politicians been buying votes for trillions of dollars when they could of had the same result for such a small amount? That's frustrating.

 

Perhaps, but it's not as direct as lobbyism.