Election Year or Fear!

[ramAnag]

You aren't going to win this one rA. I was no less vague about the parameters of the raffle than MA, who introduced the subject, yet it's mine you are nit-picking about. MA and I both rely on a bit of intuition on the part of those who read our posts, when MA wasn't specific about what part of the USA it related to, I knew without taking issue with him/his post that it related to certain states. You could and should have done the same with my follow up post. I wonder why you didn't.

For the sake of other posters, End of discussion (I hope)

Andy, for goodness sake, MA wrote ‘…and now Musk is giving away $1M, in sort of raffle, every weekend to a Trump voter.
Surely, that must count as bribery and/or unfair influencing of the ballot?’

Those are his exact words. No mention of states, parameters or anything else…just a simple observation with no ‘intuition’ necessary.

You’ve made a mistake in providing the defence of it ‘being open to all’ and misinterpreted the situation. As ever now in such circumstances you seek to close down discussion. Honestly I now understand why Swale sometimes resorts to bad language. Your stubbornness is enough to make a saint swear and Swale is no saint.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I agree that application for the "raffle" is at state level, so you can't get into the game unless youre in specific states. But that is so with most state lottires in USA int it? If you're in Missouri you can't enter the state lottery of Maine??

Beyond that anyone can surely sign up to the Tusk requirements and be eligible for the lottery without having to prove which way the voted which would violate one amendment or another??

[ramAnag]

I agree that application for the "raffle" is at state level, so you can't get into the game unless youre in specific states. But that is so with most state lottires in USA int it? If you're in Missouri you can't enter the state lottery of Maine??

Beyond that anyone can surely sign up to the Tusk requirements and be eligible for the lottery without having to prove which way the voted which would violate one amendment or another??

Of course you’re right about ‘State lotteries’ but this isn’t a State lottery is it? It’s a politically motivated ‘lottery’ that is only open to registered voters in selected ‘swing states’ which I incorrectly numbered as 6 earlier. Actually there are 7/50 such states as I forgot Wisconsin…apologies for that.

In addition Musk is now giving voters in PA $100 for signing his petition plus a further $100 for any referred signatories. The amount elsewhere appears to be $47. Is that okay too?

Would you have been happy if either the Tories or Labour had been offering people money to win their support and incentivise them to vote accordingly in the ‘Red Wall’ seats at the last election? I doubt it…and I wouldn’t either.

[SithHappens]

It's more like someone like Lord Alli offering an incentive to voters, but irrespective of that it's not right in my opinion, but it's not exactly a surprise.

Musk seems set in Trump being president. Hopefully he can put him on a one way trip to Mars.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Of course you’re right about ‘State lotteries’ but this isn’t a State lottery is it? It’s a politically motivated ‘lottery’ that is only open to registered voters in selected ‘swing states’ which I incorrectly numbered as 6 earlier. Actually there are 7/50 such states as I forgot Wisconsin…apologies for that.

In addition Musk is now giving voters in PA $100 for signing his petition plus a further $100 for any referred signatories. The amount elsewhere appears to be $47. Is that okay too?

Would you have been happy if either the Tories or Labour had been offering people money to win their support and incentivise them to vote accordingly in the ‘Red Wall’ seats at the last election? I doubt it…and I wouldn’t either.

No I wouldn't be happy for what is clearly buying votes in this country or in USA for that matter - but USA do have a far dodgier history of voting malpractice. Doesn't make it right but a little more predictable perhaps. Trump's accusations vs Dominion voting machines may have been unproven but no smoke without fire?

[ramAnag]

No I wouldn't be happy for what is clearly buying votes in this country or in USA for that matter - but USA do have a far dodgier history of voting malpractice. Doesn't make it right but a little more predictable perhaps. Trump's accusations vs Dominion voting machines may have been unproven but no smoke without fire?

Pleased we agree. I don’t know enough about Dominion machines to comment. I believe the criticism has been discredited.

[swaledale]

No I wouldn't be happy for what is clearly buying votes in this country or in USA for that matter - but USA do have a far dodgier history of voting malpractice. Doesn't make it right but a little more predictable perhaps. Trump's accusations vs Dominion voting machines may have been unproven but no smoke without fire?

Actually in reality it is perfectly possible t ahve smoke and no actual fire, but I digress. Dominion actually reached a $787 million settlement over claims made about their voting machines by Fox News.

[MadAmster]

... and now, it's surfaced that Jenrick has accepted a £25K donation from a firm, Access Industries (UK) Ltd, 6th floor, Marble Arch House, 66 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BT, owned by a sanctioned oligarch.

That Rizla paper is still the right thickness.

[Andy_Faber]

In the Labour Party manifesto they stated ‘we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT.’ That’s a direct lift from the manifesto, no rewording by me

This mornings news suggests they will

If they do, logic suggests they have lied their way to an election win just as much as the Leave campaign lied their way to Brexit

I repeat my mantra, ‘there are no clean hands in politic

[Geoff Parkstone]

It never fails to amaze me how politicians can't manage the basics of due diligence in the rush to grab cash. Surely a simple rule of thumb should be that if you can't identify the beneficial ownership of a corporate donor, just say "no"