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I voted
First time, ever.
Addendum: By the way, it took me less than 3 minutes (I was surprised) and I got a free coffee at Starbucks. Not bad on instrumental or expressive grounds.
Posted by Alex Tabarrok on November 4, 2008 at 09:27 AM in Political Science | Permalink
Comments
Starbucks is buying votes?
Posted by: at Nov 4, 2008 9:36:39 AM
Ben and Jerrys and Krispy Kreme are giving away free food for voting too!
Posted by: pants at Nov 4, 2008 9:42:26 AM
I voted boldly, and ordered today's bold blend. At my store, today's bold brew is "Thanksgiving Roast".
The women behind me asked me if it tasted like turkey. The man behind him said, "first we vote for turkeys, now we have to drink them?"
A larger than normal crowd at Starbucks this morning, but a bit more joviality in line than usual.
Posted by: ZBicyclist at Nov 4, 2008 9:44:34 AM
You turned 18, or became a US citizen, in the last 4 years?
Posted by: Martin at Nov 4, 2008 9:46:39 AM
Sellout!!!!
Posted by: Angus at Nov 4, 2008 9:47:39 AM
Sellout!!!!
Posted by: Angus at Nov 4, 2008 9:48:36 AM
Sellout!!!!
Posted by: Angus at Nov 4, 2008 9:48:40 AM
I voted libertarian based on the idea that politicians are whores and will do whatever they think the people want. I hope that by voting libertarian I am signaling that I want them to do much less. I especially hope that see a vote for the libertarian (Bob Barr) as a vote against the War on Drugs.
Posted by: floccina at Nov 4, 2008 9:50:03 AM
"Free" coffee. "Free" food.
TINSTFC or TINSTFF.
:-)
Posted by: Amicus at Nov 4, 2008 9:55:01 AM
Took me an hour and a half. I had three small kids with me.
Posted by: holmegm at Nov 4, 2008 10:01:44 AM
Given the cost of only 3 minutes, and the neglected benefits of the coffee reward (not to mention that "I voted today" sticker you get to display to impress your friends with your "dutiful citizen" cred), do you suppose economics may as well give up on any more papers why, despite negative expectations, people bother to vote?
Posted by: Jens Fiederer at Nov 4, 2008 10:04:40 AM
especially hope that see a vote for the libertarian (Bob Barr) as a vote against the War on Drugs.
Interesting point to put in a thread that started with the mention of a chain
that's made its fortune supplying strong coffee with high doses of cream & sugar, selling
at high prices.
Posted by: Phil at Nov 4, 2008 10:07:04 AM
Starbucks might be in trouble:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aIBd9wa0Xh7U&refer=us
Posted by: Jeremy at Nov 4, 2008 10:15:20 AM
What ever happened to regular old coffee-flavored coffee?
And what ever happened to politicians who left well enough alone, too?
Posted by: Tim at Nov 4, 2008 10:18:18 AM
I just voted for the first time over a decade, but there's no way I'm taking time out of my day to go to Starbucks.
Posted by: Some Random Economist at Nov 4, 2008 10:19:04 AM
Okay, that settles it, I'm going to cancel Alex by not voting.
Posted by: Andrew at Nov 4, 2008 10:20:12 AM
Economists sure can make such a big deal out of such a simple thing.
Posted by: l4k at Nov 4, 2008 10:37:05 AM
Wow, Alex. I used to have so much respect for you.
Posted by: Zac at Nov 4, 2008 10:41:28 AM
I was going to vote this morning, but the line had 100+ people in it, so I left after 10 minutes waiting.
Posted by: Andy at Nov 4, 2008 10:41:53 AM
Do I need to show one of those "I voted" stickers to get the free coffee? I ran out of the polling booth before they gave one to me!
I have my Voter ID card on me, though...
Posted by: Robert Olson at Nov 4, 2008 10:49:28 AM
So... Why is this the first time you've voted? Age? Citizenship? Apathy? Complicated rationalizations that 'my vote doesn't count' or 'the system is rigged'? Lazy?
Posted by: Dave at Nov 4, 2008 10:57:35 AM
"Economists sure can make such a big deal out of such a simple thing."
I'll be disappointed if Alex doesn't get a 60 page paper out of it.
I think they should give out those "I gave blood" stickers for voting.
Posted by: Andrew at Nov 4, 2008 11:00:06 AM
Strange year to decide to finally vote.
Or maybe Alex was just trying to cancel out Tyler's vote for Obama?
Posted by: Mercutio.Mont at Nov 4, 2008 11:03:59 AM
"Not bad on instrumental or expressive grounds."
You mean espresso grounds, right?
Posted by: Michael Drake at Nov 4, 2008 11:08:27 AM
I waited 90 minutes in line in DC (even though I got there only 15 minutes after the polls opened). A coworker of mine waited two hours. The likelihood of our individual Presidential votes mattering, or the votes of anyone else in line with us, is about as close to exactly zero as you can get in this election.
Apparently some people still believe in moral responsibility. ;-)
Posted by: Lee at Nov 4, 2008 11:08:34 AM
