How appropriate! It’s Fat Tuesday, that famously gluttonous (is this a word?) day before many Catholics observe Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent in which many resolve to give something up as a sort of penance. You’re supposed to give something up: smoking, drinking, eating red meat, whatever. You’re supposed to keep this up until Easter, that other most holy of days that symbolizes a rebirth, and a return to the bacchanalian life that you usually lead for the rest of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

So you’ve got free donuts and a free scoop of ice cream. Now on November 4, Starbucks wants to reward you voters with a free cup of coffee. Launched last night on “Saturday Night Live”, the commercial, part of the “Shared Planet” campaign, states that everyone who votes will get a cup of Starbucks coffee. Sounds like a deal. Now would you believe there are people who actually have a problem with this? KCBS-TV in Los Angeles apparently has questioned the legality of providing what could be seen as bribes to voters.

There is a California Elections Code, section 18521 (b), which prohibits rewarding people for voting or not voting. Another California companion statute contains similar language, saying the law is meant to prevent people from being bribed with money, food or alcohol. Technically speaking, any violation of the law could get you a prison sentence of 16 months to 3 years. Read the rest of this entry »