gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (V Governments Afraid)
Douglas Berry ([personal profile] gridlore) wrote2006-10-10 06:45 pm
Entry tags:

What part of "secret ballot" escapes you?

Just got a call from one of the San Jose mayoral hopeful's campaigns.

She kept asking if I was voting for Candidate A.

I kept replying that I feel the ballot is secret for a reason, and do not answer polls like this. It seemed an odd concept for her to swallow.

Then we were off on the "let me spin the issues for you" phase of the call. I cut that short as well.

*sigh* I may well unplug the phone until November.

[identity profile] aurictech.livejournal.com 2006-10-11 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Here's a suggested answer in such cases:

"I have considered voting for Candidate A. If you continue to pester me, I shall look more favorably on voting for Candidate B."
kengr: (Default)

[personal profile] kengr 2006-10-13 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Which may be exactly what they want.

It was rather enlightening to read Heinlein's account of how "electioneering" was done back in the late 40s. things like getting obnoxious folks (including having them eat something that'd give them bad breath) handing out literature for the opposing candidate.

And gluing posters over the drivers side of the windshield on parked cars late at night.

In short, if someone is pissing you off, they may well be doing it on purpose to make you dislike the candidate they are supposedly in favor of.
kengr: (Default)

[personal profile] kengr 2006-10-13 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
Since you can't be sue *which* candidate they are actually working for (see my other comment) just tell them to go away and hang up.