Ebay And Prosecutorial Stupidity!!

So, let me get this straight. A couple in Europe puts their baby up for sale on Ebay. They say it's a joke, and their child is returned to them. They face no charges. But a guy in the U.S. puts his vote up for sale on Ebay, and he's charged with a felony?

Baby that German couple put up for eBay sale is back home after investigation dropped

A prosecutor says a baby boy whose parents offered to sell him on eBay for as little as euro (US$1.50) is back home.

Investigators have dropped a probe into possible child-trafficking that had led to the child being placed in the care of youth services in the southwestern Allgaeu region. Prosecutor Johannes Kreuzpointer has told The Associated Press on Thursday, "The child has been returned to his parents."

The 23-year-old mother and 24-year-old-father have maintained that the ad posting was just a joke gone awry.

"Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 28 inches (70 cm) long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller," read the original ad that ran on May 24.

No bids were received in the two hours and 30 minutes before the ad was taken down.

Minneapolis Teen Charged for Trying to Sell His Vote on eBay

MINNEAPOLIS — A University of Minnesota student claimed it was all a joke when he put his vote in this fall’s presidential election up for sale on the Web auction site eBay. But prosecutors didn’t see the humor in the stunt.

Max P. Sanders, 19, was charged with a felony Thursday in Hennepin County District Court after allegedly asking for a minimum of $10 in exchange for voting for the bidder’s preferred candidate. “Good luck!” Sanders wrote under the eBay handle zepdrummer612. “You’re (sic) country depends on You!”

Sanders was charged with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.

According to a criminal complaint, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office learned about the offering on the Web site and told prosecutors. Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and got information that led to Sanders.

“We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote,” said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. “There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, ‘I can be bought.’

“It’s a real shame,” he said. “I can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether this is a joke or not.”

The scarcely used law had its heyday in the 1920s, when many people sold their votes in exchange for liquor, Assistant County Attorney Pat Diamond said. Diamond said he believed his office responded appropriately in charging Sanders, a liberal arts major from Edina.

“There are two things going on here in terms of why it’s a crime,” he said. “One is the notion that elections should be a contest of ideas and not of pocketbooks — at least not in the sense of straight-out ‘I can buy your vote.’ The second notion is that everybody gets one vote and you don’t get to buy another one.”

Sanders and his attorney, Steven Levine, declined to comment Thursday. The charge carries up to five years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

As for the offer on eBay? It got no bids.

Wow, talk about a complete waste of money and time. The fact that they're seriously going to prosecute this case is just pathetic. If this isn't a case of prosecutorial stupidity, I don't know what is. Five years and a $10,000 fine? Please!! I think the state of Minnesota has better things to spend their time and money on.

On another note, I'm really sick and tired of people bringing the damn military into everything in this country. Shut the hell up already!! I'm tired of hearing about how everything I do or say is because the military gave me that right. What's next? I can wipe my ass because the military gave me that right? Geez!!

“There are two things going on here in terms of why it’s a crime,” he said. “One is the notion that elections should be a contest of ideas and not of pocketbooks — at least not in the sense of straight-out ‘I can buy your vote.’ The second notion is that everybody gets one vote and you don’t get to buy another one.”

That's pretty laughable if you ask me. The politicians sell their votes to the highest bidder all the time. When are we going to throw them in jail?

Everyone gets one vote? Well, everyone except for the people in Florida and Michigan. They only get half a vote. Remember, they're only half a person!!