Axe Wielding Maniac

Purple Finger a low tech solution to voter apathy

It is estimated that nearly 40% of Americans do not vote. Many of the youngest and the poorest Americans do not vote. And the number one reason I get from self professed non voters is that voting does not matter. This apathy is spreading like wildfire throughout the population. The 2004 US Presidential election the turn out was 60.93% however the 2005 Iraqi election turnout was 98%. Under threat of violence 98% of eligible Iraqi voters went to the polls cast a vote and then to keep them from voting again a finger had to be dipped in purple ink. The world Press for weeks forecast that the purple finger would deter voters due to the threat from terrorist that voters would be killed. The press was amazed at the defiant turnout however as I thought it out and I realized that it was the purple ink. How could one show his face in public the next few days without the indelible ink on ones finger?

Maybe we can shame Americans into a more rallied voter turnout if we ask each voter to dip his or her finger in purple ink after voting. Any one of voting age with no ink stained pinkies could be dissed by there fellow citizens causing them to be doubly

Civic minded businessmen could give discounts and special access to patrons with purple digits bars especially could refuse to sell to patrons during polling hours who have not done there civic duty.