As we hear of $2
million briberies happening in USA, it's suggested by some writers that bribery of all sorts has tended to be part of America's history. One of the better-known type of briberies have been in the matter of voting for political candidates.
Back in George Washington's
time it seems that the bribery took the form of alcohol. Potential voters were plied with alcohol either to stay away from the voting booth, or to attend and
cast their vote for a specific candidate.
According to one article George Washington was not in favour of all the drinking that was going on in
America, and certainly was not interested in the shoddy business of plying
people with drink just to get their vote. In 1755 he lost his first election
big time. And apparently learned his lesson.
His second bid to
get elected was very different from the first. Instead of expecting potential voters just to turn up on the day and vote for him because he was such a great guy, he
did what other candidates were doing, provided them with alcohol. A lot of
alcohol. 50 gallons of rum punch, 46 gallons of beer, 28 gallons of rum, and 34
gallons of wine, to be exact.
He won.
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