I read today an article on Al Jazeera and it made my stomach churn with anger!
The 2009 elections are drawing near in Lebanon and it is now an open fact that ALL sides are paying big amounts of cash to buy votes from voters. I heard of cases where entire families were being given airline tickets, accomodation and extra cash for their trouble on the day.
Once upon a time, when a more dignified Lebanon existed, such shameless activites were regarded not only as immoral but illegal. Anyone caught red handed, bribing voters or receiving a bribe for a vote was arrested and jailed. Now things are different in this modern day silicone and material driven Lebanon where anything goes.
The buying of votes is detrimental to both voters and candidates alike. Voters will end up bringing to power a corrupt and law breaking individual and the candidate him or herself will end up with an audience of corrupt supporters who follow the Dollar rather than ethics.
Obviously, most candidates do not care... this is their stepping stone to vaster riches and to make more money by getting bribed themselves byt the powers that be...
Long live Lebanon 
