I have learned of a website that is into the business of predicting the outcome of the election, their method is interesting and they purport it to be very accurate... I wonder if we can make a serious tilt into their process...
A few streets from my apartment there is this locally owned restaurant that I completely love. It is called Devine Pastabilities(if you're ever in San Diego, you should make the time to visit this totally rocking place). I go there, at the very least, once a month and also every time I have family or friends in town, because they absolutely love the food, the outstanding service, the costumer-friendly ambient, but most importantly, (did I mention) the food (?), which is equally gorgeously presented as it is satisfying to the palate, the tummy, and the wallet.
For the past few months Devine Pastabilities has been hosting a poll that tracks, along with many other restaurants on a national level, the Presidential race. This poll can be found at www.ForkOverYourVote.com and they purport that the accuracy of their polling is relevant and can predict the outcome of the election. Obviously, after every visit to Devine's I have cast my vote (in the form of a dried macaronni) for Barack.
Finally today --after many weeks of thinking about it but always leaving it in the back of my mind-- I decided to take a look at how the web site was tracking nation-wide. I almost lost it. They show McCain on the lead, 53% to Obama's 45.6% (and 1.4% for others) with a total of 192,780 votes cast so far. I think is ludicrous, but at the same time, I see opportunity.
So, here's the idea I came up with. I wonder if we could flex our collective muscle and mobilize all of our Kossacks and affect this poll directly?
My idea is that we could have a very positive effect on our local economies by investing (even if it's a little) in our own small businesses by paying a visit to the locally owned restaurants listed in the ForkOverYourVote map. All you have to do is click on your state to bring up the list of restaurants participating there, and if you see one that is nearby, pay a visit, take your family or friends, enjoy a good meal from a local, true mom n' pops shop, and most importantly cast your dry pasta or jelly bean or gummy bear vote for Barack.
The possibilities are endless. We can affect the public psyche, we can make a progressive dent in local politics while supporting our local economies, and who knows, you might find a new hometown favorite restaurant that, to-date you had not ever heard of.
So c'mon people! Go Fork Over Your Vote!!