CONTEST: Should not be for sale

Here we go again. The Cd’A Press Cutest Baby Contest is back. The newspaper advertises that there is a $10 entry fee per baby photo. One free vote per family is accepted each day. What they fail to mention is that additional votes can be cast with a ballot and donation.

Those who managed to afford the $10 entry fee probably believe that the “contest” is decided by the number of votes for each baby. Not so. If you can afford it, you can purchase as many as 200 votes a day. (That’s what $50 will get you.) The definition of a contest is a competition for a prize or title with the winner being chosen by a group of judges. Maybe I need a new dictionary.

The Press says that a portion of this money goes to charity. This does not change the fact that allowing votes to be bought is not a contest. Let’s do the math; a $500 Hagadone prize goes to the family with the most votes. Not bad if you can afford it.

Why don’t we call this what it really is… the “Richest Baby Contest.”

VONNIE McNEASE

Coeur d’Alene