Politicians have long been for distributing gifts to constituents to win votes. I am sure that back in the old Roman Empire - when it was still a democracy, of course - there were politicians hand out wheat or something or other to win a Senate seat.

American politicians engage in the same bride. Back then brides were explicit. A politician may literally hand over a gift for votes. Today, things are a little less blatant. Politicians promise things and then bring home the pork when elected. This is not illegal, they say, just the business of politics.

In other less developed democracies, actually brides still take place. Brazil is known for vote buying. And in Iraq’s recent regional elections, parties were actually handing out SIM cars for voted.

Iran is no different. Now, contrary to what many may believe, Iran is a democracy - albeit one greatly limited by clerical powers. Nonetheless, Iranian candidates for parliament and the presidency must win actual free elections. And that buffoon known as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is up for reelection his June. The economy has been wrecked by his populist policies and sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear program, and many Iranians feel embarrassed by Ahmadinejad’s public image; so the conservative president faces a tough reelection.

Instead of offering new policies, he seeks an easy way, one paved by potatoes. Yes, potatoes:

In the past, Ahmadinejad has been accused of distributing free potatoes to gain people’s vote ahead of the June presidential election.

Apparently, that is all it takes to secure votes among some Iranians. Can you blame them? The economic picture has only worsen, it is not surprising that many Iranians would take potatoes.

An election bought by butatas.