Should voting be mandatory?
- Thread starter shagster01
- Start date
annabenedetti
like marbles on glass
Tyrathca
New member
Thats not as reassuring as you seem to think it is. Theoretically it only takes a few to "go rogue" to change an election result and what is to stop them doing it for their own political ends or a few well hidden bribes? The answer is very little since they face little to no repercussions for their choice.
But hey if you're happy to just leave it all to trusting a bunch of unaccountable faceless men.... It just strikes me as a risky way to run a democracy.
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Tyrathca
New member
Australia ??
Our system is far from perfect either but there are a few aspects that I think your country would benefit from borrowing. Conversely there are some things from your country which I definitely think my country would benefit from borrowing too.
Same reasons your opinion matters on anything else? Or in your opinion are only American's (or just you?!?) entitled to opinions about things beyond your own borders?
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America is not a pure democracy, and it has never chose wrong. The Founding Fathers knew what they were doing, it is easier to rig a popular election than an electoral college. Ask Hillary
lain:The liberals in the UK would have maybe done well if they had the system we had- Brexit was decided by, what, 3 percent?-
you really like to have countries make monumental decisions on such small majorities?
Here in America, '50/50' doesn't sit well for large matters. The most important of things, such as a change in the US Constitution, requires a 75% vote (gun control :chuckle
, and matters below that a 2/3 vote. The philosophy is about protecting interests from sudden surges of pubic opinion or reaction.
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Daniel1769
New member
None. When Jesus comes back, He can rule the earth with a rod of iron from His throne.
Saxon Hammer
New member
No voting is not a vote in anyway - There should be a 'No vote' option on all voting papers so that this 'no confidence' vote can be registered. If not try a big black marker and 'X' you voting slip this may cause you personally a problem however if the remaining 60% of the population did vote like this the message would be clear.
Most non-voting is due to lack of confidence in ones own choice and/or in the system and plain laziness.
Saxon Hammer
New member
On topic - I do think voting should be part of our society's right of passage to adulthood and should be compulsory.
Not unless you couple it with passing a standardized test like every legal immigrant has to pass to be recognized as an informed citizen. Do you really want people who can't find D.C. on a map or tell you who their state senators are being pushed into voting booths? You think they're going to suddenly invest in becoming informed members of the electorate, making careful and deliberate choices? Or do you think we'll get the political equivalent of Boaty McBoatface?
Saxon Hammer
New member
Yes I agree - However as I referred to the right of passage to adulthood the correct statement now would be.
Society needs to teach their young to be more mindful of politics as part of the passage to adulthood if the current path would lead to the outcome you have suggested. This is a little off topic as it about our children and their ability to shoulder their true burden when becoming adult.
Also - just a note I am not American and this topic is not restricted to the U.S.A. as far as I am aware so some of the more colourful rhetoric that is purely based on mood and feeling of your (another's) individual society is not always readily understood - So I have to ignore potential information because it is delivered in this fashion. I do not like doing that with people's posts but I find it the only way to cope with the emotional context that is always part of comment ('colourful rhetoric').
ok doser
lifeguard at the cement pond
Saxon Hammer
New member
Saxon Hammer
New member
I would love to live there - It is all teenage wanna-be gangsters and rush and efficiency (which is NOT when applied to people) here 20 miles out of Cambridge - England - UK
You have it backwards.
I did not mean that Conservatives are generally stupid; I meant, that stupid persons are generally Conservative. I believe that to be so obvious and undeniable a fact that I hardly think any hon. Gentleman will question it.
John Stuart Mill
Do smart people tend to be more liberal? Yes, but it doesn’t mean all conservatives are stupid.
A conservative person also subscribes to conventional religious beliefs and has a sense of belonging to and pride in a group with which they identify. The same person is likely to be less open to intellectual challenges and will be seen as a responsible “good citizen” at work and in society, while expressing rather harsh views toward those outside their group.
Up to 16% of “conservative syndrome” is reportedly due to low cognitive ability.
Overall, smart people tend to be socially liberal in their outlook. It was also found that countries whose citizens score low on international tests of mathematics achievement tend to be more conservative in their political outlooks and policies.
https://theconversation.com/do-smar...oesnt-mean-all-conservatives-are-stupid-57713
Research pretty much backs up what Mill wrote. Conservatives aren't necessarily stupid, but stupid people are generally conservative.