Obama: Maybe it's time for mandatory voting

T

Techne

Honorary Master
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
12,864
Reaction score
1,615
Obama: Maybe it's time for mandatory voting

(CNN)The president whose major policy achievement is mandatory health insurance thinks maybe voting should be mandatory, too.

Asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement.
Click to expand...
Good idea. Without voter IDs it may be a bit hard to implement though...
 
Forcing people to vote now eh? That makes as much sense as the death penalty for attempted suicide... ;)

Voting ihmo should be voluntary, although now that I consider it, mandatory voting will provide a true reflection at the polls for each party.
 
Last edited:
There are quite a few countries where voting is compulsory. As a citizen you have an obligation to vote, you're allowed to spoil your vote but you must still participate.

I cannot stand these apathetic c*nts that always moan moan moan but never do anything about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting
 
I'd argue that this would only succeed in "progressive" societies. And frankly I'd not count the US as one of them. They have their fair share of social tension as well. Places like scandinavian countries & certain european countries could easily make it work.

[mandatory in my mind being "vote or pay 100 USD fine"]

>big money in politics

Yeah US politics is complete messed up on that front in general. Hardly relevant to this particular topic.
 
HavocXphere said:
I'd argue that this would only succeed in "progressive" societies. And frankly I'd not count the US as one of them. They have their fair share of social tension as well. Places like scandinavian countries & certain european countries could easily make it work.

[mandatory in my mind being "vote or pay 100 USD fine"]

>big money in politics

Yeah US politics is complete messed up on that front in general. Hardly relevant to this particular topic.
Click to expand...

It is, actually. The big money skews elections because of the disproportionate influence money has. If everyone votes that's could be countered to some extent.

Although, this is 'Murica, so expecting inane outrage over MAR FREEDUMSSS.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
It is, actually. The big money skews elections because of the disproportionate influence money has. If everyone votes that's could be countered to some extent.

Although, this is 'Murica, so expecting inane outrage over MAR FREEDUMSSS.
Click to expand...
Disagree.

That "everyone" you want voting is still very much subject to influences of media, campaigns etc. i.e. Wrong solution for the wrong problem. The way to fix the big money problem in politics is to remove the big money from politics (Wild theory - I know). Everything else is a BS solution.
 
HavocXphere said:
Disagree.

That "everyone" you want voting is still very much subject to influences of media, campaigns etc. i.e. Wrong solution for the wrong problem. The way to fix the big money problem in politics is to remove the big money from politics (Wild theory - I know). Everything else is a BS solution.
Click to expand...

Except now you have a disproportionate amount of people voting, swayed by the money, and not those who are indifferent/not swayed by money. If you get everyone, there's a chance it could level out.

But yeah, Citizens United is the rot.
 
ponder said:
There are quite a few countries where voting is compulsory. As a citizen you have an obligation to vote, you're allowed to spoil your vote but you must still participate.

I cannot stand these apathetic c*nts that always moan moan moan but never do anything about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting
Click to expand...
The republicans will fight this. They will see this as an attack on their God given right to be cu**s.
 
Typical regressives. Make more and more things compulsory. Increase the realm of State compulsion, reduce the realm of citizen liberty.

We have sufficient laws criminalising force and fraud, and they comport well with the Natural Law. The rest are superfluous.
 
Arthur said:
Typical regressives. Make more and more things compulsory. Increase the realm of State compulsion, reduce the realm of citizen liberty.

We have sufficient laws criminalising force and fraud, and they comport well with the Natural Law. The rest are superfluous.
Click to expand...

Scary thing is we have people who are all for this. I would think something like the government forcing the citizens to do something would be a no no to the people.
 
Include an option for "no confidence in any party?"
 
ponder said:
There are quite a few countries where voting is compulsory. As a citizen you have an obligation to vote, you're allowed to spoil your vote but you must still participate.

I cannot stand these apathetic c*nts that always moan moan moan but never do anything about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting
Click to expand...

what about these apathetic ****s that don't moan but just want to be left alone?

also say 3000 people don't vote, now you have 3000 spoiled votes or 3000 votes for the party that you didn't want to win in the first place? imagine the ANC with a 80% majority, all because voting is "mandatory"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X