Should voting be compulsory?

[Captain Slog]

It just amazes me how in this day and age, people just couldn't give a damn. Especially in SA, rather let someone else do it and then we can bitch and moan later when things are a screw up

For the first time ever I agree with marine1!

 

[STS]

In his ideal world there would be no politicians or government, just business so you won't be able to vote for him.

i know, i meant for it to be ironic, i feel his ideals and views are best

 

[rainynight65]

The biggest fallacy of democracy as it is practised in many countries is that the democratic process is reduced to paying taxes, and voting every couple of years. Then you get to watch your elect representatives for four or five years and if you're lucky they don't screw up too badly. But anything they do in those years is completely out of your control. If they want to send the army to another country, they don't ask you if you agree. If they decide to bail out a few banks that got themselves into crap, they don't care if you think that's not a prudent use of your tax money. If they buy a new airplane for the president instead of improving education or health care, all you can do is watch. Sure, you can vote for someone else next time, but by then the **** has already happened.

If democracy were to involve people in more ways than just the passive voting process, you might find that more things happen the way they should.

 

[porchrat]

If democracy were to involve people in more ways than just the passive voting process, you might find that more things happen the way they should.

I think you'd find that if every time a country needed to do something it had to go and get the opinions of every citizen then nothing would get done. We'd spend our whole year having votes.

 

[rainynight65]

I am not saying every time something needs to get done there should be a a vote. But certain decisions with a major impact should still carry one.

 

[ponder]

If democracy were to involve people in more ways than just the passive voting process, you might find that more things happen the way they should.

I think you'd find that if every time a country needed to do something it had to go and get the opinions of every citizen then nothing would get done. We'd spend our whole year having votes.

I am not saying every time something needs to get done there should be a a vote. But certain decisions with a major impact should still carry one.

You're referring to a direct democracy of which there is only one I think, Switzerland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_in_Switzerland

 

[proxilin]

You're referring to a direct democracy of which there is only one I think, Switzerland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_in_Switzerland

For that to work I'd imagine the average citizen should be well educated and know about current affairs, foreign policy, world economy, etc. People have to make educated, informed and well reasoned decisions. That simply won't work in SA.