Sign up with GoogleQuite the contrary, if you feel that you have been forced out of your homeland because of racist government policies or a lack of safety, I think you have every right to vote. How else will change occur.
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South African Expat Voting Rights
- Thread starter cerebus
- Start date
Quite the contrary, if you feel that you have been forced out of your homeland because of racist government policies or a lack of safety, I think you have every right to vote. How else will change occur.
Pitbull
Verboten
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2006
- Messages
- 64,308
Where in the UK do you live ?
Cos it aint all you're making it out to be
Racism is rife in the UK. Pakies as they call them there as getting it bad there, prob the worst racism I have ever seen. In SA I haven't seen much as I missed the whole appartheid bus. Eish, how can you go and talk crap like this ?
My Sister in-law is here now for a visit from the UK flying back on the 5th of December. I have been on and off in the UK for about 4 years collectively. Sure it's not SA but it's also not paradise you make it out to be
Where in the UK do you live ?
Cos it aint all you're making it out to be
Eish, how can you go and talk crap like this ?
My Sister in-law is here now for a visit from the UK flying back on the 5th of December. I have been on and off in the UK for about 4 years collectively. Sure it's not SA but it's also not paradise you make it out to be
London, and no. its not paradise. That doesnt exist. Ofc its not perfect, but I doubt a rape suspect would get elected in the UK. Inflation is around 2%. There is a real economy and real police force, not that gang you call SAPS.
Well, turn your question around. Why *shouldn't* someone have dual-citizenship?
Nationality is kind of arbitrary anyway. There's no reason you should be forced to live and work in the country you were born in. It's not like you had much of a say in the matter...
Okay, but how do we feel about a "South African" also being a "Brit" ?
Surely that's just BS?
Pick one or get out.
or
Yea, okay ... you're loyal to both countries and you'll just sit on the fence if we go to war we'll politely pass you over and not shoot you like the traitor you are ...
I don't like it.
Surely that's just BS?
Pick one or get out.
or
Yea, okay ... you're loyal to both countries and you'll just sit on the fence if we go to war we'll politely pass you over and not shoot you like the traitor you are ...
I don't like it.
Dunno, can you have 10 different parents? I view my dual-citizenship as my cultural heritage. Same as some guy waving a traditional weapon, shillelagh or assegai, it's all the same.
I agree. Make a choice and stick with it.
Ofc, I think that a distinction needs to made between people who have decided to leave for good(like myself) and people who travel on business. If you are out of the country on business or temprory contract, you should get the chance to vote.
Eh? Why? What's wrong with it? I'm willing to bet that you (along with most other South Africans) are part Brit, part Cloggie, part Kraut, part Frog and part <inoffensive term of endearment for black people>...
No. I share this opinion. I recently moved to the UK on the highly skilled visa. I intend to make it my home and therefore this where I will be voting. I cant vote in the parlementary elections yet, but I can in the local elections, which I did do recently. If voting is allowed for SA expats in London, I wont be voting.
I think it should be allowed for people on temp contracts or on business trips, but how do you tell the difference?
The number of expats is probably not going to make any difference, so why not just open it up anyway. Its more important that those entitled to vote are given the opportunity. You cant deny someone their rights just because you think it wont make a difference anyway. Afterall, where will that lead to and who will decide whose vote is not significant?? Why not exclude that little community out in the middle of nowhere. Heck. its only 100 people. Cost too much, and the roads are messed up........... Convenient for a politician to be able exclude some people isnt it?
LoneGunman
Expert Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2003
- Messages
- 4,552
If you're born somewhere, its really no ones business if you later move elsewhere, but choose to exercise your rights as a citizen of your birth country.
Some people on this thread seem to see SA as a schoolyard kindergarten jungle gym where people are clustered from it and anyone who steps off it, is somehow a loser, and not entitled to the same rights as those who stay clutching the jungle gym.
In the big adult world, these attitudes are childish - if your birth country gives you basic rights, you're free to exercise them, irrespective of where in the world you are (except usually, if you're in jail for having broken the law).
Economic migration is a part of the modern global trends. You go where you need to go, to make the bucks. End of issue. Ignore the bullies and fat kids hanging from the jungle gym, trying to make it seem like they own the little schoolyard.
There's a bigger reality at work than their perception can grasp.
Some people on this thread seem to see SA as a schoolyard kindergarten jungle gym where people are clustered from it and anyone who steps off it, is somehow a loser, and not entitled to the same rights as those who stay clutching the jungle gym.
In the big adult world, these attitudes are childish - if your birth country gives you basic rights, you're free to exercise them, irrespective of where in the world you are (except usually, if you're in jail for having broken the law).
Economic migration is a part of the modern global trends. You go where you need to go, to make the bucks. End of issue. Ignore the bullies and fat kids hanging from the jungle gym, trying to make it seem like they own the little schoolyard.
There's a bigger reality at work than their perception can grasp.
Xarog
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2006
- Messages
- 19,039
I think that's rather irrelevant.If a person does not want to be a citizen? They would have to demonstate a reasonable expectation that their situation is temporary.
Those that have left becuase they can't stand this country as some have said. Should not be allowed to vote.
Thats just my personal feeling. And as for "partisan fiddling of the system for political expediancy", why do you think the DA is making this request?
A lot of their traditional support base has packed up and left the country.
How many of the people leaving and those having left, left because they felt their safety had wellbeing had been threatened? Many if not most of them. Every other day, someone moans about the braindrain. Every other day someone else emigrates taking all their wealth and knowledge with them. Aside from the fact that they can be regarded as a natural resource, the fact of the matter is that many of them still regard themselves as South Africans with an interest in the country. Giving them a voice through voting means giving them the ability to influence their country in such a way that maybe one day they'll feel they can return.
I've considered leaving for safer shores. Personally, though, I will always regard South Africa as my home, no matter where I happen to be living. This attitude of scorn at those who are leaving has to stop. We're fractured enough as it is; we don't need to pour salt in the wound.
so much banter about "rights" and "my rights" and the like.
I live here in SA, I have little, if any rights.
And if you think one vote in 20 million makes a difference, you're mistaken. It's like saying the light of a star is enough to make a difference to how dark your lounge is in the absence of the moon.
You guys just keep telling yourselves that your one vote counts. Mathematically it's such a small difference, it is negligible. Even if 1000 people didn't vote it would still not measure anything.
I live here in SA, I have little, if any rights.
And if you think one vote in 20 million makes a difference, you're mistaken. It's like saying the light of a star is enough to make a difference to how dark your lounge is in the absence of the moon.
You guys just keep telling yourselves that your one vote counts. Mathematically it's such a small difference, it is negligible. Even if 1000 people didn't vote it would still not measure anything.
Even photons from stars exert a quantifiable pressure. The 2009 elections may be the last chance to turn things around for S.A.
A pressure so small you won't feel it in your lifetime. Last chance? Last chance for doing the chicken run to AUS or NZ perhaps?
Misconstrue my post if you must - it was neutral and harmless enough.
Cranking up the level from "moaning" to "combative" only reveals more of your attitude in the "chicken run" mentality you attribute to me.