In this thread, I started to repond to this comment by mswas, but didn’t want to hijack the thread.
I strongly disagree.
Not voting is stupid and irresponsible, not “sacred”. Frankly, the idea that it’s OK not to vote is ruining this country; the loonies are in charge because loonies vote.
Everyone should vote, as this is supposed to be a democracy; those who don’t aren’t pulling their own weight. Frankly, I think we should do something like add an extra tax to those who don’t vote to make up for it. Who knows, that might even bestir them into actually fullfilling their civil responsibilities.
So, what say the Dopers ? Am I over the top, or is mswas in error ?
Definitely over the top. Not voting may suggest apathy, it may also suggest disgust with the entire system. Granted, as a way of protesting the way things are done it probably does not register on the scale, but nonetheless it could be seen as such
Voting is not compulsory nor should it be. Ever. It is a privilege and frankly, most folks aren’t even equal to the task. Less stupid people should vote. This privilege should be better defended [and taught] so that it’s more effective. What you propose is far less effective.
“Political corruption begins with every voter who votes his pocketbook instead of for what’s good for the country. There is little difference between the selling of his vote by an elected official and the selling of his vote by a voter, to whatever candidate promises him some benefit.”
– Jon Roland, campaign speech for Congress, 1974
How is that a benefit of democracy ? It sounds more like a negation of it.
That’s nice in theory, but in reality it amounts to letting the system roll right over you. If you don’t vote, you hand control over to those who do.
Voting is a right, not a privilege; I also think it should be an obligation. You may think the majority of people are too stupid to run their own lives ( a very undemocratic attitude ); I disagree. More to the point, they have the right to do so. We have all sorts of laws and regulations to keep people from doing stupid/unthinking things; why not one about something this important ?
If voting is a ‘right’, especially if you call it a ‘civil right’ then by definition it can not be taken away. Rights can not be lost, for then they would not be ‘rights’. Privileges can be lost (ask any teenager!), but not rights. Also, ‘rights’ belong to everyone equally, so if you have any rules about voting, it can not be a ‘right’. Many countries have a minimum voting age. Well, since many countries are filled with convicted criminals that can not vote, as well as underage people that can not vote, voting can not be legally considered a ‘right’.
Voting is a right. It is not a privilege. Please do not mix the two.
I have the right to vote. Inherent in that right is my personal choice to actively participate in that right by casting a ballot. Also inherent in that right is my personal choice not to participate if that be the case. The privilege of my decision whether I choose to cast a ballot, or not, solely belongs to me.
They are voting for “none of the above” in all categories. They are excercising their FREEDOM to do what they want to do on election day.
How is this different in a system where the ignorant vote for candidates they do not know?
It would be an obligation at the expense of their right to self-determination. If the majority is not ignorant and votes, then they are not too stupid to vote. If the majority is ignorant, then the majority is too stupid to vote. How is it smart to vote when you are ignorant? Also, how do you plan to enforce this? Are you suggesting we create another bureaucratic agency for which we must pay taxes in order to create a government that FORCES us to do things we don’t want to?
In this case, I think it is leaving people with their RIGHT not to do stupid and unthinking things. Like vote for a candidate unthinkingly.
Not to take too much issue with this, but Roland’s a bit inaccurate. Political corrupution actually begins with every elected representative who votes the pocketbooks of his constituency. The public then perpetuates it by re-electing these hogs-at-the-trough.
How 'bout on every ballot there’s a box we could check for “none of the above.” If that selection garners a simple majority, the office goes unfilled. Then we’d have a true measure of the apathy of the citizenry. I say this only half in jest.
Requiring them to go to the polling station is impinging their freedom. Freedom first, Demoracy next. The Government should be subservient to the populace, not the other way around, that’s the major flaw here.
Everyone has the right to vote or not to vote. However if you don’t vote I don’t see how you can complain about the government. You turned down your chance to have your say, shut up now.
In Canada, at least, you can go to the polling station and refuse your vote. This, IMO, is a much more effective way of registering your displeasure with the current political scene. It shows that you do care, you just feel you don’t have a viable option. If you just don’t vote, IMO, it just looks like you are to lazy/stupid/ignorant to find one single issue that you care about, and vote solely on that. That may not be the best way to vote, but at least your voice can be heard.
I may be wrong, but I seem to recall that in Australia you basically HAVE to vote. If you don’t you can be fined. As well voting day is a holiday. Of course this could be a load of baloney.
An Australian politics professor I recently spoke with told me voting is in fact compulsory. They also have a runoff system.
In the U.S. Election day is a federal holiday and schools, public institutions and banks and many businesses are closed in order to remove financial disincentive from participating.
See, I see one of the side-effects of freedom as the right to be lazy/stupid/ignorant, and still have the right to complain about the system. Let people complain all they want, it’s not like you’re required to listen.
