NationStates Jolt Archive

Well i want to declare that i think that we should not be forcing people to vote if they have nothing to say to the government and i think that if people try to make people vote i think they are a terrible leader to their nation

Dracuncula obliges every citizen to vote. It is a civic duty. It is the best way to ensure that democracy is fully representative of the will of the people. Not voting gives undue power to people who are not stupid, and those are the dangerous ones.

It also keeps the people busy so they don't get bored and do something foolish like talk politics or get involved in government business.

You would think that forcing everybody to vote would result in a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions, but it does not. Not the way we count votes.

Besides, stupid people have something to contribute to the fund of common knowledge. It isn't much, but it all adds up. Dracunculans are sensible of the maxim that many a copper Kreplach makes a heavy pile of money if you don't convert it to banknotes eventually.

On the other hand, military service and jury duty are too important to be left to everybody because intelligence is sometimes of use in War or in the Courts, so no one is obliged to join the militias or a jury unless they have nothing better to do and can afford to pay the registration fee.

Indeed, forcing one's citizens to vote is a travesty. Why trouble them with matters of politics that they know nothing about? We've made things a lot simpler; they don't vote at all!

Arman Grimwald
Lord of Foreign Relations

If you have compulsory voting, the candidates target the people who can't think for themselves and otherwise wouldn't have voted. (re Australia and the interest rates thing)

I agree that forcing people to vote is silly, for reasons stated by Monkeypimp. People should have to take a test to vote, a test to see that they actually know and understand the issues/candidates they're voting on. If they get a passing grade, they get to vote. If they don't, tough fucking luck.

I agree that forcing people to vote is silly, for reasons stated by Monkeypimp. People should have to take a test to vote, a test to see that they actually know and understand the issues/candidates they're voting on. If they get a passing grade, they get to vote. If they don't, tough fucking luck.

I like that idea. But to take it a step further, people should have to state what elections they want to vote on some time before entering polling places. This way, their only votes will go toward issues they have at least heard of. :)

Ok, it is our duty to vote - but remember, we also have the right to abstain from voting, no matter how stupid that may be.

in acompulsary voting state - is it illegal to spoil your ballot paper?

Unfortunately, the way I see it, it's the best way to do democracy. I support compulsory voting, because if we didn't have it in Australia, we would stand even less chance of electing the opposition....might as well have a one party state :rolleyes:

Not to mention the amount of youth that are apathetic....

I think it works better our way. We get a fair spread across the population.

Now, to tackle media ownership and stop them influencing the vote so much ;)

in acompulsary voting state - is it illegal to spoil your ballot paper?

No, you just have to show up and get your name marked off. You can then wipe the paper on your arse and drop it in if you're so inclined.

Now, to tackle media ownership and stop them influencing the vote so much ;)GOOOD LUCK ON THAT ONE... If you succeed, let me know what you did ok?

GOOOD LUCK ON THAT ONE... If you succeed, let me know what you did ok?

Well, I could become a giant media magnate and sway everyone to my own opinion...but nah.

A bit of blackmail might work wonders instead.

j/k :p

compulsory voting infringes on individual freedoms, everyone should have the freedom to choose whether or not they wish to vote. :headbang: however frustrating it may be to others in their state.

compulsory voting infringes on individual freedoms, everyone should have the freedom to choose whether or not they wish to vote. :headbang: however frustrating it may be to others in their state.

What's wrong with Australia's system? You turn up, get your name marked off, and then you can put an empty ballot slip in if you desire. So the option of not voting is still there.

you still have to get off the sofa and go and have your name marked off, some people may not want to miss their fav TV show. its their freedom to watch TV all day and not vote or even pretend to vote

What's wrong with Australia's system? You turn up, get your name marked off, and then you can put an empty ballot slip in if you desire. So the option of not voting is still there.
So, basically you have to get yourself up, relocate to somewhere else just to be recognized as a citizen, and then find your own way back home? That's not voting, that's a census. Voting is incidental to it. ;-)

Purely lazy.

And besides, you have all day...Its not confined to a period of one hour, you know. Transport to polling stations is free as well - just contact the party you're intending on voting for and usually they're more than happy to chauffeur you around in a limo. (My grandmother does it all the time - then votes for the other party :P)

So, basically you have to get yourself up, relocate to somewhere else just to be recognized as a citizen, and then find your own way back home? That's not voting, that's a census. Voting is incidental to it. ;-)

The idea is, that if you've had to take time out to show up, then you might as well vote.

What is wrong with apathy?
I am seventeen and should be eighteen by the time the next election comes around in New Zealand. Some young people do not understand politcs and the issues that surround the country. I do however and I am looking forward to voting. If people really do not want their voices to be heard why should they bother wasting ink and paper ticking a box that they do not really care about?

What is wrong with apathy?
I am seventeen and should be eighteen by the time the next election comes around in New Zealand. Some young people do not understand politcs and the issues that surround the country. I do however and I am looking forward to voting. If people really do not want their voices to be heard why should they bother wasting ink and paper ticking a box that they do not really care about?

Then the root causes of apathy should be tackled.

Why don't people care, etc.

It's totally contradictory to have a democracy where the people refuse to vote, so either fix it by making it compulsory, or bring politics back to the people. I can tell you which one is easier to implement...

Well... unfortunatly some people in this world of ours are just plain stupid. I really cannot imagine eighteen year olds who cruise around town with their baggy pants and greasy hair voting. If people do not care about anything why should we make them? It is really their problem and should not have anything to do with us. I definatly would not waste my time on people who do not care what I am talking about!

Vote? Why should you let your people vote. You are the leader of your nation and you know what is best for them. :)
The Ard Re of Celtlund
Sean

On a serious note; A democracy or republic gives its citizens a choice. One of theose choises is wether or not they vote. Personally I vote in every election and so does my wife. We want our vioce to be heard.

Well... unfortunatly some people in this world of ours are just plain stupid. I really cannot imagine eighteen year olds who cruise around town with their baggy pants and greasy hair voting. If people do not care about anything why should we make them? It is really their problem and should not have anything to do with us. I definatly would not waste my time on people who do not care what I am talking about!

Usually, the reason they don't care is because they don't understand it. But theres catalysts for it. For example, the uni fee increases over here got a lot of my science minded friends exploring leftist politics. Heh. Anyhow, those who simply don't understand or are unaware of how politics affects them shouldn't be alienated from it...

(And politics should be compulsory in schools. I don't know about in NZ or elsewhere, but over here, nothing was taught until the senior years where it was an elective)

Compulsory voting is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heare. I honestly cannot imagine how any person could see any differently. :headbang:

Compulsory voting is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heare. I honestly cannot imagine how any person could see any differently. :headbang:

I've explained my reasons, and that's the best comeback you can supply?

I must say that isn't much of a comeback. But if people don't want to vote why should they? If I don't feel like getting up and changing the channel, I use the remote control! I don't see the police storming through my door and arresting me for not getting up out of my chair and pressing a button. As I said in another post: Why can people accept others for who they are and what they want/don't want to do!

Voting is not compulsory in Northern Trombonium. However, people who do not vote and then proceed to complain about the government are usually beate by their neighbors.