NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, I know there is another thread about whether you vote, but this one is more about how you feel about voting.

Do you feel that voting should be a privilege, meaning something you could lose?

Do you feel that voting should be a right, meaning something no one can take away from you?

Do you feel that voting should be a responsibility, meaning something that you must do in order to be a good citizen.

Do you agree with none of the above?

Are you undecided?

Damn you for stealing my thread!!! :mad:

But seriously it's a right.

Hope this thread turn out better... :)


EDIT: I can't believe this... I voted for the responsibility choice :headbang:
How stupid can one man be...

Voting will be overrated when I take over the world.

It's a privilege, a right, and a responsibility, but I voted privilege, as that's what I see it as more than the others. Following that, it's a responsibility, then lastly, it's a right.

Damn you for stealing my thread!!! :mad:

But seriously it's a right.

Hope this thread turn out better... :)


EDIT: I can't believe this... I voted for the responsibility choice :headbang:
How stupid can one man be...

Sorry. I didn't mean to steal. Yours just got me to thinking about how for most people it's a yes or no choice of whether to vote or not (except, apparently, in Australia). But do people vote because they are glad to be allowed to; because, because it is their right, dammit and no one is going to stop them; or because they feel it is their duty to choose the people who run the country?

I don't think there is anything wrong with your thread...

Oops. We all do dumb things sometimes... :)

Sorry. I didn't mean to steal. Yours just got me to thinking about how for most people it's a yes or no choice of whether to vote or not (except, apparently, in Australia). But do people vote because they are glad to be allowed to; because, because it is their right, dammit and no one is going to stop them; or because they feel it is their duty to choose the people who run the country?

I don't think there is anything wrong with your thread...

Oops. We all do dumb things sometimes... :)


Well I'm over it by now... actually both of those things, but anyway...
I honestly think it's a right. But it doesn't mean you necessarly should.
Even in higly valued democratic coutry like Finland it doesn't work as it should.

My opinion about voting is that it's a six-letter word beginning with "v".

My opinion about voting is that it's a six-letter word beginning with "v".


Maybe we should have a vote for the issue:
Does word vote start with a letter 'v'

I believe voting is a right, but it also possesses the attributes of a privelege as you define it.

According to the "state of nature" theory on how government started, we all decided that we needed to have some sort of social contract that would let us all live together without killing each other; we picked a leader - usually the strongest, smartest, bestest guy - and he became our despot. I think that sounds likely as to how governments got started.

To me, this shows that the ability to vote, to choose your leader, is something ingrained in the very meaning of human government. Before monarchy and absolutism, many Kings were voted in when the last King died; he didn't get to pick who came next before he passed away.

So, it seems to me that voting, or the ability to choose who will be your leader, is a natural right for a human being; we do it in everyday life, after all. That is, we decide who we'll follow and who we won't on a personal level.

However, obviously, it can be taken away through the dual-mechanisms of government and force.

I'm undecided on it.

I believe that representative democracy is just a sham, and as soon as someone gets elected to office, they cease to represent who they claim to represent to some extent.
However, as much as I would love a revolution, one occuring in the near future is unlikely, and one way to make changes (However small) is to vote for someone who atleast claims to have ideas that I'd stand for

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author)

It's both a right an a responsibility. I voted for resopnsibility since not enough people vote.

I believe that representative democracy is just a sham, and as soon as someone gets elected to office, they cease to represent who they claim to represent to some extent.

Tell that to Gray Davis.

It's a right, yes.
It's just as much a responsibility.

I think that voting really isn't a priveledge or a right..

I think that voting on most points has become useless unless it is local voting... Basically you are voting for those the higher powers pick..

What good does that do? Bad to worse is your choice..

Now if we had runoff voting It might in fact actually help things out a little bit...

But personally I see little difference in a dictatorship and how we do things excpet we get to choose the best or worse of the two evils ....

We might has well do this..

We vote for our local city officials

then they vote for the local county officials

Then the county officials vote for the district in STATE reps...

in State Reps vote for Gov

Gov picks the Congressman for our State

The congress reps vote for the senate reps of each state

and the senate reps vote for president..

and the president appoints the rest..

:sniper:

well for one thing, it is a privelige, as you can't walk up to any election and vote, there are arbitrary requirements, if it is a god-given right, there would be no limitations, anyone could vote anywhere, regardless of age or nationality.

-stuff-

Electoral college.

Aren't congressmen (that'd be representatives and senators) elected directly by citizens' votes?