Should voting be compulsory?

CabbageCat

octatonic said:

CabbageCat said:

No frickin' way. I enjoy the right to keep my opinion to myself. 

Compulsory voting doesn't mean you have to put something down on the ballot.

You can always vote informally- turn up, tick your name off and walk away.

Some people do this.

I'd say though that, at least in Australia, that compulsory voting means more people get involved in the political process.

Maybe the reason Australia beats us at sports is that the state forces people to get off their arses instead of allowing them the freedom to not give a f*ck in the comfort of their own homes.

Ro_S

I think it should be compulsory to be registered to vote; but not compulsory to vote (unless there's a ''none of the above'' option on the ballot paper)

BigLicks67

Just had a quick google for None of the Above as an option on ballots.

The latest petition has 517 signatures, so maybe not that popular after all.

vasselmeyer

Compulsory voting is a bad idea. Just think about how stupid the averge person is. Now think that at least 50% of people are even more stupid than that. Ideas will be simplified and simplified to get to the lowest common denominatorand all pretence of a reasoned debate will disappear.

Currently, if you vote, at least you're interested enough to have some idea of who you're voting for and why.

BigLicks67

vasselmeyer said:

Compulsory voting is a bad idea. Just think about how stupid the averge person is. Now think that at least 50% of people are even more stupid than that. Ideas will be simplified and simplified to get to the lowest common denominatorand all pretence of a reasoned debate will disappear.

Currently, if you vote, at least you're interested enough to have some idea of who you're voting for and why.

I assume you are being ironic here.

hungrymark

CabbageCat;1138933" said:

octatonic said:



CabbageCat said:

No frickin' way. I enjoy the right to keep my opinion to myself. Compulsory voting doesn't mean you have to put something down on the ballot.You can always vote informally- turn up, tick your name off and walk away.

Some people do this.I'd say though that, at least in Australia, that compulsory voting means more people get involved in the political process.





Maybe the reason Australia beats us at sports is that the state forces people to get off their arses instead of allowing them the freedom to not give a f*ck in the comfort of their own homes.

What mainstream sports does Australia beat us at? I can think of swimming, maybe, rugby league and...