Topic of the moment: Mandatory voting

[ElNono]

Wrong solution to a real problem?

For those that didn't hear:

CNN reports that when asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement. "Other countries have mandatory voting," said Obama "It would be transformative if everybody voted — that would counteract money more than anything," he said, adding it was the first time he had shared the idea publicly. "The people who tend not to vote are young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily towards immigrant groups and minority groups. There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls." At least 26 countries have compulsory voting, according to the Ins ute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Failure to vote is punishable by a fine in countries such as Australia and Belgium; if you fail to pay your fine in Belgium, you could go to prison. Less than 37% of eligible voters actually voted in the 2014 midterm elections, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. That means about 144 million Americans — more than the population of Russia — skipped out. Critics of mandatory voting have questioned the practicality of passing and enforcing such a requirement; others say that freedom also means the freedom not to do something.

[boutons_deux]

Obama is right.

Mandatory voting would make a huge difference in USA, but it's too late. America is ed and un bale because the 1%/corporatocracy and their Repug s control enough of America at all levels that any mandatory voting bill would be defeated.

Then there is real practical problem of enforcement.

The reason Repugs screw democracy with extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression is that have known for years that Repug voters are the minority population, and increasingly so, so they must cheat to win, and win on social issues of god/guns/gays/abortion/immigration/war-mongering/bogus-patriotism/Christian-theocracy rather than on proposing solutions to problems and progress.

[CosmicCowboy]

It's obvious why he wants it. Ignorant people tend to vote democrat.

[TDMVPDPOY]

MANDATORY VOTING is nothing more then another revenue raising scheme

so what happens if u dont g o vote after signing up? u going to get a fine?

down here its about 200bucks fine if u dont go vote after registering, i dont think u can unregister

[boutons_deux]

It's obvious why he wants it. Ignorant people tend to vote democrat.

you rednecks, bubbas, Bible humpers, Freedom! lovers, vote Repug on social issues, then Repugs screw you, try to privatize Social Security, privatize Medicare, close (rural) post offices, give the right-to-work-less, waste your $Ts and kids lives in bull wars-for-oil, etc, etc.

and the Dems are ignorant?

[unleashbaynes]

Not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, if every single person really did vote, I'd bet the results would be pretty interesting. , it may even lead to a third party candidate being elected to high office. On the other, it seems a little anti-American to force it on people.

[boutons_deux]

Freedom! not to vote is just another word for granting Freedom! to the 1%/VRWC/BigCorp to screw you (out of your wealth and health) harder and deeper and longer.

[DisAsTerBot]

gonna be a lot of uninformed voters

[Blake]

Take down our sorry two party system and I might be more in favor of mandatory voting.

But as it is, forcing me to vote when my two options are dog or cat is wrong. Me not voting is my own subtle protest against the system.

[CosmicCowboy]

you rednecks, bubbas, Bible humpers, Freedom! lovers, vote Repug on social issues, then Repugs screw you, try to privatize Social Security, privatize Medicare, close (rural) post offices, give the right-to-work-less, waste your $Ts and kids lives in bull wars-for-oil, etc, etc.

and the Dems are ignorant?

Bet you had to wipe your screen down after that spittle explosion.

I am not saying all democrats are ignorant. There are informed liberals in here that research the candidates and then consciously choose that path. I will be the first to admit that republicans obsession with social/moral issues is a big turnoff.

For the most part, though, if your uneducated, ignorant masses (hands up don't shoot) were required to vote they would most likely pull that big "D' lever without ever taking the time to research the candidates or the issues. Mandatory voting would undoubtedly be advantageous for the Democratic party and that's why Obama advocated it and floated that trial balloon.

[boutons_deux]

" Ignorant people tend to vote democrat."

did you mean Democrat?

[The Reckoning]

i have a right to not give a .

[boutons_deux]

"Mandatory voting would undoubtedly be advantageous for the Democratic party"

it would be advantageous for USA democracy,

lessen the influence of 1% $Bs and the Kock sucking tea baggers,

and allow ALL voting By The People and For The People, instead of the corrupt 1%/corporatocracy we have now, and we will most probably have for decades, as American democracy is and will be a in joke.

[CosmicCowboy]

" Ignorant people tend to vote democrat."

did you mean Democrat?

at spittleboy being the capitalization cop.

[boutons_deux]

at spittleboy being the capitalization cop.

brilliant retort, I'm devastated yet again.

"Ignorant people tend to vote democrat."

[FromWayDowntown]

It would be preferable that there be greater self determination to get to the polls and vote. That, of course, would be far easier to accomplish if there were fewer hurdles to actually voting in elections. But, the greater interest of those who hold office in many places is to entrench power rather than effectuate a true democracy, so we're moving further away from easing the burdens associated with voting in the apparent hope that it will deter the "wrong" people from casting ballots and diminish the chances that the control of the ruling party will be diminished.

I don't necessarily think that mandatory voting is ideal, but it would certainly make the efforts to subtly disenfranchise certain parts of the electorate that seem to be so vogue these days much less effective.

[Wild Cobra]

It's obvious why he wants it. Ignorant people tend to vote democrat.

This is so true, and why democrats try to maximize registration.

[Wild Cobra]

Take down our sorry two party system and I might be more in favor of mandatory voting.

But as it is, forcing me to vote when my two options are dog or cat is wrong. Me not voting is my own subtle protest against the system.

We need a true runoff style election system. This way people can be secure in voting for their choices in order, and not electing the worse choice by default.

[Wild Cobra]

i have a right to not give a .

So true.

[Wild Cobra]

it would be advantageous for USA democracy,

No it wouldn't. US democracy is a joke. Too many lazy people voting by soundbites. We effectively only have a two party system. We need better educated voters, and runoff elections.

[cantthinkofanything]

Dems are ignorant?

not all Dems are ignorant but most ignorants vote Dem.

[boutons_deux]

No it wouldn't. US democracy is a joke. Too many lazy people voting by soundbites. We effectively only have a two party system. We need better educated voters, and runoff elections.

Repugs, BigCorp, 1%, Christian Taleban are doing everything they can to dumb down kids into for-profit indoctrination charter schools, so there's little hope they America with Get Smart.

[boutons_deux]

not all Dems are ignorant but most ignorants vote Dem.

you're ignorant

[boutons_deux]

i have a right to not give a .

What a Super-Patriot you are.

[cantthinkofanything]

you're ignorant

LOL.

You're the man getting ed in the ass by the man who is getting ed in the ass by the dog.