So Obama has floated the idea of mandatory voting in the US in order to offset the influence of big money. At first glance I think it sounds like a good idea, but would require changes at the polls on the state level in order to accommodate the additional voters. I don’t think people should be required to vote for a candidate though so a none option on the ballots would be necessary.

I've never bought into the idea that it is our civic duty to vote. If one is voting just to say they've voted, that's as bad or worse than not voting. Voting is for people that actually have an opinion on what is being voted upon.

I am against mandatory voting.

I'm against mandatory voting - In my opinion it is the duty of a concerned citizen to vote at least as a blank vote if you're against the system, however I don't think coercion is the answer - I do think abstention is troublesome specially in Europe, but mandatory voting is not the answer. Brazil is an example of mandatory voting. One of the main arguments, in my opinion, against mandatory voting is that ignorant people who aren't concerned with the system will inevitably vote poorly and sometimes extremist parties gain votes

(March 19, 2015 at 12:22 pm)Dystopia Wrote: I'm against mandatory voting - In my opinion it is the duty of a concerned citizen to vote at least as a blank vote if you're against the system, however I don't think coercion is the answer - I do think abstention is troublesome specially in Europe, but mandatory voting is not the answer. Brazil is an example of mandatory voting. One of the main arguments, in my opinion, against mandatory voting is that ignorant people who aren't concerned with the system will inevitably vote poorly and sometimes extremist parties gain votes

If it is the duty of a concerned citizen to vote then why shouldn't it be mandatory?

I've already said the ballots should have a none option, but I'll take that a step further. If the nones end up with a majority of the vote then why not disqualify the current candidates and have another election?

I'm not even so crazy about voting.
You'd expect the quality of the average decision made by the voting population to be average.
Or worse if the vote is bought by the venal and greedy (read that as 'the successful') in society.
Democracy sucks, it is just better than any of the other systems commonly available.

Havelock Vetinari for Tyrant!!

Obama should feed this idea to a porcupine and then shove it up his ass sideways.

Money has already done its damage by the time we go to the polls. The last thing we need is for apathetic disinterested ill-informed people who don't really give a shit to vote. The only thing that will change is how the money is spent to peddle influence.

Political ads are bad enough as it is. Can you imagine the shit that would be foisted on us if the intent was to attract the viewers that keep the Kardashians and Tori Spelling on TV? There's a Brawndo "it's got electrolytes" joke in here somewhere.

The cost would be substantial and enforcement would be ridiculous. I have to imagine fines would be assessed for not voting. Would we throw people in jail if they refused to pay the fine?

(March 19, 2015 at 12:57 pm)popeyespappy Wrote: If it is the duty of a concerned citizen to vote then why shouldn't it be mandatory?

Because an open society shouldn't enforce a right. If someone is stupid or lazy enough to shoot that right down the crapper, it's their business and theirs alone.

We don't need mandatory voting. We need Election Day to be a national holiday where nobody goes to work. So that people who cannot afford to miss a day of work can still vote. Everyone has the day off. Like Christmas Day. If you choose to have your business open on Voting Day, you must pay people their normal wage when they go to vote.

We need to make voting easier in this day and age. Electronic voting is too risky with espionage and cyber security risks, but making voting booths more accessible and numerous to cut down on wait and travel times.

Call me old fashioned, only property owners should get to vote.

Yeah, because poor people don't need a voice.