Mandatory voting

[CapnAwesome]

All rights have limits which are often decided on the basis of the greater social good. The First is no different.

That's a slippery slippery slope right there. Yes, all rights have limits, but this isn't one of them. I would argue that protection of political speech was one of the primary reasons that the first amendment was created in the first place and that it far outweighs any social good that may come of it.

How well do you think that will work in a global economy where outsourcing has already destroyed American heavy industry, and threatens the same with light manufacturing and computer hardware production?

I think it would be fine. Protectionism is never a long term solution anyway. The market will eventually correct it anyway and corporate subsidies have been a corruption filled disaster from the start. The idea that they are necessary is pushed on us by the same people who are buying up all the politicians. Since when should we listen to them?