Mandatory voting

[Aractus]

It's absolutely essential for an equitable democracy.

What is an equitable democracy and why is voting essential to it? I certainly hope you aren't invoking some type of egalitarian utopia here.

An equitable democracy means that everyone has an equal voice, and that all socioeconomic classes and all other sub-groups of society (for example, women) have an equal say and an equal opportunity in voting.

Without that you do not have a real democracy.

The working class and those living below the poverty line are under-represented in an "optional voting" model.

Fuck 'em then. The goddamn apathy of some of my fellow citizens is not sufficient reason to force me to do something under penalty of law. The "I know what's best for you" mantra that underlies this is also disgusting.

Um, perhaps you don't understand. Let's say Joe is a member of the working class, and Joe exercises his right to vote at every election, as does all of his friends. Joe is frustrated though that his group is under-represented because other members of his socioeconomic class don't see the same value in voting that he does. Is that [i/]his fault[/i]? "Fuck him"? I don't think so. It's a population benefit.

Let's take another example. Australia, and in specific Victoria (in 1970), was the first country in the world to legislate on seat belts. Sri Lanka legislated in 2011. They didn't want to, they said the law shouldn't tell people what to do. "You can't force people to do something they don't want with threat of fines". Yet they did it, and road fatalities that year fell by 57%.

It is a civic duty. You may as well claim that having to get a "driving license" is anti-liberty?

I addressed this already. Did you not read my last paragraph, or are you serioiusly going to maintain that you don't see how a driver's license applies.

Well now I've given you a new example. Not wearing your seatbelt does not put another person at risk.