Earning the Vote

[FrustratedFool]

People are fools, are you really surprised when they act accordingly?

You cannot educate the ignorant, look at the population of trumptardia, if you harbor any doubts.

Wouldn't that be a good argument for limiting voting by a set of criteria?

[no one]

Ignorance of this caliber doesn't just spring up overnight, it seethes and ferments until the fumes of the smoldering blaze snuff out enough cognition, for it to become dangerous. By then, it is too late it has already infected the next crop.

Hoomans are easily manipulated. The manipulators can't have their sheep replaced.

[FrustratedFool]

Are you easily manipulated?

[Thumpalumpacus]

[awty]

I still say that the requirements for voting need to be kept to a minimum. When you start putting various tests on who can and cannot vote you leave yourself open to manipulation in favor of the rule makers.

[Ravenshire]

[FrustratedFool]

So you wouldn't limit the vote at all?

Surely we must have some criteria. The only argument seems to be what and why.

[Ravenshire]

So you wouldn't limit the vote at all?

Surely we must have some criteria.  The only argument seems to be what and why.

I believe voting is a right. What you're advocating would make it a privilege, and I have no interested in ruling as the privileged or being ruled by them. Citizenship (or, recognized permanent resident status) and a reasonable age limit. Those are the only criteria I consider acceptable, and they should be protected such that a vote of the people be required to change them.

[FrustratedFool]

So you do accept some criteria.

What is the rationale for age (what age specifically?) and citizenship?

[Ravenshire]

So you do accept some criteria.

What is the rationale for age (what age specifically?) and citizenship?

You seem to have misinterpreted (quite fairly if I'm to be honest) my emphatic NO as a refutation of all criteria, where I was simply refuting your proposed additional criteria.

Citizenship (or, recognized permanent residency) seems fairly obvious to me. The citizens of a country/state/county/municipality should be the ones deciding the laws/lawmakers for that country/state/county/municipality.

Age is more a line in the sand, but an already established one that most find reasonable. With age comes understanding. No one believes a 4-year old can make an informed decision about political matters, nor does anyone think most 30+ are unable. 18 is the acceptable age here, and I have no problem with it. What I would take issue with, is politicians arbitrarily changing it and disenfranchising millions of a right they already hold.

I tend to think of rights the way I think of plumbing. The more complicated you make the pipes, the more likely you'll plug up the works.