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Post by Sir John on Sept 30, 2012 15:37:09 GMT -5
Back in 2004, we went to Colonial Williamsburg in VA, and took the De-Luxe tour of it. It included a speech by an acting taking the part of Thomas Jefferson, and relating the events leading up to 1776. His rendition was excellent and very believable. He called for questions and innocent me asked his views on compulsory voting. His out raged response was, COMPULSION?  COMPULSION? HOW DARE YOU SIR!!!! Woops! In fact all we have to do to fulfill our obligations is to turn up on election day and have our names crossed off the electoral roll. What we do with the ballot papers is our business. Your views? |
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Post by jerryfmcompushaft on Oct 1, 2012 7:37:02 GMT -5
With the demonstrated lack of knowledege and undrstanding in the US these days, there are vast numbers of folks who should NOT vote. Many of them will 'self select' and just continue to veg out on election day. That is a good thing. To compell them to show up at the voting place may just get them to actually vote - may not be a good thing....
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Post by Sir John on Oct 1, 2012 13:49:47 GMT -5
Interesting, we call these people "bogans" and ours DO vote, for the socialists!
Blindly, unthinking and in trance. believing all the propaganda dished up over the past 3 years.
SJ
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Post by mcnoch on Oct 2, 2012 2:09:11 GMT -5
Psychological tests of the past 100 years showed again and again that people don't like to be forced to make a decision. And if they are, they tend to "punish" those who have forced them, in case of elections by voting for the opposition or even smaller parties. In the end it proved to be counter-productive.
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Post by Sir John on Oct 2, 2012 2:52:35 GMT -5
Matthias,
The 'Compulsory' part of the Electoral Act has been in force for near a century as far as i know, and theh people seem quite happy about it. There is little public debate or complaint.
Personally I like the idea of having a say in the politics of our nation, instead of just grizzling about the pollies and what they do or don't do.
Non voters really have little cause for complaint.
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Post by mcnoch on Oct 2, 2012 3:05:35 GMT -5
SJ,
There is compulsory voting in Australia?
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Post by Sir John on Oct 2, 2012 13:24:15 GMT -5
matthias,
All our Electoral Act mandates is that we turn up at the polling booth on election days, and have our names crossed off the roll.
We are handed our ballot papers, and what we do with them then is our business. Some deface them, some silly people just lodge a blank ballot paper, and you know what will happen to that. Some just walk out with it in their pocket.
I always put my vote where my mouth is!
SJ
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Post by mcnoch on Oct 3, 2012 8:26:12 GMT -5
Interessting, I didn't know that. What happens if somebody doesn't show up? Is there a penalty or is it more a moral obligation?
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Post by Sir John on Oct 3, 2012 14:25:01 GMT -5
Matthias,
That is the problem.
A person that does not attend and have his name crossed off the roll is deemed to have not exercised his right (and obligation) to vote. They get a letter to explain their reasons. Often a person will claim a gastric problem or somesuch, and that will be accepted.
Recently a high profile radio personality was fined for not voting, and he made a big media event of his view on the compulsion of it all. He was fined a few dollars.
In fact the fine is for not attending and having the name crossed off NOT for the failure to actually vote. Some have actually been sent to gaol, NOT for actually not voting, but for failing to pay the fine.
I would crawl over broken glass to vote, as many people have died in a pool of blood for that right. And if I did not vote i have no real right to grizzle about the lying socialist idiots certain to be destroyed at the next election here.
SJ
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COMPULSION?
