America Election

Postby random » Fri May 11, 2012 7:21 pm

Why doesn't america have mandatory voting?! Do you guys care about who wins office? It might be a stupid question but why is it optional. It seems you as a country doesn't care
Last edited by random on Sat May 12, 2012 12:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: America Election

Postby jonny86 » Fri May 11, 2012 8:14 pm

Australia forces people to vote? I've never heard of a single country that actually forces people to vote.

Re: America Election

Postby Kyle » Fri May 11, 2012 9:06 pm

If you knew how much the average American pays attention to politics you'd be glad many of us don't vote.

Re: America Election

Postby Jack Roper » Fri May 11, 2012 9:07 pm

Jay Leno has lots of video to testify to that!

Re: America Election

Postby random » Fri May 11, 2012 11:44 pm

If you are 18 and over you must vote or get fined. Unless your old and can't or have a vaild reason. It's in our constitution. (Google australia constitution if don't know) I actually think it's good as it forces you to have your say on who you want to represent your community in parliament. If people don't care what's the point of having an election?! Everyone should care as it will affect them somehow, which is why I'm wondering why is it optional?

Kyle what is wrong with that? People are having their say on who they want.
Life is too short to have regrets.
I may have a strong opinion at times but I respect yours and hope you do the same.
Check out my first story ./viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15159 Comments and suggestions welcome!

Re: America Election

Postby jonny86 » Sat May 12, 2012 12:12 am

random wrote:If you are 18 and over you must vote or get fined. Unless your old and can't or have a vaild reason. It's in our constitution. (Google australia constitution if don't know) I actually think it's good as it forces you to have your say on who you want to represent your community in parliament. If people don't care what's the point of having an election?! Everyone should care as it will affect them somehow, which is why I'm wondering why is it optional?

Kyle what is wrong with that? People are having their say on who they want.


Forcing people to vote does not make someone care just like forcing someone to flip burgers does not force them to have any interest or care about how to make a good hamburger. You do realize that you're effectively putting the fate of your country into the hands of people who probably don't even know who is running for what?

Re: America Election

Postby random » Sat May 12, 2012 12:35 am

jonny86 wrote:
random wrote:If you are 18 and over you must vote or get fined. Unless your old and can't or have a vaild reason. It's in our constitution. (Google australia constitution if don't know) I actually think it's good as it forces you to have your say on who you want to represent your community in parliament. If people don't care what's the point of having an election?! Everyone should care as it will affect them somehow, which is why I'm wondering why is it optional?

Kyle what is wrong with that? People are having their say on who they want.


Forcing people to vote does not make someone care just like forcing someone to flip burgers does not force them to have any interest or care about how to make a good hamburger. You do realize that you're effectively putting the fate of your country into the hands of people who probably don't even know who is running for what?


We are not that stupid. In the lead up the parties tells us what they would do if elected. Unlike flipping hamburgers, voting effects everyone. If people (I'm mean not to offend) mentally unable to understand they can't vote. Which comes under a vaild reason not to vote. It gives people a right and responsibility to choose who they want to vote for.
Life is too short to have regrets.
I may have a strong opinion at times but I respect yours and hope you do the same.
Check out my first story ./viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15159 Comments and suggestions welcome!

Re: America Election

Postby random » Sat May 12, 2012 12:40 am

Yes I agree some people still can't make up their mind. However in the optional system people who want to vote and have no idea on who to vote for still can. So how is that different?
Life is too short to have regrets.
I may have a strong opinion at times but I respect yours and hope you do the same.
Check out my first story ./viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15159 Comments and suggestions welcome!

Re: America Election

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 12, 2012 3:01 am

Why should people have to vote? Some people just aren't into politics and thus don't know much about it. Those people don't want to vote and quite frankly with such a mindsett i wouldn't want them voting to! Nothing personal against non voters but if you don't know anything about politics, then how can they expected to vote ''Right''

Re: America Election

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 12, 2012 3:03 am

Also it isn't just America that doesn't have mandatory voting, most countries don't have it.

Re: America Election

Postby random » Sat May 12, 2012 3:22 am

Which is why you should watch the news! To find out what the parties are saying. That's called be observent to the things around you. Don't you guys watch, read and listen to news over there? Yes I know there are other countries besides america who do it. To answer your question: Because your country is actually wanting to know your feedback. Voting is a type of feedback. It forces you to make a choice so instead of complaining about something you have the chance to actually do something that may affect you in the future. Keeping in mind most people aren't allowed to vote in some countries. Also if everyone votes everyone has a clear understanding on who america wants, as as some people isn't everyone. I hear on my news you complaining about something yet I don't understand why you just sit back and do nothing about it.
Life is too short to have regrets.
I may have a strong opinion at times but I respect yours and hope you do the same.
Check out my first story ./viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15159 Comments and suggestions welcome!

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sat May 12, 2012 3:38 am

It's all right if people don't vote. The Democrats, aided by ACORN and the SEIU, will make up for it by casting votes early and often, in the names of Mickey Mouse, Spider Man, and Bugs Bunny. And the Obama-adoring media will look the other way when they do it.

Don't believe it? Then ask yourself why, with its enormous resources, the Washington Post can dig up some prank by Romney when he was still a teenager in prep school (Which family members of the alleged "victim" say is a crock of crap), but they can't locate Obama's college records and transcripts? What is Obama hiding, and why are the media helping him hide it?

Drawscore

Re: America Election

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 12, 2012 4:24 am

drawscore wrote:It's all right if people don't vote. The Democrats, aided by ACORN and the SEIU, will make up for it by casting votes early and often, in the names of Mickey Mouse, Spider Man, and Bugs Bunny. And the Obama-adoring media will look the other way when they do it.

Don't believe it? Then ask yourself why, with its enormous resources, the Washington Post can dig up some prank by Romney when he was still a teenager in prep school (Which family members of the alleged "victim" say is a crock of crap), but they can't locate Obama's college records and transcripts? What is Obama hiding, and why are the media helping him hide it?

Drawscore


Uh, maybe he got an F once or something. Does it matter? The prank story if true at least shows something, A negative trait of kid Romney. Obama's grades on the other hand are completely irrelevent, he passed and thats all we need to know!. He doesn't give them because there is absolutely no reason to do so. And if he did what then? Should people try to find out what magazines he reads on the toilet next time?

Re: America Election

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 12, 2012 4:29 am

random wrote:Which is why you should watch the news! To find out what the parties are saying. That's called be observent to the things around you. Don't you guys watch, read and listen to news over there? Yes I know there are other countries besides america who do it. To answer your question: Because your country is actually wanting to know your feedback. Voting is a type of feedback. It forces you to make a choice so instead of complaining about something you have the chance to actually do something that may affect you in the future. Keeping in mind most people aren't allowed to vote in some countries. Also if everyone votes everyone has a clear understanding on who america wants, as as some people isn't everyone. I hear on my news you complaining about something yet I don't understand why you just sit back and do nothing about it.


Some people find politics as a whole just a borefest and thus are unable to get motivated to do such a thing, others just distrust all parties equally. Personally i find the ''freedom'' to vote sounds a bit hollow when they are forcing you to vote.


(Oh, btw i myself am not ''over there'' :D and i'm also not old enough to vote yet.)

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sat May 12, 2012 6:48 am

>>>Uh, maybe he got an F once or something. Does it matter? The prank story if true at least shows something, A negative trait of kid Romney. Obama's grades on the other hand are completely irrelevent, he passed and thats all we need to know!. He doesn't give them because there is absolutely no reason to do so. And if he did what then? Should people try to find out what magazines he reads on the toilet next time?<<<

It matters because the media made a big thing of John McCain being born in the Canal Zone, and fretting that because of that, he might not be eligible for election to the presidency. It matters because the media demanded Bush 43's college transcripts in 2000 and 2004. but not Obama's in 2008.

We need the media to be watchdogs. Instead, they are Obama's lap dogs.

And since you mentioned toilets, here's what's next to mine.
obamapaper.jpg


Drawscore

Re: America Election

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 12, 2012 7:35 am

It matters because the media demanded Bush 43's college transcripts in 2000 and 2004. but not Obama's in 2008.


Consider my opinion on the ones who wanted Bush college transcripts the same as those who want Obama's or any leader.

Re: America Election

Postby sarobah » Sat May 12, 2012 5:12 pm

In support of Random’s explanation (and ignoring drawscore’s tiresome hijacking of every thread to push his paranoid agenda)... To quote Pericles, the ancient Athenian democratic statesman:
“Here we say that a citizen who takes no interest in public affairs is not a man who minds his own business; we say he has no business here at all,”
The Athenians fined people who tried to evade their civic duty by avoiding attendance at the assembly. They saw this as one of the pillars of democratic government (which they invented).
They had a word for people who didn’t want to participate – idiotes, from which we get the word....
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sat May 12, 2012 5:35 pm

You are not paranoid if the whole world REALLY IS out to "get" you.

As for those that willingly don't vote, they have no complaint. They should go back home, and have a nice big mug of "shut the hell up."

Drawscore

Re: America Election

Postby Jason Toddman » Sat May 12, 2012 6:35 pm

drawscore wrote:You are not paranoid if the whole world REALLY IS out to "get" you.

As for those that willingly don't vote, they have no complaint. They should go back home, and have a nice big mug of "shut the hell up."

Drawscore

This from the supporter of the party that is trying to make it *harder* for people to vote at all!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: America Election

Postby Kyle » Sat May 12, 2012 8:50 pm

I was being pretty sarcastic when I posted that about being glad more people don't vote here. I think it's a bad thing more people don't vote in this country. But the truth is a lot of people really don't care and would have no idea who they'd be voting for. We need to get people to pay attention first. As the saying goes, you get the government you deserve, and that is very true here in the US. I don't think just about anybody is a fan of the idea of mandatory voting.

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sat May 12, 2012 10:50 pm

>>>This from the supporter of the party that is trying to make it *harder* for people to vote at all!<<<

No, we just want to make it harder for people to vote, who are not eligible to vote, like illegal aliens, felons who have not had their civil rights restored, fictional characters, and dead people. We also want to be sure that once you vote in precinct A, you don't trot down the road and cast another vote at precinct B. Hell, I have to have a photo ID to get on an airplane, enter a government building, drive a car, and to do numerous other things that are a part of everyday live. What the hell is wrong with having to show a photo ID to vote? And don't give me this crap about it being discriminatory to the poor, the young, and the elderly. It's bullshit.

Most high schools and all colleges issue student ID cards with photos. Students that take Driver Education in high school must have "Learner Permits," or restricted licenses with photos. Most poor people still own a car, and must have a license. And most states will send a unit to non-ambulatory elderly residents who need a state photo ID card.

Of course, if you are dumber than a crate of anvils, drop out of school at 16, and do not pay any attention to current events, you got no damn business voting, anyway.

Drawscore

Re: America Election

Postby random » Sun May 13, 2012 4:38 am

Kyle wrote:I was being pretty sarcastic when I posted that about being glad more people don't vote here. I think it's a bad thing more people don't vote in this country. But the truth is a lot of people really don't care and would have no idea who they'd be voting for. We need to get people to pay attention first. As the saying goes, you get the government you deserve, and that is very true here in the US. I don't think just about anybody is a fan of the idea of mandatory voting.


So just to make sure I'm reading this right not all of america cares about who leads them?! Do they not care about their future?!
Life is too short to have regrets.
I may have a strong opinion at times but I respect yours and hope you do the same.
Check out my first story ./viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15159 Comments and suggestions welcome!

Re: America Election

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun May 13, 2012 7:41 am

random wrote:
Kyle wrote:I was being pretty sarcastic when I posted that about being glad more people don't vote here. I think it's a bad thing more people don't vote in this country. But the truth is a lot of people really don't care and would have no idea who they'd be voting for. We need to get people to pay attention first. As the saying goes, you get the government you deserve, and that is very true here in the US. I don't think just about anybody is a fan of the idea of mandatory voting.


So just to make sure I'm reading this right not all of america cares about who leads them?! Do they not care about their future?!

I sometimes think not, or we wouldn't be in the situation we are now, where we face a worldwide economic meltdown and have to choose between two candidates who make even the Three Stooges or the Marx Brothers (Groucho, not Karl) more appealing.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sun May 13, 2012 9:14 am

>>>So just to make sure I'm reading this right not all of america cares about who leads them?! Do they not care about their future?!<<<

This is unfortunately true. We have far too many "citizens" who only want tight pants, loose shoes, and a warm place to shit. Everything else is unimportant to them.

Drawscore

Re: America Election

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun May 13, 2012 12:16 pm

My God. Drawscore agrees with me? These ARE the end times!!! :shock:
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: America Election

Postby sarobah » Sun May 13, 2012 6:40 pm

drawscore wrote:You are not paranoid if the whole world REALLY IS out to "get" you. As for those that willingly don't vote, they have no complaint. They should go back home, and have a nice big mug of "shut the hell up."

Oh good grief, Mr Drawscore... I agree with both parts of your post. Is one of us mellowing?

PS. I just saw Jason’s post (directly above).
It really is the end of civilization as we know it.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: America Election

Postby sarobah » Sun May 13, 2012 6:57 pm

In the UK election of 1970, the Labour Party under Harold Wilson was heading for a landslide victory. On election day it rained. Complacent Labour voters, knowing their party was destined to win big, didn’t bother to vote. Conservative voters, knowing their party was heading for defeat, dragged themselves to the polls to try to limit the damage. The result was a surprise victory for the Conservatives. Turnout was lower than in the previous election, even though 18-21 year-olds were voting for the first time.
There are two ways to look at this result. The first is that governments are chosen by those citizens who can be bothered to vote. The second is that, in the absence of compulsory voting, elections can be decided by the weather.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: America Election

Postby Chase Ricks » Sun May 13, 2012 8:05 pm

I vote with my head and heart not with my checkbook. That is what sets apart so many low income candidates from the wealthy ones in America. The saying goes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I think in terms of politics it should be updated to say majority of the times the wealthiest candidates in either party get the winning votes. This is because only they can afford big time to have ads running all the time either debasing their opponents or making themselves look better then they actually are. Apathy of voters is what is killing this nation. By the way Jason I disagree with Drawscore so it is not the end of times just yet while I still have a mind to speak my thoughts on here!
From whence I came and whence I went heaven said I was too evil and sent me to hell. Demons and devils succeeded in breaking my soul.

Image

Re: America Election

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun May 13, 2012 9:34 pm

Chase Ricks wrote: By the way Jason I disagree with Drawscore so it is not the end of times just yet while I still have a mind to speak my thoughts on here!

*You* disagreeing with Drawscore isn't the issue, so it doesn't count. :P Besides, I o ly referred to that one post, not his ravings in general.

sarobah wrote: elections can be decided by the weather.

Quite true. I wonder whose bright idea it was to have the U.S. presidential race always be held in November, just when (IN the Northern Hemisphere) winter is on the horizon?!?
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: America Election

Postby drawscore » Sun May 13, 2012 9:41 pm

I vote with my head and checkbook. I think about the candidates and their positions, and how I perceive their policies have, or will, affect the country, and if those policies are in line with my beliefs. And yes, I look at pocketbook issues. How have the incumbent's policies affected my income or my business? Do I have more or fewer customers? Am I making more money, less money, or about the same? Have I kept up with inflation? Is my dollar worth more or less than four years ago? As Ronald Reagan famously asked Jimmy Carter, "Are you better off now, than you were four years ago?"

Drawscore