Armada Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Obama thinks so and so do I. Politicians would feel a lot more pressure and the whole political field would change. President Barack Obama on Wednesday suggested that if American voters want to "counteract" the role of money in politics, it may be worth making voting mandatory. "It would be transformative if everybody voted," Obama said during a town hall event in Cleveland, Ohio. "That would counteract (campaign) money more than anything. If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country." He added that the people who tend not to vote are "young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily toward immigrant groups and minorities ... There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls." The president pointed out that voting is mandatory in other countries, and cited Australia. At least 26 nations have compulsory voting, according to data from theInstitute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102518910#. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbyte Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Absolutely not, voting is so moronic. How is the average Joe supposed to know enough to make an informed choice? You're basically just randomly voting to give someone a job whom will never listen to you or give a voice. Horribly flawed system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Sikes Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Obama's trying to garner the democrat vote. Thanks, Obama. So, what would be the punishment for not voting? How would you see who did and did not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 forcing someone to vote goes against democratic principles, if a government tries that I, and many others will simply toss a blank or spoiled ballot in the box. Basically. But then again, the US is a republic anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Where's Wellwood Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 What's worse, lack of votes or a huge number of uninformed votes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Having my parents immigrate from communist Hungary, they've always taught me the principle of voting is not a privilege but a benefit. They have never missed a vote since becoming Canadian citizens over 20 years ago and nor have their friends. I guess its different for those who have had generations living in Canada or the US being able to vote. What's worse, lack of votes or a huge number of uninformed votes? People who don't vote and then complain about whatever or whoever is elected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William_Clarkson Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I'd rather have someone who I absolutely disagree with, who is informed vote, than someone who agrees with me, but is not at all politically informed. It's stupid to have everyone vote. It's bad enough how big of a role things such as charisma play in politics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Obama's trying to garner the democrat vote. Thanks, Obama. So, what would be the punishment for not voting? How would you see who did and did not? This isn't the first time I see you say "Thanks, Obama". And like last time, you don't have a clue what you're commenting on. Garner the democratic vote? He's not up for reelection. Ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Obama thinks so and so do I. Politicians would feel a lot more pressure and the whole political field would change. I used to be for mandatory voting as well. Now, I think voter apathy is the real issue, and it won't be fixed with mandatory voting. Australia has mandatory voting, and they elected Tony Abbot. Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I used to be for mandatory voting as well. Now, I think voter apathy is the real issue, and it won't be fixed with mandatory voting. Australia has mandatory voting, and they elected Tony Abbot. Nuff said. This pretty much sums it up. The only true benefit to maybe say Telling everyone on assistance of any kind that they'll lose 5% of their state/federal/provincial benefits if they don't show up to vote and having them vote in a 3rd or even 4th choice NOT of the big two parties. American Dem/Rep and Canadian Lib/Con Imagine everyone in BC turns out and votes in like 4 or 5 fed candidates for the green party. Quebec roles out 3 different french speaking parties to parliament. Nova Scotia votes in 2 members of the Pirate Party. That really would be the ONLY benefit. If actually having small minded community oriented people in the house. Not just people who wear red or blue and have corporate backing to campaign with for political seats. Otherwise as pointed out a large uninformed voting population could very well just do what the TV told them anyways and it still goes against every single founding democratic principal I can think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckamo Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I used to be for mandatory voting as well. Now, I think voter apathy is the real issue, and it won't be fixed with mandatory voting. Australia has mandatory voting, and they elected Tony Abbot. Nuff said. Pretty much sums up how I feel. It blows my mind when any of my friends tell me they aren't going to vote because they don't care. I noted during the Scottish referendum that they had almost 85% voter turnout, I wonder if there was ever such a massive issue being voted on in Canada if we'd get similar numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magician Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Nope because a lot of people don’t know anything about politics and the clueless would elect the next Hitler to run America Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobble Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Each party should have to make their plans for the country easily available online with no foux foux with vague language or attacks on other parties. Then there should be a televised open forum where people can ask questions of each party leader, and then have them debate each question based on their party's plan. No attacks at each other that aren't related directly to the topic. The debates they have now are pointless, where it's just Harper defending everything he did while other leaders call him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Maybe more people should take the responsibilities of learning the about the leading parties and learning how to make an educated vote. It's not that hard to read a few article and watch the news to get a better understanding of the politics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Freedom is not just being able to vote for whoever you choose but also being able to choose to not vote at all. Voter apathy is a problem but forcing people to vote isnt the solution. Theres always this: Dont vote, that way you can say the current administration does not represent me and thus provide a basis for a long lack of further participation in politics. Youll probably live a longer, happier and more worry free life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 There are a lot of brainwashed idiots down there. Obama should be careful what he wishes for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Freedom is not just being able to vote for whoever you choose but also being able to choose to not vote at all. Voter apathy is a problem but forcing people to vote isnt the solution. Theres always this: Dont vote, that way you can say the current administration does not represent me and thus provide a basis for a long lack of further participation in politics. Youll probably live a longer, happier and more worry free life. Valid point about freedom; however, then you shouldn't whine about the current party in power if you had the ability to change the outcome for "those" kind of people. Also more Thanks Obama memes please^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Valid point about freedom; however, then you shouldn't whine about the current party in power if you had the ability to change the outcome for "those" kind of people. Also more Thanks Obama memes please^ have I ever whined about the current party in power? I dont think so. I dont think Ive ever whined about anything to anyone here. Except the Hodgson trade. I might have done a bit of whining there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Ive never whined about the current party in power and never posted a Obama meme of any kind. Sorry, the whining comment wasn't directed to you and the Obama meme was for the post above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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