which part are you having trouble with?
interesting read:
Http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-voting-be-mandatory-in-the-united-states
On the "no" side of that website the first three arguments consist of 1 unsupported claim about involuntary servitude, an accusation of communism supported mainly by the possible imposition of jail time for non-voters, and an appeal to a constitutional right not to vote.
Are these the arguments that you want to point at to support your position that mandatory voting is "unamerican"?
Originally posted by Zampanó
On the "no" side of that website the first three arguments consist of 1 unsupported claim about involuntary servitude, an accusation of communism supported mainly by the possible imposition of jail time for non-voters, and an appeal to a constitutional right not to vote.Are these the arguments that you want to point at to support your position that mandatory voting is "unamerican"?
Turning something from a civic right to a civic duty/requirement makes it unAmerican. But since I haven't heard a single legitimate reason for compulsory voting (that includes the hilarious "for" arguments from the site), it's not something that keeps me up at night.
Also looking at only one site of nonvoting demographics, it's not surprising why Obama suggested this course of action.
http://www.people-press.org/2014/10/31/the-party-of-nonvoters-2/
Originally posted by psmith81992I love how the very first sentence of the top "Yes" argument reads: "Voting is an excellent way to keep tabs on the population (like a census)."
which part are you having trouble with?interesting read:
Http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-voting-be-mandatory-in-the-united-states
Just great wording.
F*ck mandatory voting. Democracy's awesome, but the rights of people to choose their level or even involvement in the process is more important. Choice is more important.
Originally posted by Lord Lucien
I love how the very first sentence of the top "Yes" argument reads: "Voting is an excellent way to keep tabs on the population (like a census)."Just great wording.
F*ck mandatory voting. Democracy's awesome, but the rights of people to choose their level or even involvement in the process is more important. Choice is more important.
Surprised we agree.
Originally posted by psmith81992
Turning something from a civic right to a civic duty/requirement makes it unAmerican. But since I haven't heard a single legitimate reason for compulsory voting (that includes the hilarious "for" arguments from the site), it's not something that keeps me up at night.Also looking at only one site of nonvoting demographics, it's not surprising why Obama suggested this course of action.
http://www.people-press.org/2014/10/31/the-party-of-nonvoters-2/
Not that I've thought much about this, but I'm skeptical of your criteria for what actions are unAmerican. For example, consider the draft. Originally it was a privilege to be a member of the armed forces, but then it was an obligation. However, the institution of the draft doesn't seem to be unAmerican (whatever its other faults). Are you sure that you are reacting to the principles of the situation and not the pragmatics of it? That is, might your aversion to compulsory voting lie in the fact that if everybody votes in their own best interests* then the Republicans will have basically no chance of taking office?
*Beneficiaries of farm subsidies notwithstanding
Originally posted by Zampanó
Not that I've thought much about this, but I'm skeptical of your criteria for what actions are unAmerican. For example, consider the draft. Originally it was a privilege to be a member of the armed forces, but then it was an obligation. However, the institution of the draft doesn't seem to be unAmerican (whatever its other faults). Are you sure that you are reacting to the principles of the situation and not the pragmatics of it? [b]That is, might your aversion to compulsory voting lie in the fact that if everybody votes in their own best interests* then the Republicans will have basically no chance of taking office?
Originally posted by psmith81992
This kind of logic begs proof. And while I wasn't against the draft, I wasn't thrilled with it. But at least in my opinion, there are varying degrees of unAmerican, and I would put compulsory voting ahead of a draft during a time of war.
uh, i didn't propose a thesis, so i'm not proving nothing. I suppose I said "the fact that..." but that phrase is buried in a conditional sentence so I'm not bound to anything.
Mostly I'm curious why this generated such a strong response from you guys. Whenever I hear talk about the Electoral College, one of the main refrains is that people don't get involved with government anymore. It is largely painted as a bad thing. The international students I've talked to are often surprised/amused at how few of us vote.
Bragging about our democracy (and imposing it on countries in the middle east) always seems silly when like 1 in 2 Americans bother voting in big elections, and 1 in 5 or 6 bother voting in local elections.
Originally posted by psmith81992
Someone please ban this goddamn immigrant
You cannot blame me just for this : , Yhea I just forget this : , Right after pants.
Mostly I'm curious why this generated such a strong response from you guys. Whenever I hear talk about the Electoral College, one of the main refrains is that people don't get involved with government anymore. It is largely painted as a bad thing. The international students I've talked to are often surprised/amused at how few of us vote.
And it's not like we're at the bottom. We're more to the middle. The lack of voter turnout is due to the lack of education when it comes to politics and the dominance of a two party system, where both parties essentially do the same thing.
Bragging about our democracy (and imposing it on countries in the middle east) always seems silly when like 1 in 2 Americans bother voting in big elections, and 1 in 5 or 6 bother voting in local elections.
Originally posted by Zampanó
uh, i didn't propose a thesis, so i'm not proving nothing. I suppose I said "the fact that..." but that phrase is buried in a conditional sentence so I'm not bound to anything.Mostly I'm curious why this generated such a strong response from you guys. Whenever I hear talk about the Electoral College, one of the main refrains is that people don't get involved with government anymore. It is largely painted as a bad thing. The international students I've talked to are often surprised/amused at how few of us vote.
Bragging about our democracy (and imposing it on countries in the middle east) always seems silly when like 1 in 2 Americans bother voting in big elections, and 1 in 5 or 6 bother voting in local elections.
At least that's better than voting FN.. Most of us in France vote FN as a "punitive vote"..
The FN is huuuum how to explain.... Yhea a mixt of the remanant of the NSDAP.. And your republican party....
Yheayhea you could be lucky. You don't have to fear the election of Neo nazi party wich is gaining in popularity....
Hahhah guy that believe than their president is elected by the people XD hahaaaa. Elected by money yhea.
People Who belive than politic can act about economy and employement. Hahahahaaaa in a country of this scale......
How naive they are....
Yhea in France thank to Charle de gaull and the Vth republic we also suffer from a Two party system with the P.S = Democrate. And UMP = Republican led by the Mafia instead of complet idiot Like Bush or Jack Thomson Firends.
And also the communism who are really nice for cummunism since eeer when did they stop to be controlled by the Kremlin???
And the FN and also the MODEM... a centriste party..
But actualy the France is hold by the P.S/UMP team even if this last time the FN Front Nationnal is having a nice time to burn some arab people !