President Obama Suggests Making Voting Mandatory

[lawrocket 3]

This one at first had me shaking my head. It then had me really scratching my head. It's yet another idea that sounds great to many until some actual thought is put into it.

I'm absolutely against it. I am fundamentally against turning a right into a duty. It isn't a right anymore if you are compelled to do it. It would be like compulsory gun ownership. Or requiring someone to pick a religion.

Another problem: ignorant voters. Guaranteed. Makes me wonder when someone wants to encourage participation of the ignorant

Third problem: enforcement. Would this be an Obamavote program? Would a person be jailed for not participating? Or would a person get an Obamafine like in Obamacare?

If the latter, then there is a shit sandwich. The admin and the Democrats have pointed out that the poor and those on a fixed income can't afford ID. This is mainly among nonwhite voters. If it is racist to charge people for an ID to vote then it is racist to charge people for not voting. When that class of non voters is predominantly non white

Can anyone here provide me with some arguments in favor of this?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[billvon 2,989]

>Can anyone here provide me with some arguments in favor of this?

Nope. I agree. Mandating that people vote is a mistake. There are some countries that mandate people show up at a balloting place and sign in; that is often combined with a census. That's not as bad as mandatory voting but still a mistake.

[zoobrothertom 5]

I would prefer a national voting day.

____________________________________
I'm back in the USA!!

[airdvr 210]

Against as well. People who are essentially wards of the state will never vote for something that would remove them from that role.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[JerryBaumchen 1,354]

Hi rocket,

Quote

I'm absolutely against it.

As am I. If it became a reality, then someone could show up, sign in & then turn in a blank ballot. They met the req'ment of the law.

Nothing would be accomplished except a lot of time would be wasted.

Jerry Baumchen

[Andy9o8 2]

zoobrothertom

I would prefer a national voting day.

Damn good idea.
So what should we call it?

[lawrocket 3]

Andy9o8

***I would prefer a national voting day.

Damn good idea.
So what should we call it?


Obama Day.

I wonder whether they'll allow voting by Obamaphone

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[RonD1120 62]

I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[lawrocket 3]

RonD1120

I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

I'd suggest excluding seniors, who are bein paid to vote for whomever won't touch Medicare or Social Security

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[ryoder 1,590]

lawrocket

***I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

I'd suggest excluding seniors, who are bein paid to vote for whomever won't touch Medicare or Social Security

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Andy9o8 2]

RonD1120

I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

I think we should exclude anyone with capital gains assets, tax shelters, corporate executives or the military. They are getting paid to vote Republican to maintain their welfare.

[winsor 236]

lawrocket

This one at first had me shaking my head. It then had me really scratching my head. It's yet another idea that sounds great to many until some actual thought is put into it.

I'm absolutely against it. I am fundamentally against turning a right into a duty. It isn't a right anymore if you are compelled to do it. It would be like compulsory gun ownership. Or requiring someone to pick a religion.

Another problem: ignorant voters. Guaranteed. Makes me wonder when someone wants to encourage participation of the ignorant

Third problem: enforcement. Would this be an Obamavote program? Would a person be jailed for not participating? Or would a person get an Obamafine like in Obamacare?

If the latter, then there is a shit sandwich. The admin and the Democrats have pointed out that the poor and those on a fixed income can't afford ID. This is mainly among nonwhite voters. If it is racist to charge people for an ID to vote then it is racist to charge people for not voting. When that class of non voters is predominantly non white

Can anyone here provide me with some arguments in favor of this?

I think it is a positively brilliant idea.

Mr. Rocket, you always look at the negative possibilities. There need be no penalties, since ensuring that everyone votes is easy.

If, for some reason, you do not or can not cast your ballot yourself, we will cast if for you. With scientific precision we can identify which candidate best represents your interests in every race, and we simply record your vote for that person. Since we know who you would have voted for, this amounts to a great time saver, and ensures that every voice is heard.

What could be more fair?


BSBD,

Winsor

[grue 1]

It's a very, very clear violation of the first Amendment.

cavete terrae.

[Croc 0]

Weren't the Soviets required to vote?

"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so."

Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

[grue 1]

The Australians are.

It's a stupid, terrible idea.

cavete terrae.

[Andy9o8 2]

lawrocket

******I would prefer a national voting day.

Damn good idea.
So what should we call it?


Obama Day.
Nope. Obama day will some day be the national holiday of the day of obama's birth. In Kenya.

[BIGUN 1,296]

>>>I agree. Mandating that people vote is a mistake.

Agreed. For the reasons you mention.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[regulator 0]

Andy9o8

***I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

I think we should exclude anyone with capital gains assets, tax shelters, corporate executives or the military. They are getting paid to vote Republican to maintain their welfare.

Exactly HOW much do you think service members get paid for their service...I'll tell you right now. It's not nearly as much as it should be.

[regulator 0]

grue

The Australians are.

It's a stupid, terrible idea.

This is the pinnacle of the obama mindset. He's just full of stupid, terrible ideas. I'm sure there are a plethora more he'd love to unleash aupon us, but his advisors know they wouldn't fly.

[Stumpy 284]

regulator

This is the pinnacle of the obama mindset. He's just full of stupid, terrible ideas.

Find me a politician that isn't.

For the record I agree -
Compulsory voting = stupid idea.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[Andy9o8 2]

regulator

******I think we should exclude people on welfare. They are being paid to vote Democrat.

I think we should exclude anyone with capital gains assets, tax shelters, corporate executives or the military. They are getting paid to vote Republican to maintain their welfare.

Exactly HOW much do you think service members get paid for their service...I'll tell you right now. It's not nearly as much as it should be.

Way to miss the point. The Republicans create and maintain an entire class of military service members and veterans, and plenty of battle groups, conflicts and fear-mongering to justify them, at the cost of thousands of broken lives and families, and trillions of dollars of publicly-funded assets. An entire class who are deluded into thinking they're participating in "defense" when in fact they're being exploited as cannon fodder. They, in turn vote overwhelmingly Republican.

If the service members and veterans are under-compensated, it's because they're being exploited by those getting rich, or powerful, or both, on their backs. Then FoxNews pats them on the head and tosses them dog biscuits, then they dutifully go to the polls and vote for Republicans who will maintain the cycle. It's an entire welfare class that's deluded, much like a religion, into thinking it's something else, when in fact they're being played as suckers.

[rehmwa 2]

winsor

If, for some reason, you do not or can not cast your ballot yourself, we will cast if for you. With scientific precision we can identify which candidate best represents your interests in every race, and we simply record your vote for that person. Since we know who you would have voted for, this amounts to a great time saver, and ensures that every voice is heard.

What could be more fair?

well - if someone doesn't vote, clearly that means they can't get to the polling place, which means they can't afford to go. Therefore, if we wallow in the stereotypes of the extremes of each party, that person would have voted as far left as possible. It's genius - any default vote goes left.

sounds a lot like interpreting loose chads

even more like the Franken election where people would write in "anybody but this asshole" with an arrow pointing to Franken's name. Because there was an arrow, they'd 'interpret' the voter's intent as voting for Franken

politics is weird and obtuse

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

regulator

Exactly HOW much do you think service members get paid for their service...I'll tell you right now. It's not nearly as much as it should be.

exactly what does this mean - EVERYONE says it about every job.

I get it, people want to appreciate others and people want more money. And these jobs are important and valuable. But they still get what they get.

There is no "should" in pay. military, teachers, firemen, fast food workers, professors, etc etc etc. There is only the negotiated contract to trade labor for pay. "should" is whining. Don't take the job.

Should I assume you are a big fan of wage fixing, price fixing, and dramatic minimum wage increases? Or only for specific jobs that you consider important.

I'm also not a fan of preferential hiring practices, of any kind, and if we are stay consistent, that has to include vets. Equal playing ground is the ONLY correct answer.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

Stumpy

For the record I agree -
Compulsory voting = stupid idea.

I agree - however, I think floating the idea to stimulate the discussion is not a real problem.

---Even when it comes from someone who has no clue on the consequences of trying to control all the citizenry.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[DanG 1]

I think preferential hiring of vets for government jobs makes some sense. They already have a known track record of Federal employment.

The private sector can hire vets on a preferential basis if they want, and frankly it makes sense for them for the exact same reason.

- Dan G