Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Should people who aren't that bright be allowed to vote?

SirSeymour · 10-19-2004, 09:41 AM

I think it would be very difficult to measure ones right to vote in terms of intelligence. I too struggle with this idea as I no longer believe in universal sufferage just because you are born in this country and don't commit felony crime.

Part of the reason I believe this now is that I think making it a "right" for everyone who can register, is over 18 and not a convicted criminal has cheapened it to the point where it is no longer valued. This has led to our current low voter turn out. It is something of an excepted reality that things that are "free" to us are valued and cared for less than those we earn. I think it is time to make all citizens who wish to vote earn it in some form.

Another part of the reason I dislike universal sufferage is that it seems a lot like the fox guarding the hen house to me in financial terms. All of those citizens who receive all or part of their income from government entitlements are, in effect, in a position to vote for those who will continue those programs the longest. It is the same as me having control over the executives who decide payraises at work. It is not good business in my view.

There are reasons the founding fathers put in the property requirements for voting rights in the first Constitution. While I do not agree with them disqualifying some because of color or sex, the property requirement makes more sense to me. I have long thought that some limited form of this would be good too add back to voting. I am not completely sure how to go about it, of course. There are some issues with it that would need to be addressed. For example, my aunt who worked for the government, was never on any type of government entitlement program, never married, never owned a home of her own (she prefered living in an apartment) but yet paid taxes and understood politics/history very well. She was not a property owner but it was by choice and was definitely qualified to vote in terms of intelligence.

Like I said, needs some work but I think this should be looked at.

10-19-2004, 09:41 AM	#77 (permalink)
SirSeymour Ambling Toward the Light Location: The Early 16th Century	I think it would be very difficult to measure ones right to vote in terms of intelligence. I too struggle with this idea as I no longer believe in universal sufferage just because you are born in this country and don't commit felony crime. Part of the reason I believe this now is that I think making it a "right" for everyone who can register, is over 18 and not a convicted criminal has cheapened it to the point where it is no longer valued. This has led to our current low voter turn out. It is something of an excepted reality that things that are "free" to us are valued and cared for less than those we earn. I think it is time to make all citizens who wish to vote earn it in some form. Another part of the reason I dislike universal sufferage is that it seems a lot like the fox guarding the hen house to me in financial terms. All of those citizens who receive all or part of their income from government entitlements are, in effect, in a position to vote for those who will continue those programs the longest. It is the same as me having control over the executives who decide payraises at work. It is not good business in my view. There are reasons the founding fathers put in the property requirements for voting rights in the first Constitution. While I do not agree with them disqualifying some because of color or sex, the property requirement makes more sense to me. I have long thought that some limited form of this would be good too add back to voting. I am not completely sure how to go about it, of course. There are some issues with it that would need to be addressed. For example, my aunt who worked for the government, was never on any type of government entitlement program, never married, never owned a home of her own (she prefered living in an apartment) but yet paid taxes and understood politics/history very well. She was not a property owner but it was by choice and was definitely qualified to vote in terms of intelligence. Like I said, needs some work but I think this should be looked at. __________________ SQL query SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0 Zero rows returned....