Yeah, I'd prefer the uninformed abstained, too. But since I can't make them stay home, I'd next prefer to increase the sample size at the voting booths--hopefully that will help minimize the variance between the idiots!

I wouldn't hold out for "very difficult" -- just something that proves you understand that you owe something to the society that supports you besides your priceless presence.

My inital reaction to this is, "goddamn Communist!" but, on further reflection, he has a point. Voting - taking the time to get informed, schlepp to the polls, stand in line (which there would be if it were mandatory), and wade through the ballot - has an opportunity cost, not a big one, but it is there. So it costs you something to vote, but nothing to stay home. If failure to vote were 1) leiniently enforced, 2) an infraction on the order of a parking ticket, rather than a crime, and 3) carried a minor fine, that would ilustrate to people that there is a cost to not voting. Yes, I know there is a cost to not voting - at the moment his name is Bush - but it takes a ton of work to hammer that into some folks, and usually, only age ever does bring people around.

So failure to vote is $10 or $20 bucks. I can live with that, waived if more than half the election in each category (federal, state, local) are uncontested. If you want to make the point that all the choices suck, go write in "None of the above" or "You all suck".

It's worth thinking about anyway.

(Edited to take the sting out of that first sentance.)
SF: When I say Goddam Communist, I am indulging in hyperbole. Should have stuck a :D after it.

This is the WRONG thing to do in an election. They count spoiled ballots as stupid people.. What you do is this. Take your ballot, hand it back to the person and say "There are no suitable candidates" this is counted, and shows more intelligence then putting a giant cross through the whole ballot

NO! NO! NO! A thousand times, no! I do not want someone that is forced to perform their civic duty, just putting check marks on any old place on the ballot, just to get the hell out of there.

As much as I will never understand the reasoning behind those that do not vote, I would prefer they just stay home and watch TV, than to go out and make completely uninformed choices.

DON'T VOTE
words and music by Roy Zimmerman
© 1994 Watunes (BMI)
(From "Sing It Loud!" on Metaphor Records)


Well, I'm so happy with the status quo
It's sure to make my business grow
And, children, if you're happy, too
I've got a piece of good advice for you

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you're too young, young Americans)
Who are you to say what your future will be?

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you unsung Americans)
Don't vote (hold your tongue, Americans)
Help put the mock in democracy

Well, I know my government works for me
I got my congressman on speed dial 3
And I'm proud to say he represents
All his most generous constituents

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you're too young, young Americans)
Who are you to say what your future will be?

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you unsung Americans)
Don't vote (hold your tongue, Americans)
Help put the mock in democracy

(spoken)
Yes, young Americans, sit home on election day, with your thumbs up and your butts in your chairs... and your thumbs up your butts in your chairs... happy in the knowledge that vital decisions affecting every aspect of your daily life are being made for you, by a few balding billionaires on the 42nd floor.

Don't do it
Eschew it
Say, "Screw it!"
You'll only get addicted to it

Well, I'm so glad to be one of the elite
'Cause you know it keeps me off the street
And you might say I'm out of touch
And I'd say, "Thank you very much." 1

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you're too young, young Americans)
Who are you to say what your future will be?

Don't vote (you young, young Americans)
Don't vote (you unsung Americans)
Don't vote (hold your tongue, Americans)
Help put the mock in democracy
I said, help put the mock in democracy

The day I'd not fight mandatory voting is when it is made convenient and there's a spot labled "None of the above".

That'd certainly help.

The ballots in Nebraska have a "None Of The Above" choice. I guess I just assumed that everyplace did. I only voted once in Pennsylvania, in 1980. I don't remember if they had that option, or not. I do know that it certainly comes in handy.

Voting should not be manditory. In a perfect world, everyone would be informed of their candidates views on the issues and everyone would vote. However, this is not a perfect world and most people seem to not even know the names of the candidates, much less what they stand for. Too many people are manipulated by cheesy advertisements also.

For the most part, I only vote when I know enough about the candidates to make an informed decision. I wish everyone would be like that.

Mandatory voting? Hell no!

The next step after they force you to vote is when they force you to vote for someone in particular. It's the beginning of a slippery slope.

worst. idea. ever.

lol, your argument is a slipper slope. Were you being ironic on purpose?

the right to not vote is integral with the right to vote. by making it manditory, you create a philosphical conflict that negates the freedom.

although nothing pisses me off more than people who don't vote. it's their choice, but what a slap in the face - to ART's trust the government thread, not voting is REALLY insulting. talk about taking it for granted. i get particularly put out when i encounter people who bitch about the state of the government, and then find out that they didn't even bother to exercise their voice.

In the long run, I think the uninformed will just cancel each other out. :)

Sorta. I stand by what I said, but I just left out all of the stuff that would have to happen in between. Sometimes, an exaggerated reaction makes a better point.

Seriously, though, I think that the US is increasingly on the road to a totalitarian police state, where the illusion of freedoms that we may not actually have is what keeps us in line and helps to mask the slow march toward that police state.

And if that's the direction we're headed, compulsory voting for predetermined candidates could be in the cards somewhere down the line.