Should all citizens have equal voting power? (1 Viewer)

[loquasagacious]

In my opinion threads of this ilk are founded in a fundamentally elitist mindset - a mindset utterly convinced that it knows best and completely frustrated that others do not agree. Having been unable to convince others of their mistake this mindset confronts an impasse with two options to explain why it can not convince everyone of it's opinion:
1) Their theory is wrong or unsuitable in some regard / has not been adequately communicated.
2) The populace is too stupid to understand the theory being espoused or is otherwise under the sway of existing power structures (enter Government and Media which oppose the theory being espoused).

An elitist mindset could never be wrong and could never fail to communicate so that rules out option 1 and leaves us with option 2. Having concluded that anyone who disagrees is an idiot the next step is to exclude them from decision making. Cue this thread.

At their heart proposals to limit voting are all fundamentally aimed at rearranging the electorate in such a way as to become favourable to the pet cause of the moment. So how about some honesty in all this, fyi it looks something like this:

"I see that you disagree with me and I have not been able to change your mind, this leads me to conclude that you are an idiot and should have your decision making rights revoked"

Maybe one explanation for the intermittent appearance of these threads is people watching Idiocracy and being stung into action?

Anyway without further ado I believe it is time to stamp this file as 'Intellectual Elitism - Worst Kind Thereof' and file under 'Never Going to Happen'.

 

[Silver Persian]

Boo to the unthinking masses who ruin democratic order with their mindless swill.

Let the philosopher-kings rule!

 

[Uncle]

Even idiots must vote as well.

My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were
discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The
cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount . . . . . .

He ALSO votes!
==========
While working at a Pizza Parlor I observed a man ordering a small
pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he
would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some
time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think
I'm hungry enough to eat 6 . . .

Yep, he votes too.
=========

from my blog...

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

http://community.boredofstudies.org...politics/205984/meritocracy-vs-democracy.html

For related thread


In that context, no-one provided any argument against what spence says - test people for how well they understand political philosophy and the policies of the various parties, and then give them a certain number of voting points depending on how well they do.

"hmm, your score was mediocre but since you didn't answer any questions re hume and kant correctly, then i'm afraid we're going to have to award you with only 1/2 a voting power point. we understand kant better than you and therefore we know what you want.

that's what it comes down to in the end "we know what you want"
it's not about what's right, it's about a group of people deciding what they want to do, and the most effective way of guaging that isn't through a disparity of power.

if you don't like it fuck off to saudi arabia lol!

 

[electrolysis]

Even idiots must vote as well.



from my blog...

LOL
but you do have a good argument there...

 

[Silver Persian]

But someone who doesn't understand what the policies of the different parties are, or the philosophical principles upon which they are founded, can't make an effective or informed vote!

So long as the elites are right, elitism is a great thing!

(oh my it is fun to act like Iron/the source of all truth)

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

Personally, I think a homeless man who couldn't care less about who's running the country, and who really isn't all that affected by the leader's decisions should have less of a say in the country than say, for example, a company executive.

What do you think? Should we all really be on equal footing?

Fucking ridiculous. First of all, homeless people are some of the most knowledgeable when it comes to politics, since they spend all day reading newspapers and books. Second of all, homeless people are some of the most affected by those in power. They certainly deserve an equal fucking say.

If only corporate execs had a say, we'd end up in a dystopian oligocracy.

 

[SylviaB]

Homeless people don't pay taxes though so it's not their money being spent :O : O :O

 

[Lentern]

I am of the belief that there are some people better equipped to choose governments then others. However trying to choose them fairly forms a chicken and the egg problem. I think anyone with real ideas for how government should function is worth being heard. Although I dissagree with most people many issues they have ideas which they believe will make the world a better place and the intent is what really matters to me. It is those who honestlywould prefer not to play a part in the democracy that form the drag on it. It isn't as simple as just saying make voting voluntary. We Australians don't get around to alot of things we think are important or good, government is too important to suffer for that.

When the parliament is disolved and the election called everyone on the roll I believe should recieve a letter simply saying would you like to vote in the upcoming election. Those who really have no interest in the democratic process can write no and sign off and it is done, those who sign yes can get fined alot of money for not turning up. Those who don't return their letter can get bombarded by letters harrypotter style until the government sends someone in a dark suit to get an answer from them.

I don't think it's elitist to offer people the chance to put themselves within or outside the democratic process. I think someone who is forced to contribute to most projects without any goodwill toward it will rarely contribute something positive. The question of getting the letter to the homeless man is a tough one but we've got clever chaps working in government we'll work something out. The idea of choosing whether or not you want to vote 5 weeks out I think is the key factor.

 

[jb_nc]

I am of the belief that there are some people better equipped to choose governments then others. However trying to choose them fairly forms a chicken and the egg problem. I think anyone with real ideas for how government should function is worth being heard. Although I dissagree with most people many issues they have ideas which they believe will make the world a better place and the intent is what really matters to me. It is those who honestlywould prefer not to play a part in the democracy that form the drag on it. It isn't as simple as just saying make voting voluntary. We Australians don't get around to alot of things we think are important or good, government is too important to suffer for that.

When the parliament is disolved and the election called everyone on the roll I believe should recieve a letter simply saying would you like to vote in the upcoming election. Those who really have no interest in the democratic process can write no and sign off and it is done, those who sign yes can get fined alot of money for not turning up. Those who don't return their letter can get bombarded by letters harrypotter style until the government sends someone in a dark suit to get an answer from them.

I don't think it's elitist to offer people the chance to put themselves within or outside the democratic process. I think someone who is forced to contribute to most projects without any goodwill toward it will rarely contribute something positive. The question of getting the letter to the homeless man is a tough one but we've got clever chaps working in government we'll work something out. The idea of choosing whether or not you want to vote 5 weeks out I think is the key factor.

Yo homie.

This is an internet forum

take this shit back to your australian government class

laters fag

 

[Lentern]

Yo homie.

This is an internet forum

take this shit back to your australian government class

laters fag

Bro say dat shit again and it'll be the last shit you say uleh. Da only thing between you and ma cousins is a mobile phone ya got dat?

 

[ZaraKu]

I say voting should be voluntary. So many people neither donkey vote or just tick whatever box (I'm one I voted for the nice lady who smiled at me and I only voted for her just cause she was nice to me and cause I didn't know anyone up for election, seriously lol). If people who don't care about government or who just mindless vote (e.g yours truly) don't vote then the system would be better off some how

 

[russs]

Voting should be voluntary, that way the only people who will vote are the ones that are well educated about the political processes and can actually understand the consequences of their actions.

Hence, the Labor party wouldn't be able to bullshit younger voters who don't know any better with their crap.

On the other hand, I think everybody should be vote. Restricting voting to certain demographics will lead to further problems.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

Homeless people don't pay taxes though so it's not their money being spent :O : O :O

Well I'm so sorry this isn't Libertopia where we leave the sick and homeless to rot in gutters while we get rich.

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

Hence, the Labor party wouldn't be able to bullshit younger voters who don't know any better with their crap.

Heh. Hopefully we could discourage the ones with partisan views like this tripe as well.

SPENDING
MONEY
IS
ALWAYS
BAD
.

 

[Uncle]

Hence, the Labor party wouldn't be able to bullshit younger voters who don't know any better with their crap.

Heh. Hopefully we could discourage the ones with partisan views like this tripe as well.

SPENDING
MONEY
IS
ALWAYS
BAD
.

i was at the petrol station.
i went to fuel my 86 corolla.
big abo guy came out of nowhere had a big gun and point to my forehead.
he said "GIMME YA FUCKIN MONEY CUNT"
i gave him my life savings of 250 dollars.
life savings of 250 dollars!
work so hard at fish and chips.
"IF YA DON'T GIVE ME THA FUCKIN MONEY YOU CUNT I'LL FUCKEN KILL YA CUNT"
but then i give him money so he wont bust cap in my ass.
but i buy lottery ticket with lucky dollar underneath my shoe.
won 1 million dollars.
and now save in bank.
take that you abo guy stold my money

 

[Enteebee]

All citizens having voting rights doesn't really mean a democracy where you have the will of the average citizen, it's quite far from that eh?

 

[moll.]

All citizens having voting rights doesn't really mean a democracy where you have the will of the average citizen, it's quite far from that eh?

Prisoners should have their voting rights renounced for the length of the gaol period. They flout and abuse other people's rights, the state should have the right to abuse theirs in turn, on behalf of the populace.
Those who don't complete high school should also be disenfranchised. If you don't have the will or drive to complete high school, what right do you have to partake in national politics? Besides, most states are debating whether or not to make year 12 compulsory as it is. This would be a de facto way of making it compulsory.

 

[Riet]

I think voting should remain compulsory. It seems that the most vocal and interested in politics are usually at either extreme of the political spectrum (eg, socialist alternative fags) and I really don't want them deciding who will lead us. Fact of the matter is that elections are decided by about 10% of the population anyway.

 

[pman]

I believe those that have an actual interest in who is running the country should count double, so should liberal votors