5 Jul
2001
5 Jul
'01
2:22 p.m.
Now that the GOV is getting into everyone's lives sufficiently to ensure that
everybody can, if they wish, and if they have kids in school, have a computer,
internet access, etc, (hasn't been passed yet, or if it has, I missed it) with
GOV subsidy, they could, and perhaps should, require that everyone vote. In
fact, they could replace themselves with a direct, rather than representative,
democracy. That way, all the legislature would have to do is put forth the
information required to make the decision, and then discontinue your TV service
until you passed a test (more than they now have to do) on the key points of
each issue.
That way people who pay for PORK would have to vote for it, i.e. know that
they're paying for someone's gravy train. Folks who want to vote would do so,
and folks who didn't want to familiarize themselves with the details of each
issue couldn't, but until they passed the test, they couldn't watch the hockey
game or soap opera either.
You'd have to spend ten minutes a week, I'd guess, but you wouldn't have to
stand in line or go out in the rain. There'd be a lot more knowledge behind the
votes than there presently is, that's for sure. Moreover, the various counties
wouldn't have to buy expensive voting machines.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vance Dereksen" <vance(a)ikickass.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: 4th of July Hypocricy (was: OT Celebration)
Responses inline:
On Fri, 6 Jul 2001, Geoff Roberts wrote:
I think that technically US citizens are required to vote. It is a civic
duty, at least.
Here in the US, that crowd usually doesn't even bother showing up. I vote
regularly, but if there is no one I would like to vote for in a particular
race, I will not vote for anyone on that particular race.
I think
the most offensive law in Oz is the requirement that all
citizens vote.
Mixed reaction to that here. At least the govt is elected by virtually
all of the eligible voters.
It's mildy amusing that less than half of eligible voters in US
elections actually bother to vote. I do have
a question, you have to show up to the polling place, is it
required
that you ACTUALLY vote for anyone on the ballot?
You must attend a polling place, and have your name crossed off. You
are handed ballot papers, initialled by the issuing officer,
theoretically, you can stick them straight in the ballot box and walk
out. If you do proceed to a booth,
don't mark the papers, and place them in the ballot box, that's ok too.
This means an informal vote,
but since you didn't want to vote anyway....
Basically, the law is so that people will show up to vote. What they do
then is up to them, but most people take the attitude that since they
are there, they might as well vote. They are talking about requiring people to show
id for the next
election, instead of just telling them who you are, which is the case at
the moment.
But you don't get an electoral official looking over your shoulder,
though tou can ask for someone to accompany you to the booth to ensure
that your vote is correctly filled out if you wish, can be anyone over
18, not necessarily an official.
I don't know if you can take anyone in with you here, but I have a feeling
you can. A lot of people take their kids in. We have to present ID,
usually a voter registration card or a drivers license. I usually present
the former.
Peace... Sridhar
Cheers
Geoff in Oz