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RE: Don't forget to vote this November 2nd

Who thinks voting should be mandatory. I understand in Oz it is and you get a ticket if you fail to, correct me if I am wrong.
But I feel it is intrinsic to a democratic way of life. Some may say it is their democratic right to not vote if they so choose, I counter that people fought and died in order that we may have that right and it is the very least we can do to respect their sacrifices.
It would be interesting to see other opinions. But Be nice!
 
Naismith said:
Who thinks voting should be mandatory. I understand in Oz it is and you get a ticket if you fail to, correct me if I am wrong.
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In Oz, once you turn 18 you have to be registered to vote. (my sons were registered at 17, but don't have to vote until they turn 18.) I am not sure about getting fined if you don't vote although I'm sure there is a penalty if you do not have a valid excuse.

Alan
 
I like the idea of voting being mandatory or at least there should be a mandatory fine if you complain about the government when you haven't bothered to vote.

(I am glad however that I visited the US before the Mid Terms as I think it's going to be a very different country after next week)
 
Astoroth said:
Absolutely can't wait for the political ads and mud-slinging to be over with!:jump:
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What?! You mean you don't like all the absolutely idiotic ads running one after another all freakin day long?
If we actually listened to all the ads, no one should be elected. "Brewster's Millions" comes to mind.
 
There are a lot of things I would like to add to this thread, most of which would get it closed. However I can't imagine the people who frequent this site not voting, and that's a plus.
 
Aviator32 said:
I like the idea of voting being mandatory or at least there should be a mandatory fine if you complain about the government when you haven't bothered to vote.

(I am glad however that I visited the US before the Mid Terms as I think it's going to be a very different country after next week)
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This country already IS different. No further comment on why, as I will almost assuredly cause this thread to get locked for certain.
 
Navy Chief said:
This country already IS different. No further comment on why, as I will almost assuredly cause this thread to get locked for certain.
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It's true I did notice that. The people in general were very different this time and there was a palpable sense of fear and paranoia about the place and in the media. Maybe it's always like that around the mid-terms I don't know. It just felt a bit like everyone was closing ranks and 'strangers' like me weren't as welcome as before.

The impression I got was that a lot of people would just like to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it was about 2005 again when the world was a very different place. It's changed for all of us in the western world I'm afraid and you can't vote that out. Maybe I should have said everyone will hope it will be a very different country. Anyone who thinks things will improve dramatically after the elections are over are in for a shock I'm afraid. It's going to get even worse than this no matter who is in power.

But good luck to you all and I shall be watching with interest, having been sucked in by it all over the last month or so.
 
Aviator32 said:
I like the idea of voting being mandatory or at least there should be a mandatory fine if you complain about the government when you haven't bothered to vote.
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I don't like the idea of voting being mandatory. People may well choose not to vote because they do not like any of the candidates. Why should they have to give their vote to someone they disapprove of?
 
grumpos said:
I don't like the idea of voting being mandatory. People may well choose not to vote because they do not like any of the candidates. Why should they have to give their vote to someone they disapprove of?
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They could always stand themselves. At least they'd have someone to vote for.
 
I don't watch the TV, mostly due to the idiotic 'political' ads, I've stopped checking the local news sites, due to the same ads and I get about 10 'political' robo calls everyday....

I can't wait till Wed when its all over except for the shouting about fraud and abuse!

pied
 
grumpos said:
That is seldom feasible. It costs a lot of money to mount a campaign.
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You have to put up a £500 deposit if you want to stand over here which is only returned if the candidate receives over five per cent of the total votes cast but you wouldn't need to mount a campaign if you were just going to vote for yourself on principle. You don't need any stickers for that!
Otherwise you just have to compromise like the rest of the voting population and vote for the candidate that represents you the best even if that is only on one sentence in the manifesto.
Or, don't vote and then keep silent when you get sent off to war or lose your job!
 
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