Obama Says He Wants To Make Voting Mandatory

[PatColo]

Obama Says He Wants To Make Voting Mandatory (http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/03/obama-says-he-wants-to-make-voting-mandatory/)

"All Americans must participate in the pretend-steering of this great nation!!"

http://cdn1.shopmania.biz/files/s1/129521038/p/l/9/jucarie-volan-electronic~3652229.jpg

[Cebu_4_2]

President Obama has never been a stranger to controversy. But his recent comments about making voting “mandatory” are causing even some of his most die-hard supporters to raise an eyebrow.

He’s calling it a “long-term proposition,” to make voting a legal requirement for all U.S. citizens. Don’t like any candidate? Too bad. Think the system is rigged? Not the president’s problem. It’s giving new meaning to the whole “Vote or Die” campaign…

Of course, no one is suggesting that the penalty for not voting would be death. But mandating voting under the penalty of anything is strongly contrary to the history of democracy in the United States constitutional republic.

In theory, we are supposed to have the freedom of speech, as well as the freedom of silence. We are supposed to have the right to vote… or not to vote, if we so chose.
The comments came while Obama delivered a speech in Cleveland on Wednesday. He pointed to Australia – a model for his ideal society on many levels, it would seem – saying that things should be done in the U.S. like they are done there.

“If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country,” adding that it would “counteract money more than anything.”

He called the idea “transformative.” saying that “there’s a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls,” suggesting that the only people who don’t vote are those who want to vote but are disenfranchised and denied the ability to hit the polls.

According to the United States Election Project, less than 37% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the 2014 midterms. While Pew Research Center study found that the bulk of the people avoiding the polls in 2014 tended to be younger, poorer, less educated and more racially diverse, he didn’t address the fact that many do not vote because they do not see real change happening, regardless of who is elected.

The president added that it might be “fun” (his words) to consider amending the U.S. Constitution to change the role of money in the electoral system.

Currently there are a handful of countries that mandate voting, besides Australia. Such countries, like Brazil, usually mandate a fine for skilling the voting booth. But some actually do threaten citizens with prison if they do not caste their ballot.

(Article by M. David)

[Ares]

Voting implies consent... I do not consent.

[palani]

...voting a legal requirement for all U.S. citizens

Proving you are not a U.S. citizen is fairly problematic.

[PatColo]

Thx for posting the article Cebu. I'm limited to a smartphone atm; and wasn't going to sort out how to C/P that awful page, then try to "fix" the mess it would dump in the gsus edit box! :)

Agree, "voting" implies belief in the integrity of the "process", and abidence with its "outcome". PFFF! :rolleyes:

[EE_]

Voting implies consent... I do not consent.

I like telling people to remember, whoever you vote for, you consent to anything they do.
You know the people, the one's that say, "you have no say, or complaint if you don't vote".

[Ares]

I like telling people to remember, whoever you vote for, you consent to anything they do.
You know the people, the one's that say, "you have no say, or complaint if you don't vote".

Yep, I've made that same argument. I asked a guy at work if he supported everything the guy he voted for. He said no, I said how much do you agree with the guy then? He said probably 25 to 50%. I said at best half of the time you don't even agree or approve of his voting record so why vote for the guy knowing he's just going to be a self serving sack of shit like everyone else on capitol hill?

He didn't have an answer, I just said I don't vote because I detest both parties, and neither represent me. The last time I voted was for Ron Paul. After seeing what the GOP did to him I vowed I would never vote for another GOP candidate again, and it's a snowballs chance in hell that I'll ever vote for a democrat.

[EE_]

Yep, I've made that same argument. I asked a guy at work if he supported everything the guy he voted for. He said no, I said how much do you agree with the guy then? He said probably 25 to 50%. I said at best half of the time you don't even agree or approve of his voting record so why vote for the guy knowing he's just going to be a self serving sack of shit like everyone else on capitol hill?

He didn't have an answer, I just said I don't vote because I detest both parties, and neither represent me. The last time I voted was for Ron Paul. After seeing what the GOP did to him I vowed I would never vote for another GOP candidate again, and it's a snowballs chance in hell that I'll ever vote for a democrat.

Very good!
I have a very serious bone to pick with the Republicans over RP and how they exposed themselves for what they really are, so much so, I'd almost rather see another liberal faggot get the head puppet job.

[Silver Rocket Bitches!]

Go ahead and make it mandatory. You can't stop people from writing in Mickey Mouse.

[madfranks]

Go ahead and make it mandatory. You can't stop people from writing in Mickey Mouse.

That's the next step. Once mandatory voting goes into effect, they'll mandate that you vote for one of the approved candidates. Anyone caught voting for a non-approved candidate will then be subject to fines and/or imprisonment. Let freedom ring!

[Twisted Titan]

Can anybody speak on what it is like in australia and brazil?

[mick silver]

you guys need to get your ass back in line and get out and VOTE before it law

[aeondaze]

You know the people, the one's that say, "you have no say, or complaint if you don't vote".

Is funny, because the truth is actually counter to this argument.

If you voted, however you voted, by nature you've given your consent to be governed and a tacit legitimacy to the process. Therefore you should have no right to complain however, if you never gave your consent, then you have legitimate grounds for grievance.

[aeondaze]

Can anybody speak on what it is like in australia and brazil?

Sure can.

I don't vote and haven't for nearly twenty years now. Glass and Serpo do. :rolleyes:

They have NEVER ever tried to fine me.

Its all just a bit of bluff. See the thing is each incumbent is too scared to pull the trigger and fine a whole bunch of objectors because

A) Its too expensive
B) Anytime they've tried to do it, they have have had bad results. I forget the figures but its something like 30% of fined individuals refuse to pay and just make the process MORE expensive.
C) They don't want to alienate potential voters by fining them, hahaha. True.

They talk tough every now and then, but they simply don't really care that much. They figure that the vast majority of peons have been coerced into lining up at the ballot box and they are satisfied with that.

There has been talk about stopping people leaving the country at customs who haven't voted, or suspending social security or even refusing a drivers license. In the end they just choose to ignore it.

I cannot think of a more undemocratic way to run a so called democracy than forcing everyone to vote.

IMHO, not voting should be the bulwark of the system. If the there is not enough votes then the system has no legitamacy and until the voters get what they want, the wanabe rulers have to concede to their demands until a % of votes has been obtained.

Otherwise we just have the cluster f*k we see today where the candidates only have 'appear' to satisfy voter demands.

Its either this or anarchy. I would actually prefer anarchy, I see no reason why it didn't work for close to 150,000 years.

[Neuro]

I think voting was mandatory in Soviet Union.

[madfranks]

I voted no for mandatory voting. Wait... ah shit.

[ximmy]

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