Posh wrote:Keith wrote:wijit wrote:it's not their democratic duty to vote, it's their democratic right to choose to vote...
I think wijit summed up my opinion succinctly. We'll chalk this one up to being another of our agree to disagree
"Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives"
It's impossible to be democratic if you choose to opt out of democracy. They actually fail the established democratic system by choosing to opt out. If everyone or a majority did it we'd move towards tyranny. It also makes the system more corruptible as less people vote.
A few other thoughts. The current system creates bias. Turnout amongst the wealthy and the elderly is much higher than the poor and the young thus making their views impact more at the cost of others. Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law
Compulsory voting removes factors such as the weather which reduces turnout when poor.
Finally we're all in it together if we all voted. And it might lead us to care more.
Until the 1970s if you didn't own your own in part of the United Kingdom you didn't get a vote and if you owned your own business you got up to five votes. The inequalities of that system began the Troubles in Northern Ireland. That system seems deeply unfair but low voter turnout creates a discriminatory system cause by those who don't vote rather than those blocked from voting.
I do like your input in this type of thread (genuinely!).
I'm going to try and go in order of your post, Mr Posh.
Do you not think that it is the height of democracy that people CAN opt out of democratic voting? This bit is really interesting, and as has been mentioned, we will never see eye to eye on this, and I see the point you're making entirely, but I just can't see the democratic bit about compelling people to do something they have chosen previously to not do.
I'll not bang on, but I do think we already have a degree of corruption already in the house without adding more to that equation and yes, I do know that might look hypocritical!
The turnout, I think, has a lot more to do with social conditioning and as a nation we should be approaching this in a different way than just simply compulsion. Otherwise for those groups you mention it could just present an even greater "them and us" scenario and again, put votes not normally cast to parties who pander to that rather than by genuine policies.
Your last paragraph is more interesting in that it points out the real inequalities of the past, but I would suggest that the troubles in NI are far more complex than just a voting system.
Good to read something that decent thought and knowledge has gone into though. You must've gone to a good High School.........