Elections

[warm3]

With elections both here in Australia and also in the US of A. It seems that we are all getting the hype and getting bored with it. We do have an amazing advantage here. Everybody does vote here [thats the idea

Comments

[warm3]

Fair enough
But
everyone that is eligible surely has the right [and obligation] to turn up on voting day and express an opinion.
I wonder what proportion that complain about Bush, etc.. didn't bother to vote last time? [I know a lot are not yet able to vote.]
This is not a party political comment just a pondering on a matter of principle.
Tony

[arbus]

i absolutely agree with you and personally cant stand it when someone says that they are exercising their right to not vote. lazy and apathetic, thats all it is.

[tyskkvinna]

Less than 1/3 of American citizens go to the voting booths on election day.
Imagine what it is for the non-final elections (caucuses and primaries, etc).

I'm German. I have to vote. I've always had to vote. I don't have to pick from people I don't want, but I have to send in my ballot and cast my vote.

Somebody told me today, or was it yesterday? that they don'T vote because, while they believe in the election process, they don't care to dedicate a large amount of time to choosing a person for whom to vote. So they aren't.

Other people tell me they don't vote because their vote is one of millions, so why bother?

I can't believe it.

You can choose a candidate in 10 minutes if you have good sources. It doesn't erquire hours of research to pull every possible pro and con on a person. Choosing off of basic platforms that best suit your opinion is more than satisfactory.

I don't care who they vote for, I just wish more Americans would.

[warm3]

Yes
I agree - it is just irresponsible
Tony

Required to vote????

[atokon]

How can you be considered a free society if you are required to vote. To not vote for the bastards is also an option. The main problem in US style voting rules is that there is no 'NONE OF THE ABOVE' option. It is quite apparent that if NOTA were a real option and it counted toward who actually won then NEITHER George Bush or AL Gore would have won 4 years ago and new leaders would have had to been chosen. As it is the '2' parties have just become a very thin coin. Watching our current debacle of elections shows that whether Kerry gets elected and sworn in or GB gets the nod there will be more troops in Iraq. If NOTA were allowed both would lose this election. Thats why both camps hate any third party if the voting public cannot make up their mind between which cheek of which political asshole farts the cutest. Frankly the way it is going it will possible to be elected president in this country with only 1 person of the eligable voting population actually voting. If one side gets 0.6 percent and the other side gets 0.4 percent the

Re: Required to vote????

[warm3]

In some ways a third alternative would be nice but then the upper houses/senates would be unworkable. Politicians only represent the largest and loudest minorities.
And as they say they are nearly all the same and usually only want to talk with you when they want your vote, etc.
I still feel that if there are only 2 to vote for and you don't want to vote for either of them, then it is better to vote informal than to not vote at all.
How would it be if informal won! Who would represent informal?
We go to vote on this Saturday
Tony