Obama: Mandatory Voting Would Offset Big Money in Campaigns

[evanrick]

what is truly unfortunate about the conservative position on human rights and voting rights is that their attacks on other humans are attacks on themselves, which makes their own agenda a self-defeating effort.

 

[andysayshi]

As an Australian, I am required to vote at all elections for Federal, State and local council elections. Typically, that means voting three times every 3-4 years, so it is hardly an imposition. If I don't turn up to vote, and I don't have a reasonable excuse, I get a fine of $80 or so.

I think mandatory voting is a great idea, generally. In a democracy, everybody should contribute. Nothing is forcing you to choose who to vote for - you can just stick an empty slip in the ballot box if you like - but most people, when required to turn up, will make a decision and choose a representative. Of course, elections here provide two weeks of early voting, postal and internet votes for those out of the country/state/district, and voting day is Saturday so most people have time to vote on the actual day. it's actually quite good fun, generally, as schools and town halls are the predominant polling locations, and there are often charity barbecues, bake sales and that sort of thing. Larger locations will sometimes have pony rides and jumping castles for the kids!

But we are seeing the creep of corporate dollars in our political system these days, too. I don't think mandatory voting will solve that problem. Here's my solution:

No lobbyist or corporate donations to political parties.
Only individuals may contribute, and no individual may contribute more than $250 (or a similar amount - just something viable for the average person.)
Political advertising may only be commissioned and paid for by a political party - no unions, no Super PACS, nothing else.

 

[jdcnow]

No lobbyist or corporate donations to political parties.
Only individuals may contribute, and no individual may contribute more than $250 (or a similar amount - just something viable for the average person.)
Political advertising may only be commissioned and paid for by a political party - no unions, no Super PACS, nothing else.

As much as I genuinely LOVE these ideas, unfortunately, they'll never work here in the US - those rules would actually help fix part of the problem with US Politics. Keeping the broken system broken = job security.

 

[cityboy-stl]

Is this any more dictatorial than the brothers Koch spending a gazillion dollars to sway elections?

No it isn't and citizens united should be done away with. At the level of national law forcing people to vote just somehow seems wrong to me. I agree it would offset the Koch brothers and other big money interests. But I'm not convinced mandatory voting is the right way to do. I am open to listening and considering it however with some discussion.

 

[Kabluey]

Australia has mandatory voting... and it's the home of Rupert Murdoch (Fox News, etc), who does his best to dictate the national mood through his media.

People still vote against their own interests if provoked to vote instead on their fears, jealousies and prejudices.

 

[sixthson]

frankfrank, if people could be induced to vote by paying them, then they could also be persuaded to vote for your candidate for money. Not a good idea, imo.

 

[Benvolio]

frankfrank, if people could be induced to vote by paying them, then they could also be persuaded to vote for your candidate for money. Not a good idea, imo.

Indeed. Almost 50% of those filing income tax returns pay no tex and a large portion recieve welfare back. But millions more pay do not even file returns. The democrat strategy is to pander to those masses, promising them more and more freebies, while demonizing those who do pay taxes, and demanding higher and higher taxes from the few who pay now. But since these are not responsible people a large percent do not vote. Obama's plan then is to force all those people to vote, knowing that most will vote democrat for more freebies.

 

[otters]

Why do democrats want criminals to vote? Mentally ill? Permanent welfare families?

well wall street criminals vote, 3/4 of the gop are mentally ill---many are in congress, many self-loathing gays and they vote---and there are enough white trash racist hillbilly republican welfare families that vote for the gop---so let all the hypocrites vote.

nycguydowntown, do you deliberately hurt our highly estimated very very educated Republicon friend ?!

 

[Vitamin]

nycguydowntown, do you deliberately hurt our highly estimated very very educated Republicon friend ?!

Don't be silly. Education is for the liberal-commie-pinko victims of America's academic elite. Our Ben is edjamacated by the Bearers of Truth and Goodness, the Republican Party.

 

[smokeshadow]

The simplest way to get more Americans to vote is:

1) Make everyone 18 years old and older and a U. S. Citizen a registered voter. If you don't want to vote you have to opt out!
2) Make every election day a week long event instead of a Tuesday when many (most) people work.
3) Allow multiple ways to vote, i.e. via one's local poling location, via USPS, via the internet (and don't tell me it isn't safe. If you transact financial matters via the internet, voting would be as safe!)
4) Allow a "None of the Above" selection for every election; whether voting for a person, federal or state constitutional amendment, city ordinance, etc. If a majority of voters select this position, then the candidates would have to run in a new election paid for out of their own pockets or the amendment/ordinance would become null & void.

 

[Benvolio]

If voters are persuaded by big money, then the new mandated voters will be persuaded as well, and nothing will be gained by the loss of freedom. If they are not pursuaded by big money, what is the fuss?

 

[chrisrobin]

If voters are persuaded by big money, then the new mandated voters will be persuaded as well, and nothing will be gained by the loss of freedom. If they are not pursuaded by big money, what is the fuss?

Please view Paul Weyrich clip. He explains the fuss.



分かりますか

 

[Zeno Lorea]

I am from one of the many countries in the world where voting is compulsory and I love it. It forces politicians to target all voters, not just the political junkies. And contrary to what many here may think, the deadbeats and welfare class do not mostly vote for socialists but for populists and the far right. In other words they vote against their own interests, just like poor Southern whites in the USA vote against social provisions and trade union rights.

 

[otters]

And contrary to what many here may think, the deadbeats and welfare class do not mostly vote for socialists but for populists and the far right. In other words they vote against their own interests, just like poor Southern whites in the USA vote against social provisions and trade union rights.

Shush! I said: "please don't divulge it to Benvolio"!

 

[Benvolio]

I am from one of the many countries in the world where voting is compulsory and I love it. It forces politicians to target all voters, not just the political junkies. And contrary to what many here may think, the deadbeats and welfare class do not mostly vote for socialists but for populists and the far right. In other words they vote against their own interests, just like poor Southern whites in the USA vote against social provisions and trade union rights.

In the US, immigrants overwhelmingly vote democrat for the welfare. So the democrats pursue an anti-white agenda. So whites tend to vote Republican. When they last the controlled Congress, democrats enacted a new banking law requiring the institutions and agencies covered by it to hire women and minorities "to the maximum extent possible". White males, poor or otherwise, need not apply. Democrats resist all attempts to limit immigration of masses willing to work cheap, and give them employment preferences over whites. Whites voting Republican are not voting against their interests.

 

[otters]

In the US, immigrants overwhelmingly vote democrat for the welfare. So the democrats pursue an anti-white agenda. So whites tend to vote Republican. When they last the controlled Congress, democrats enacted a new banking law requiring the institutions and agencies covered by it to hire women and minorities "to the maximum extent possible". White males, poor or otherwise, need not apply. Democrats resist all attempts to limit immigration of masses willing to work cheap, and give them employment preferences over whites. Whites voting Republican are not voting against their interests.

Now, Benvolio, that wasn't too clever. Recently you said the Republican party would become eligible for many (sc.: Ibero-American) immigrants thanks to certain candidates (who are suddenly pretending to be Roman Catholics, e.g.). But when you now deny them to be white, it could actually annoy them LOL.

 

[Kulindahr]

The right to do a thing entails the right to NOT do it, or it is not a right.

That said, I would support more universal voting IFF there was a "None of the Above" option, such that if NotA had a plurality, all the listed candidates would be disqualified and a new election held.

As for Obama, he's fooling himself if he thinks that people who currently don't vote are somehow less influenced by the ads money spins to persuade them by misrepresentation and emotion.

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

I am from one of the many countries in the world where voting is compulsory and I love it. It forces politicians to target all voters, not just the political junkies. And contrary to what many here may think, the deadbeats and welfare class do not mostly vote for socialists but for populists and the far right. In other words they vote against their own interests, just like poor Southern whites in the USA vote against social provisions and trade union rights.

Exactly all the pitifully poor white trash living in Appalachia ain't voting for no commie liberal. They don't care about getting them food stamps cut, or having clean drinking water, just a pt job at the mini-mart with no benefits. ... and who needs a minimum wage?

 

[palemale]

The people who do not vote are in general, the most apathetic, disinterested, least informed group. No doubt would include much of the welfare class, criminal class, deadbeats, and those who don't pay taxes. Obama knows that those groups are more likely to vote democrat for socialism, total regulation and confiscatory taxes on the increasingly few who,pay income taxes. It is the same reason he has worked to flood the country with immigrants. He wants to cancel the votes of Republicans with foreigners, deadbeats, beggars and criminals.
He studied Marxism in college, and like most liberals, he thinks this time communism will work as long as we do not call it that.
It will happen in democrat states and not Republican ones, and provide a good reason to keep the electoral college.

So you acknowledge that the only way Republicans can win back the presidency is through massive voter suppression?

 

[Benvolio]

So you acknowledge that the only way Republicans can win back the presidency is through massive voter suppression?

No, I did not mention any form of suppression. The thread deals with forcing people to vote, even if they don't want to and don't give a damn.