SevenRivers Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 I think the low turnouts in most of the by elections and the police commissioner websites are excellent news. People are no longer willing to give a mandate to politicians who don't represent them and who are in hock to the rich elite. If the 'winning' Labour candidate in Manchester South had any principles she'd refuse to take up her seat on an 18% turnout, but principles are unlikely to get anyone very far in the modern Labour party, or any other electoral party. Perhaps on principle then, people who can't be bothered to vote should have that right revoked.
Thorpist Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 I would still like your view on how our representatives could be chosen? Until we somehow get people to have faith MP'S we will continue down the slope of activists choosing leadership for the majority I don't believe liberal democracies are designed to give a representative government, just ones with enough of a veneer of representation that they can get on with the business of representing the rich without too many people asking questions. Consider that the UK government went to war in Iraq without any mandate, and having pledged no top-down re-organisation of the NHS the Tories immediately embarked on a massive top-down re-organisation of the NHS that massively undermines its founding purpose. Just two examples of why this isn't a real democracy.
maxmaximus Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 Perhaps on principle then, people who can't be bothered to vote should have that right revoked. What would be the point in revoking that which people don’t use anyway. Not voting is a vote in its self, it tells the politicians that we don't like any of them.
Guest sibon Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 What would be the point in revoking that which people don’t use anyway. Not voting is a vote in its self, it tells the politicians that we don't like any of them. We'd be much better off making it easier to vote. I can manage all my financial affairs online, communicate with all sorts of different people, gamble, shop. But I can't vote. Why do we have to vote in person, on a working day, within a relatively short time frame? Make it easy and people will engage.
Obelix Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 We'd be much better off making it easier to vote. I can manage all my financial affairs online, communicate with all sorts of different people, gamble, shop. But I can't vote. Why do we have to vote in person, on a working day, within a relatively short time frame? Make it easy and people will engage. It's quite tricky to intimidate someone into voting for you if you have to walk each one to the poll booth. If you do it online say, then you can get your entire staff to vote how you like, or else they don't have jobs for example. Plus it's rather tricky making it sufficiently secure without spending an awful lot of money. I think though that polling stations should be open for at least 24 hours, being as many people do work shifts.
Stan Tamudo Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 I think though that polling stations should be open for at least 24 hours, being as many people do work shifts. What shifts do you work Obelix?
Guest sibon Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 It's quite tricky to intimidate someone into voting for you if you have to walk each one to the poll booth. If you do it online say, then you can get your entire staff to vote how you like, or else they don't have jobs for example. Plus it's rather tricky making it sufficiently secure without spending an awful lot of money. I think though that polling stations should be open for at least 24 hours, being as many people do work shifts. I hadn't thought of the intimidation angle. But surely there must be a way of making online voting work. I'd like weekend voting, as they have on the continent. I'd imagine that most folks could find twenty minutes on a Saturday or Sunday to vote. Those that don't bother, deserve all that they get. The last few non-General Election polls are evidence that we do need to reform the voting system.
Guest sibon Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 What shifts do you work Obelix? It isn't just a question of shifts. Either for the voters, or the polling booth staff. Nominally, I work from 8:30 to 3:15 each day. In reality, I do considerably more. Then I have other responsibilities. Quite a few of them. I made it to the polling booth at 9:30 last night, to spoil my paper. Somehow, or other, we need to get people to vote. What do you suggest.
Stan Tamudo Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 What do you suggest. I'm a TeaFan. I don't believe liberal democracies are designed to give a representative government, just ones with enough of a veneer of representation that they can get on with the business of representing the rich without too many people asking questions. Consider that the UK government went to war in Iraq without any mandate, and having pledged no top-down re-organisation of the NHS the Tories immediately embarked on a massive top-down re-organisation of the NHS that massively undermines its founding purpose. Just two examples of why this isn't a real democracy.
Anna B Posted November 16, 2012 Posted November 16, 2012 Perhaps on principle then, people who can't be bothered to vote should have that right revoked. Perhaps instead of people having their right to vote revoked, we could punish the candidates for not being worth voting for.
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