Experts say that barring the unexpected, Democrats will win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November

[I'm Gone 60]

Well Australia have compulsary voting and they do all right

So if you don't vote is it a cigarette and blindfold or what?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well Australia have compulsary voting and they do all right

So if you don't vote is it a cigarette and blindfold or what?

A fine, most likely.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think it's something like 30 Australian -- i.e. not too much of a deterrent if you don't want to get out of your bed that morning.

Someone could tell me it's more though, I'm not certain

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

Well Australia have compulsary voting and they do all right

So if you don't vote is it a cigarette and blindfold or what?

A fine, most likely.

oh great, a fine. a fine is for doing wrong, a tax is for doing well. just can't win!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well Australia have compulsary voting and they do all right

So if you don't vote is it a cigarette and blindfold or what?

A fine, most likely.

oh great, a fine. a fine is for doing wrong, a tax is for doing well. just can't win!

Not too different to jury duty - where you can get a fine and end up in prison for not participating. If civic duty must be imposed for jury selection, why not for voting (another civic duty)?

[mawilson 2,133]

There's no ideal solution. It's in everyone's clear interest to care about who runs the country, unfortunately people are so used to apathy that they don't - and we end up with the situation of 35% of the population deciding what's best for everyone.

Clearly the remaining 65% are okay with it (otherwise they would vote), so what's the problem?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's no ideal solution. It's in everyone's clear interest to care about who runs the country, unfortunately people are so used to apathy that they don't - and we end up with the situation of 35% of the population deciding what's best for everyone.

Clearly the remaining 65% are okay with it (otherwise they would vote), so what's the problem?

The problem is in the assumption that they're ok with it - that people are not so apathetic about the political process that they'd rather not vote at all because they don't consider politics important or relevant. A lot of people think that ticking "A" or "B" won't make any difference so they take themselves out of the process entirely, and don't bother at all.

They don't vote because they're apathetic, and as a result of that apathy they get increasingly mediocre candidates who don't represent their interests, which makes them even more reluctant to participate. It’s a vicious cycle.

Edited August 28, 2006 by erekose