Mandatory voting?

CanadaRocks · June 7, 2004

Considering that some countries don't even allow their People to vote, voting is both a right, AND a privilege in Canada today.

Even so, a great deal of input on how our country is ran is lost. As other forum members have pointed out quite often a large segment of this lost vote is from our young People.

Overall so far as I know, the consensus is that many of the Persons who don't vote validify this as not believing their vote will make a difference.

Yet I wonder, if we would see a far different Canada if voting were mandatory?

Are we not doing a disservice to our fellow Canadians, to ourselves, and to Canada itself, by allowing a large proportion of our People to opt out of the voting process?

There is I believe a category on the vote form which says "none of the above." This represents a null vote for those who don't like any of the choices presented.

I strongly feel that as a member of a democratic country we are all accountable for what our country does, or does not do. I also feel that many of those who do not vote feel by not doing so, they are making a statement. However if thats so, then their voice is, and will be ignored.

Voting, should be made a mandatory social responsibility, who or what you vote for, including a null vote, should be right and privilege.

DAC · June 7, 2004

There is I believe a category on the vote form which says "none of the above." This represents a null vote for those who don't like any of the choices presented.

I wish it were the case, but it's not. Something equivalent to this was proposed a few years ago (a declined ballot), but never implemented. But putting "none of the above" on the ballot is one of my choice constitutional amenments. Are you with me?

Argus · June 7, 2004

Considering that some countries don't even allow their People to vote, voting is both a right, AND a privilege in Canada today.
Yet I wonder, if we would see a far different Canada if voting were mandatory?

Are we not doing a disservice to our fellow Canadians, to ourselves, and to Canada itself, by allowing a large proportion of our People to opt out of the voting process?

They are doing the disservice. Besides, clearly the people who have opted out of the voting process are also people who have opted out of the political process. For the most part they do not follow politics, know little about what is going on or has gone on, and even less about the people involved.

We have enough ignorant people voting as it is. No need to force more of them into casting a vote.

CanadaRocks · June 9, 2004

Something equivalent to this was proposed a few years ago (a declined ballot), but never implemented. But putting "none of the above" on the ballot is one of my choice constitutional amenments. Are you with me?

I am definitely for a null vote to indicate lack of confidence in any of the choices listed.

We have enough ignorant people voting as it is. No need to force more of them into casting a vote.

We do have some ignorant people voting this is true.

Soveriegnty doesn't mean jack chit if most of your business's are owned by foriegners, anyone wish to tell that adage about "the man who has the gold makes the"? Here so far our politicians foolishly allow 60% + to Canadians I know better.

The only way thats handy at all is because if the other countries already own Canada in all but name whats the point in warriing with us.

We vote for people who sell out our social programs?

Who squander government money like in that recent quebec scandal? I smell scapegoats on that one.

We vote in people who when 70% + of Canadians say decriminalize marijuana, we're offered was it 5 grams?

We vote in people who take away a new mothers baby nutrition allowance saying they would only spend it on beer.

We vote for people who take the mentally ill out of homes like they did in toronto, and put them out on the streets.

We vote people in who promise to get people off welfare, and do it by reducing eligibility, hand out dead end jobs that only last as long as the contracts, and have clause they make recipients sign so that if the recipient makes a slip, they can be cut off it for life? Just where would we pu them then? In prisons at $250 a day rather than $500 a month?

We vote in people who when our government could afford what its people need through the control of the creation of money, these people changed it so private banks and citizens who own the private banks which now create the money as debt, and oh yes Canada's in debt now all right we're drowinging in it and must sell off our business's to outsiders, and aren't we doing great?

I could go on, and on, and on, with the purposeful blunders made by those we've elected, and I suppose many of you could.

Where are the leaders who care about all Canadians?

Where are the leaders who care about the issues more than popularity?

Our parents gave us a good country.

We're selling it off piece meal pretending everythings ok.

It's not ok.

Everyone wants to leave things up to the other guy.

Everyone wants to pretend if we turn a blind eye everything will be ok.

This is a democracy?

Our people should all vote.

It should be mandatory.

It should be law.

But then again?

That would be change right?

We might actually start to think if we have to vote we expect results.

..maybe we would start to care about the issues

We've made some pretty stupid useless laws in the past.

Of course, what politician in his right mind would ever pass a law that ensured the involvement of all Canadians of voting age?

There shouldn't be mandatory voting because it would bring out ignorant voters?

No, I think just the opposite, considering what I've seen thus far I'm convinced they are the only ones who are voting. It's time we rousted the smart ones out to vote while we still do have a country to vote in.