I deleted the last question because the actual question didn't appear to get through to people. I am NOT advocating on either side of compulsory voting. The question is:
Three civic duties of Americans are: paying taxes, voting and jury duty. That being the case, what makes voting different from other civic duties? Should we be allowed to opt out of paying taxes, just as we tend to "opt out" of voting?
2006-12-03 16:18:07 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Civic Participation
A lot of you are STILL misunderstanding the question, or perhaps you're just so focused on your opposition/support of compulsory voting, that you don't want to engage in a logical discussion about one of the specific issues. So let me try one more time. The question is not whether or not compulsory voting should exist or not (the fact of the matter is that it DOES exist in many countries (and democracies at that - oh MY) and even in one state in the US (though it's not enforced). The question is:
WHY is voting different than other civic duties such as paying taxes and jury duty?
2006-12-03 16:39:05 · update #1
Actually Sonia, while your response doesn't seem to address the question, you brought up a point I feel requires addressing. Most people ARE given time off to vote by state law. I cannot attest for every state in the union, but most states require that employers give employees 2 hours of paid leave if they state they are unable to vote outside of working hours. Check your local Secretary of State's website.
2006-12-03 17:45:35 · update #2
Very interesting question. No I don't think peoples ought to be able to opt out of voting. In fact I think that voter apathy is cultivated in specific demographics of our poupulation because it is an effective way to control the outcome of the vote. Manditory voting would eleminate this, and thus shift the power structure in this country. Those who like having the power to manipulate the masses would obviously not support manditory voting because with more voters they would have to put more energy into manipulation. They like it the way it is, with most of the voters being elderly and easily manipulated through sentimental ideas of the good old days.
2006-12-04 19:10:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love this question... the fact that your given off for dumb holidays and not for a civic duty pf voting seems wrong to me ..I am sure more people party on CINCO DE MAYO than they go vote is astounding especially since they dont like the Mexicans almost as much as years ago the Irish were the scorn of many in American .. and prior to them the Poles , the Swedes .. so many have been scorned in American but American keeps on ticking ..
2006-12-04 01:10:23 · answer #2 · answered by Sonia D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why would anyone in their right mind want to make voting compulsory? All U.S. citizens are allowed to vote and that's fine, but MANY people don't bother to familiarize themselves with the candidates and the issues, if in fact they can even read and understand what is going on around them. I see many, of all ages, who don't read the newspaper or watch the national and local news on TV. Each one of these is a bad decision waiting to happen, and waiting to be manipulated and misdirected by others.
2006-12-04 13:39:06 · answer #3 · answered by senior citizen 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The majority of public votes are votes for a person to represent you in government. If you look at the candidates and decide that none of them could represent you and your views, then you should not be forced to just pick one.
2006-12-04 00:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Compulsory voting isn't logical at all. If you don't want to vote, thats your choice so long as you don't ***** about the government or how things are running, otherwise you'd be the biggest effing hypocrite ever.
2006-12-04 00:21:00 · answer #5 · answered by Jac R 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some countries have it and say it works successfully. Voting is a freedom that some choose not to exercise.
2006-12-04 01:48:00 · answer #6 · answered by Reba K 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The answer is: no
If you want to have a say, or as I like to out it, a right to gripe, than you need to have at least taken the steps you can to work toward what your vision of the country is.
2006-12-04 04:37:36 · answer #7 · answered by brmwk 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can opt out of paying taxes right up to the point they arrest you for tax fraud.]
Coach
2006-12-04 00:25:55 · answer #8 · answered by Thanks for the Yahoo Jacket 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope, and why on earth people don't want to have their say when it comes to casting a vote is beyond me
2006-12-04 00:19:43 · answer #9 · answered by LadyRebecca 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋