Does it make sense?

Question

That many people who wish the United States was purely democratic instead of a republic(i.e. all matters are solved by a popular vote, rather than by the votes of representatives), probably wouldn't go out to the polls to vote anyway? I mean, voter turnout is ... what? Next to nothing?

Answer 1

Are you kidding? Being able to actually vote on the issues that effect me would be reason enough to go out and have my say. I think many more people would vote if we were voting on the issues instead of for representatives that don't care what we want. But this won't happen. They'd rather tell us what we want and need.

Answer 2

Ok let's work backwards. First, one reason the U.S. election turnout results are significantly lower than EU countries is because we calculate turnout % differently. They calculate based on 'voting population' (those who are registered to vote) whereas we calculate based on 'potential voters' (everyone over 18, including felons, etc., who are not allowed to vote). Second, in certain countries you are automatically registered to vote which means there is one less requirement on the voters. Third, voter turnout is still over 50% in spite of the difficulties just mentioned so it isn't as bad as it may first seem. Fourth, the average American (within a 10 year period) has 5-20 times as many votes to cast, and this may lead to voter fatigue. Next, the first part of your question kinda makes sense if you think of a similiar thing in a different context. Nobody is going to go out and buy one of everyting at the grocery store. That would be absurd. But if they were told they were not allowed to buy certain things (and it was not because of saftey concerns or anything) they'd be pissed and demand their options back. So, it may seem silly that non-voters would want the option to vote on things they wouldn't vote on anyway and it may in fact be silly, but it's also natural.

Answer 3

No, it doesn't make sense. We elect representatives because we can't possibly put up every bill as a public referendum. If/when those representatives consistently fail to abide by the majority of their constituents then they get voted out. A pure democracy just isn't practical. That's why they came up with the concept of a democratic republic.

Answer 4

That would be the people's problem. And instead of some one telling me what is good for me I can at least have the chance to vote.

Answer 5

Individual freedom is the dream of our age. It's what our leaders promise to give us, it defines how we think of ourselves and, repeatedly, we have gone to war to impose freedom around the world. But if you step back and look at what freedom actually means for us today, it's a strange and limited kind of freedom.



Politicians promised to liberate us from the old dead hand of bureaucracy, but they have created an evermore controlling system of social management, driven by targets and numbers. Governments committed to freedom of choice have presided over a rise in inequality and a dramatic collapse in social mobility. And abroad, in Iraq and Afghanistan, the attempt to enforce freedom has led to bloody mayhem and the rise of an authoritarian anti-democratic Islamism. This, in turn, has helped inspire terrorist attacks in Britain. In response, the Government has dismantled long-standing laws designed to protect our freedom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/noise/?id=trap