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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#53001: Apr 11th 2013 at 8:12:50 PM

[up]Wait, then how can the federal government say poll taxes are illegal?

They aren't.

But poll taxes that only one group pays(ie, discrimination), is illegal because of the 15th Amendment.

Edit: Actually, they are. The 24th Amendment of the Constitution...

edited 11th Apr '13 8:15:32 PM by Swish

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#53002: Apr 11th 2013 at 8:14:24 PM

That's what they were doing? I thought the idea behind poll taxes was that they made it harder for poorer people to vote and since the majority of blacks are poorer than whites it disproportionately affected them. I didn't know it was something only black people had to pay.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#53003: Apr 11th 2013 at 8:20:09 PM

A state could institute mandatory voting...

Well ....f*ck.

I still don't like it though. The State shouldn't unnecessarily infringe on people's freedoms.

Obama, GOP senators agree to exchange paper in debt talks

edited 11th Apr '13 8:21:17 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#53004: Apr 11th 2013 at 8:24:03 PM

[up][up]I edited the above post...

The 24th Amendment was ratified to stop poll taxes. But that only affected federal elections.

The Supreme Court applied it to state elections via the 14th amendment.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#53005: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:31:26 PM

[up][up] How is having to vote a bigger infringement than having to file a tax return?

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53006: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:33:22 PM

Enforced voting is a terrible idea. Freedom includes the right to say "You all suck and I'd rather not see any of you idiots in office. I'm not helping any of you." or even say "I don't care it doesn't effect me", by forcing the issue you would be taking that away. We can argue all day about those positions validity but we have to allow them to exist. Forced participation in most things won't make people more inclined to get informed either. It will make them more inclined to see it as a drag, or even moral offense.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#53007: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:37:19 PM

House Democratic leaders pushed back Thursday against President Obama's decision to include Social Security cuts as part of his 2014 budget request.

@Wildcard

I love you. tongue

[up][up]

Look I don't like taxes being mandatory, but it's necessary to keep our nation functioning.

As we've gone over a 200 years without it, I think it's safe to say that our nation won't collapse because voting isn't mandatory.

[down] Your missing the point entirely. Forced participation is wrong (unless it saves lives or is necessary to keep the country functioning).

EDIT: You know I'm shocked about how little most of guys care about freedom in regards to this issue.

edited 11th Apr '13 9:48:44 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#53008: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:43:10 PM

Even when places have mandatory voting in other countries, a vote for "None of the Above" is generally accepted.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53009: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:47:41 PM

@shima: Kinda makes it pointless then doesn't it? Unless they somehow decide to actually count the "I'm not voting" votes.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#53010: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:54:06 PM

It gives you the freedom not to vote for any specific person, while still ensuring that the population at least thinks about it.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53011: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:56:46 PM

A lot of them probably aren't thinking about it. Just a "oh great I have to vote now. I'm just gonna check off the none of the above box".

Even if they were it is still wrong to force people into this. We don't need it, and it would be a wasted effort if many voters come apathetic which is very likely to happen.

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#53012: Apr 11th 2013 at 9:57:32 PM

[up]

Voters are apathetic anyhow. at least a culture of enforced votuing would cause more people to have to think about it.

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53013: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:01:32 PM

No it wouldn't. You don't have to think about the issues when voting. And it would still be wrong.

edited 11th Apr '13 10:19:27 PM by Wildcard

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#53014: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:14:39 PM

[up][up]

Apathetic People aren't going to 'think about it' just because you shove it down there throats.

Progress Kentucky official resigns due to McConnell scandal

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
PhilippeO Since: Oct, 2010
#53015: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:28:32 PM

I don't think "none of the above" will become default choice of apathetic voters.

First, a lot of people not voting because hassle of going to voting places. they prefer work or leisure, they not always independent / dislike either party, they might have party/candidate of choice. when they forced to go ballot box, they might exercise their vote.

Second, people like to decide. in polling a lot of answer often change depending on question, people didn't like to see themselves as irrelevant or undecided on any issue, so they almost always make a choice, even with very limited information. in enforced voting, it will be the same, once they inside voting booth, they will make a choice.

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53016: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:34:37 PM

Yet it would still be wrong to do so even if that were true. You can't say the vast majority would think about the issue or automatically care just because you made it harder for them to not care. We don't need it either.

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#53017: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:39:09 PM

@Norquist v Sanders: OMG! That was HILARIOUS! XD

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#53018: Apr 11th 2013 at 10:45:58 PM

Maybe if voting was easier for voters, there would be more participation?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#53019: Apr 11th 2013 at 11:15:36 PM

That is already the case.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#53020: Apr 11th 2013 at 11:47:24 PM

I have to say, it's amusing to find people that are for the US's plan for universal health care(if you don't purchase insurance, you're fined), but against the idea of mandatory voting(if you don't vote, you're fined)...

If you're against both, cool... But it's just funny to hear the latter being considered "wrong" because it's "wrong to force people to do something they don't want to" after the whole Obamacare thing...

edited 11th Apr '13 11:47:58 PM by Swish

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#53021: Apr 11th 2013 at 11:54:06 PM

I'm for Single Payer Universal Healthcare. While Obamacare is a corporatist law dressed up as something that serves the interest of the people while it basically serves the interest of the healthcare industry, which could be better served by being destroyed with fire and replaced by something not run by businessmen, either state run or worker run, and is free for everyone/considered a human right.

Mandatory voting is an abridgement of freedom, but without the added corporatism of Obamacare, so it's at least marginally better, so yay?

edited 11th Apr '13 11:54:55 PM by deathpigeon

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#53022: Apr 12th 2013 at 12:40:48 AM

So on a creepier note that gets quietly smokescreened while everyone bitches about the economy, stuff about domestic drones for surveilling, tear gassing, or lethally exploding in the face of anyone they don't like.

edited 12th Apr '13 12:40:56 AM by Pykrete

Sledgesaul Since: Oct, 2011
#53023: Apr 12th 2013 at 12:47:19 AM

Yeah, the fearmongering over drones? Once again, turns out to be true.

Has that been implemented yet?

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#53024: Apr 12th 2013 at 12:50:11 AM

[up][up]

The Police can do that already — they've got Helicopters. And the drones aren't going to be mounted with missiles. And this article's already been seen in the Drone thread — tiny Drones can't enter someone's home without a Search Warrant.

[up]

Yep.

edited 12th Apr '13 12:55:57 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
Sledgesaul Since: Oct, 2011
#53025: Apr 12th 2013 at 12:58:32 AM

Yeeeeup. The drone fearmonger now look like prophets.

Jesus Christ.

edited 12th Apr '13 1:01:58 AM by Sledgesaul


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