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

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#53026: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:01:23 AM

Have you seen a Police Helicopter? They've got cameras on them...

Its nothing new.

edited 12th Apr '13 1:01:34 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
Sledgesaul Since: Oct, 2011
#53027: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:02:44 AM

Here's something new. Republicans like that Obama's offering to cut Social Security.

Be afraid. They're gonna ask for more cuts and blame it on the DNC in 2014 and 2016.

edited 12th Apr '13 1:05:34 AM by Sledgesaul

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#53028: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:22:06 AM

[up] ...How is that new? We've known that since the beginning. They like the cuts and hate the tax increases.

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)...

I stated my position in an earlier post. Forced participation is wrong (unless it saves lives or is necessary to keep the country functioning).

And (as you know) Healthcare saves lives. So I rebuff you accusations of Hypocrisy.

White House Responds to Jay-Z's "Open Letter" Lyrics That Suggest Barack Obama Gave Clearance for Cuba Trip

A panel of federal judges Thursday threatened to hold Governor Jerry Brown and other state officials in contempt of court if they do not quickly produce a plan to remove thousands of convicts from California's packed prisons.

US supreme court to decide if companies can patent human genes

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#53029: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:24:57 AM

I hope the patent thing goes wrong. Patents on human genes? Really?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Sledgesaul Since: Oct, 2011
#53030: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:36:36 AM

Also, CISPA, the successor to SOPA, has been passed in a closed door vote by a House committee.

edited 12th Apr '13 1:37:51 AM by Sledgesaul

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#53031: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:48:30 AM

[up]

Remember the House still needs to vote on it. It's times like this that I'm glad our legal system goes as fast a bloated slug.

Illinois House wants voters to abolish lieutenant governor job

edited 12th Apr '13 1:54:33 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Skatepunk Since: Feb, 2011
#53032: Apr 12th 2013 at 1:58:09 AM

Been a while since I've been here.

To say I'm a bit irritated with the President's budget would be an understatement...

Also, why the HELL is CISPA back when the people said no?!?

Lobbyists have far too much power...

Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#53033: Apr 12th 2013 at 4:11:56 AM

On drones - be extremely wary of quoting Glenn Greenwald on anything. He's an extremely dubious source, and has been caught flat-out misrepresenting multiple times.

Schild und Schwert der Partei
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#53034: Apr 12th 2013 at 4:32:01 AM

I'm sorry to turn things back to mandatory voting but I have another point. If millions of people are forced to vote and check a box that says they don't like any of the candidates the major and minor parties will have hard data on how many people they're not reaching. They might start paying attention to these people and try to court them so the other side doesn't get them. I can't see how this isn't good for democracy.

edited 12th Apr '13 4:32:35 AM by Kostya

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#53035: Apr 12th 2013 at 5:05:59 AM

@Kostya: Yes, but why would they have any interest in outreach, again? Democrat -or- Republican.

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53036: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:22:12 AM

@Kostya: Because it is wrong, and we don't need it. I don't care what the results would be, it is still wrong.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:22:40 AM by Wildcard

imadinosaur Since: Oct, 2011
#53037: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:28:26 AM

How is it wrong?

Anyway, Australia has compulsory voting IIRC; I'd suggest looking at them for an example.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#53038: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:28:40 AM

[up][up] Why? Under what values? How is it wrong?

Voting isn't a right. It's a fundamental responsibility for a democracy?

You don't like any of the candidates? Tough. Vote for the one you hate the least, and shift the Overton window.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:28:50 AM by DrTentacles

imadinosaur Since: Oct, 2011
#53039: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:29:22 AM

If you don't like any of the candidates, simply spoil your ballot.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53040: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:30:27 AM

Voting is a right, and you have a right to not use it. It's a responsibility that not everyone needs to use.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:31:04 AM by Wildcard

imadinosaur Since: Oct, 2011
#53041: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:31:57 AM

Voting is a responsibility, and by not taking part you are undermining the basis of democracy.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#53042: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:33:11 AM

Why shouldn't it be mandatory?

Give a reason other than "it's bad" or "it abridges freedom."

That's meaningless.

Do you disagree that mandatory voting will lead to a more truly representative democracy?

If you don't, do you disagree that a truly representative democracy is generally better than a non-representative one?

edited 12th Apr '13 6:34:34 AM by DrTentacles

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53043: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:33:56 AM

How does not voting if you don't care enough to get informed undermining the basis? The people voting care enough obviously and their are lots of them.

[up]No it is meaningless to make it mandatory. It won't make people care, and it is still wrong. Voting is a right and as a right you don't have to use it. Besides mandatory voting won't get made into a law anyway.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:35:20 AM by Wildcard

DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#53044: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:36:21 AM

[up] You're not using logic, or saying why it's actually wrong, just that it is. You need to back those sort of statements up.

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#53045: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:37:15 AM

And yet your not saying why it isn't wrong either and I am using logic. I said it was a right.

[down]Good point.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:39:49 AM by Wildcard

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#53046: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:38:38 AM

Give a reason other than "it's bad" or "it abridges freedom." That's meaningless.
Every alternate Tuesday in Spring, you must wear non-matching socks or else pay a small fine.

Explain why this is undesirable without using "meaningless" terms like "freedom" or "liberty".

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#53047: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:40:35 AM

Has this already been mentioned?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#53048: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:41:03 AM

[up][up] The government is not affect by your wardrobe. Your wardrobe doesn't affect other people. Voting affects everyone. Therefore, the government can legislate on it. (Traffic laws, anyone?)

Explain how the harm of mandatory voting would be greater than the benefits.

edited 12th Apr '13 6:41:35 AM by DrTentacles

imadinosaur Since: Oct, 2011
#53049: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:42:45 AM

If you don't care about politics, then frankly that's your fault.

If you've come to the conclusion that all the candidates standing are spineless running-dogs of the corporations or something, then spoil your ballot - that's a perfectly valid way of participating, since you are actively sending a message that none of the candidates represent your views.

Now, you can say that many people simply don't have the time or energy to learn about politics, and you'd be right, and that's a indictment of the education system (for general politics) and capitalism-as-practiced (for specific policies or candidates). That is a difficult issue, and a problem to be solved, but any argument along these lines amounts to 'lol the poor shouldn't vote'.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#53050: Apr 12th 2013 at 6:45:50 AM

Note, I support mandatory voting, but I'd also only want it enacted if elections became federal holidays.

Which should happen anyway.

No, seriously, why aren't they? What the fuck is wrong with you, USA?


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