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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kumar who wrote (108307)	4/8/2005 6:22:39 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793838

< in a democracy people have an obligation to express their choice. With every right comes an obligation. But I do not support the Aussie way of coercing people to vote.> So how would you force people to use their vote? It is obvious that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, though people still, millennia since horses and people were domesticated, can't understand that simple proverb. When they walk, under force, into the polling booth, they can write "get stuffed" on the ballot paper. Or, they can vote for some silly party which is just seeking a bit of publicity. How do you think that would benefit them or anyone else? Obligation means they have to do it. If there's no consequence of them disobeying, then there is no obligation. Actually, there's no reason for most people to vote because it doesn't change the outcome whether they vote or not. That's just how large numbers work and how electoral boundaries work and voting systems work. It would be more economic for people to just ignore the election. Democracy usually comes with a concept of freedom. If you force people to "vote", which you can't do unless you conduct a Saddam type election, then it is ipso facto not a matter of freedom. Freedom means individuals choose to do things or not according to their own decisions. People also blather on about how wicked the Nazis were, but in most people there's a strong authoritarian dictatorial streak with more than a touch of nasty malevolence. That's why they like to force other people to their will, such as forcing them to be "free" and vote - and damn well smile while you do it or we'll fine you, or gaol you, and don't resist or we'll shoot you if necessary. Mqurice