Journal Nymz's Journal: Get Out The Vote - an opposing viewpoint 4
Low Voter Turn Out == Higher Quality
Get Out The Vote campaigns are disingenuous at best, and voter fraud at worst. In fact, countries should take pride in having a low voter turn out, because that means they have a more concentrated percentage of concerned citizens, that are doing the voting. Think of the quality difference of Slashdot stories on the firehose (all 100%) when compared to the choosen few on the frontpage (1%).
"Don't even get me started on the frickin' Firehose." - Captain Splendid
Coercion vs Choice
Countries with near 100% voter turn-out often have widespread ballot-stuffing (hollow appearance of choice), or use threats of violence (coerced choice) to maintain their hold on power, but in a free country you have free choice, and that includes choosing not to vote.
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." - Rush
Funny Exception To The Rule
Australia is an exception with their mandatory turn-out laws (not mandatory vote), which can be explained by the fact that they are down-under. It also explains why, when it's winter here, that it's summer down-under, and why their toilets drain water clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. (Corilis Effect) Not to mention they look kind of tough, so it's probably not wise telling them what to do.
"Where does an Aussie croc crash? Anywhere he wants to." - Mate
Get Out The Vote campaigns are disingenuous at best, and voter fraud at worst. In fact, countries should take pride in having a low voter turn out, because that means they have a more concentrated percentage of concerned citizens, that are doing the voting. Think of the quality difference of Slashdot stories on the firehose (all 100%) when compared to the choosen few on the frontpage (1%).
"Don't even get me started on the frickin' Firehose." - Captain Splendid
Coercion vs Choice
Countries with near 100% voter turn-out often have widespread ballot-stuffing (hollow appearance of choice), or use threats of violence (coerced choice) to maintain their hold on power, but in a free country you have free choice, and that includes choosing not to vote.
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." - Rush
Funny Exception To The Rule
Australia is an exception with their mandatory turn-out laws (not mandatory vote), which can be explained by the fact that they are down-under. It also explains why, when it's winter here, that it's summer down-under, and why their toilets drain water clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. (Corilis Effect) Not to mention they look kind of tough, so it's probably not wise telling them what to do.
"Where does an Aussie croc crash? Anywhere he wants to." - Mate
To be clear (Score:2)
Same can be said for voter turnout efforts. It's not trying to get people to vote that's a problem, but how you go about it (at least in reference to the link you posted).
A small part of me would dearly love a rudimentary IQ test to be passed before being allowed to vote, but the fact of the matter is that as less and less people vote, you start slipping out of the democracy category and into oligarchy. Yeah, my neighbour
Re: (Score:2)
To be clear...My problem with the Firehose is the design and implementation, not the content.
Most everyone has some problem with the firehose, and I thought your quote best expressed that frickin' sentiment.
...but the fact of the matter is that as less and less people vote, you start slipping out of the democracy category and into oligarchy.
Yes, I agree with you there, that getting people 'involved' in the process is important. As for solutions, I'm not convinced that Get Out The Vote campaigns do anything more than register more people (with corresponding votes) for ones own party. My journal entry was simply an effort, hopefully an entertaining effort, to point out the importance of quality to the process, and that we shouldn't
Low Voter Turn Out != Quality (Score:2)
I attended a democratic precinct convention once; in the next election, a republican. I gave up on politics because there was no input in either party from the people, only from the "national platform". In advance of the precinct meetings, I tried to get info on what was going to happen. I was told (in both cases) "discussion and voting on local issues to move up to state
Re: (Score:2)
The hidden and incorrect assumption in your statement is that the only reason that people don't vote is because they're not concerned.
Na, I think that both of our statements are correct. Like the difference between 'lower' taxes and 'low' taxes, our statements are referring to different concepts. My 'Lower' voter turn-out is a relative comparison of quality to a near 100% turn-out, like saying that 'lower' taxes are 'always' better when compared to being 'over-taxed'. Your concept of 'low' voter turn-out is referring to a relative comparison to what level voter turn-out 'should be', like saying that our taxes are too 'low' to cover our pr