Mandatory voting? Obama says it would be 'transformative'

The first thing Obama would do is insist voting be required to get Citizenship.

No exceptions either.

I honestly believe that everyone should vote, but that's just me. I don't know that making it mandatory would be a good idea. As for the idea of a popular vote, I think that would be a terrible idea. All a politician would have to do is go do right by the largest populated area and say screw the rest in order to get elected. Wyoming for example isn't a highly populated state so they would ignore them and go straight for California or any other large city. It could be very bad for many different reasons. I remember being taught way back in high school why the electoral college was a more fair representation of all of the people than a popular vote, but honestly I can't recall all of the details.

There is nothing in the word "mandatory" that goes with the freedom that we are supposed to have. What worries me most are his comments, Obama is quoted in some of the articles as saying that it would be "fun" to amend the Constitution. Fun? Really, like a freakin carnival ride you can't get off. Please, please leave our Constitution alone. They want us to have no rights, to choose not to vote is as much a freedom as voting is. If I feel that neither candidate deserves my vote, than I vote for no one. It is so scary what happened to this country, every morning we wake up, we wake up with one less freedom.

Take away my right to believe that neither choice is good enough for my vote than I will vote for myself, it won't make a difference but at least they will know where I stand...on the side of freedom, always.

originally posted by: brandiwine14
There is nothing in the word "mandatory" that goes with the freedom that we are supposed to have. What worries me most are his comments, Obama is quoted in some of the articles as saying that it would be "fun" to amend the Constitution. Fun? Really, like a freakin carnival ride you can't get off. Please, please leave our Constitution alone.

I honestly don't know if our republic can take another two years of this man! I think he became a constitutional lawyer just to find ways to undermine it and go around it.

And...while we're at it, just what exactly were the fundamentals Obama wanted to transform about America?

Now that we have had time to experience the absolute worse president in my lifetime, those words he spoke in 2008 spook me out now. They sound eery and downright ominous.

He wasn't talking about normal party rhetoric...he was talking about taking this country whose fundamentals are just fine, and ripping it apart, dividing it, and overwhelming it.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
Of course politicians like Obama would love to see every one of those people forced to vote. Very, very few people vote against their Meal Ticket.

Just to play devil's advocate with you burd, how do you explain how GOP strongholds can justify receiving so much federal money?

That's not the right infographic I wanted, but it's close enough. I always knew Alaska took in tons of federal money, and I always found it ironic everyone votes Republican here.

That's kind of misleading. The more populous states may get less back from the federal government, dollar for dollar, but they get a boat load more money overall, because they have far more people and a much higher tax base. Additionally, many of those red states are farming states and farms get government subsidies, sometimes to not grow any crops. Just ask Al Gore. He didn't grow tobacco and got paid for that. The BS chart you posted has been used many times in this argument, but it's still BS.


Edit: To support what I said about which states get what and for what. LINK You'll notice that the Dept. of Agriculture doles out the most dollars from the federal coffers to state coffers. Monsanto must get a nice piece of that too. 2009 census was the latest I could find, but I'm sure the numbers are pretty much the same now.

I'm also pretty sure if you add up all of the dollars by category per state, you'll see that the list won't match the one you posted for total dollars received by state.

originally posted by: queenofswords

originally posted by: brandiwine14

I honestly don't know if our republic can take another two years of this man! I think he became a constitutional lawyer just to find ways to undermine it and go around it.

I wholeheartedly agree. When you want control of your enemies you will first seek to understand them, so that defeating them will be that much easier to do. He is deranged but smart.

originally posted by: Nyiah
a reply to: WeAreAWAKE

I don't see how voting can possibly be viewed any differently than paying your taxes. In both, you'd be making a mandatory contribution to the betterment of the country, rather than just one being mandatory. Instead of sitting on your backside deriding everything going wrong & never casting a vote, you're prodded to get off your duff & do it. I thought the running insult for non-voters with the more conservative people was if you don't vote, you're no worthy American, therefore leave? Has this stance actually changed to fit a new narrative now?

Like with jury duty, this can be done with room for participation exceptions. I doubt they'd harass someone undergoing a scheduled surgery or unable to get off work (with verifiable proof from the employer)

I happen to think jury duty should be voluntary as well. I've sat on a couple juries I even enjoy doing it but have all too often found people more interested in getting out of there than in justice. I'm not quite sure on the details of how to go about it, but I think the system would be improved if we had professional jurors.

a reply to: Bilk22

Alaska is #3, and we have 700,000 or so people statewide.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Maybe the bulk of the money goes to Democrat voting areas in larger cities?

And Maybe the Federal Government is involved in the "distributions".

Many "Red" States have large Democrat votes in elections.

It's not like all "Red" States are 100% Republican voters.

And median incomes are lower in some states and the poverty level is set in all states as the same.

Very odd.

originally posted by: doompornjunkie
a reply to: coldkidc

He allowed 10 millions illegals to stay, now he wants all 10 million votes. Not-a-1-missing.

He wants all 10 million votes on the election he's never going to run in again! Touché Obama, touché.

originally posted by: greencmp

originally posted by: babybunnies

originally posted by: LewsTherinThelamon
a reply to: EternalSolace

Just over half the eligible voters voted in 2012...

That's ridiculous.

I am an anarchist and I want to live in a stateless society. From my perspective, not voting is one means to topple a government.

I see it as a positive thing.

I refuse to elect my rulers. I am perfectly capable of governing myself.

You'll NEVER topple a Government by NOT voting.

If you're an anarchist, and get ANY Government assistance of ANY kind (even down to driving on roads that were built by the Government), you're a hypocrite.

If you refuse to elect your rulers, then you have no say at all over who those rulers might be, even though you have to abide by their laws.

What an idiotic outlook.

There is a logic to not voting, it is a protest of unacceptable options and can be very effective if widespread.

That does work in some types of elections & committee votes which require a set % of the population to vote for the election to be valid. But in the US, all that matters in elections involving the public is the total number of votes. So if I convinced everybody else to stay home & not vote, and my friends & I are the only ones who voted, our votes would decide everything.

As for the main topic, I think voting should be mandatory. But it would require a massive change in things for it to be fair. Like election days would have to be Federal holidays, polling places would have to be adequately equipped & funded, gerrymandering would need to be eliminated (but how?), early voting would need to be extended, and voters would need the ability to vote "present/other/no confidence". Also the Electoral College would need to be removed so the vote is truly a popular vote, and released felons would need their right to vote reinstated (they would've already paid their debt to society). US citizens in US Territories would also need to be able to vote in federal elections & have equal representation in the federal govt.

But I highly doubt this will happen. There are simply too many people with too much to lose to allow all Americans the right to vote.

a reply to: coldkidc


your OP has it's own questions answered by yourself:

...Or...Would it allow for a system that is even easier to manipulate by producing predictable volumes of voters?

How much do you think they'd rake in from the additional fines?
I have a hunch this would end up becoming another Obamacare nightmare where the ones that can least afford it end up bearing the brunt of the penalties.

Obama touts it's " benefits" but I'm skeptical that many of those vaunted "benefits" would ever materialize...

the mandatory voting would be used to monitor just how effective the official propaganda was doing...
dissident voices or contrary votes would be registered ->> you should realize that Obama never mentioned a 'secret ballot cast' it was just 'your vote' ... a very significant difference... "Barry" is well trained in the art of obfuscation that words can bring about in the legal profession...he uses his deftness often in that Aw Shucks character mode


ADD:

originally posted by: soficrow


Cool. Now please, get your tin-foil hat and find the real conspiracy here.

Are we in agreement? Is this mandated 'vote' just another control device to determine if you have exhausted your usefulness as a loyal supporter of the party-in-power (nothing is said your 'vote' would be private or secret, it is a vote to be data mined and bundled with a video of your voting actions that will be analysed by predictive software...so as to ferret out the local terrorists)

Pretty bold and smart move by Obama. I guess if you can't win midterms you can always make it illegal to lose. I guess we the people are just too stupid to make our own decisions now right? Too stupid to have our own weapons, too stupid to choose our own healthcare, and now we're much to stupid to decide to vote. It amazes me that we have so many supporters of a president that shreds the constitution at every turn

a reply to: coldkidc

I think it would be VERY interesting. AND I think the results would make Obama and the Dems wish they had never even brought up the idea.

From everything I have ever researched the vast majority of the people that DONT vote now are conservatives. They just want to go to work and go home and be left alone. Liberals on the other hand vote most of the time because they are normally pushing their agenda.

Now I know both side have agendas and groups, but you have to admit that if we counted them all it would be close to 10 to 1 liberal to conservative. Which is really part of the problem we have right now. true lack of conservative balance to liberal agenda pushes.

I think this would result in the death of the Democratic party and the rise of the republican party, or quite possibly the libertarian party. You would be surprised at how many conservative lean toward the Libertarians. Which make sense because both believe in "Do what you want as long as you leave me the hell alone". Which is why the Libertarian party has such a hard time getting elected .

originally posted by: avgguy
Pretty bold and smart move by Obama. I guess if you can't win midterms you can always make it illegal to lose. I guess we the people are just too stupid to make our own decisions now right? Too stupid to have our own weapons, too stupid to choose our own healthcare, and now we're much to stupid to decide to vote. It amazes me that we have so many supporters of a president that shreds the constitution at every turn

I am surprised he didn't get the bright idea of making it mandatory to vote for Democratic Party candidates.
Give him time, he probably will.

originally posted by: dismanrc
a reply to: coldkidc

I think it would be VERY interesting. AND I think the results would make Obama and the Dems wish they had never even brought up the idea.

From everything I have ever researched the vast majority of the people that DONT vote now are conservatives. They just want to go to work and go home and be left alone. Liberals on the other hand vote most of the time because they are normally pushing their agenda.

Now I know both side have agendas and groups, but you have to admit that if we counted them all it would be close to 10 to 1 liberal to conservative. Which is really part of the problem we have right now. true lack of conservative balance to liberal agenda pushes.

I think this would result in the death of the Democratic party and the rise of the republican party, or quite possibly the libertarian party. You would be surprised at how many conservative lean toward the Libertarians. Which make sense because both believe in "Do what you want as long as you leave me the hell alone". Which is why the Libertarian party has such a hard time getting elected

.

THIS.

I actually thought when Obama suggested it, that it wouldn't go the way he thought.

I know more conservatives that don't vote because they are completely fooled into thinking that their vote won't matter because of the Liberals busing in people, and using dead people's names....etc.

Like I said earlier in this thread, I've always believed that voting should be mandatory.

Voting day should be a national paid holiday, and everyone should vote. They should also make online voting a thing. The whole problem (they say) is people not getting to the polls, so bring the polls to the people.

I vote every year, sometimes twice if they have some elections earlier in the year (primaries, etc). I have since I was 18 (a long time ago, LOL) I feel like it's my responsibility to, as a US citizen.

Mandatory voting and TERM LIMITS. My dream.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
a reply to: Bilk22

Alaska is #3, and we have 700,000 or so people statewide.

You also have the bulk of Federally maintained and managed land, too.

originally posted by: poncho1982

originally posted by: dismanrc
a reply to: coldkidc

I think it would be VERY interesting. AND I think the results would make Obama and the Dems wish they had never even brought up the idea.

From everything I have ever researched the vast majority of the people that DONT vote now are conservatives. They just want to go to work and go home and be left alone. Liberals on the other hand vote most of the time because they are normally pushing their agenda.

Now I know both side have agendas and groups, but you have to admit that if we counted them all it would be close to 10 to 1 liberal to conservative. Which is really part of the problem we have right now. true lack of conservative balance to liberal agenda pushes.

I think this would result in the death of the Democratic party and the rise of the republican party, or quite possibly the libertarian party. You would be surprised at how many conservative lean toward the Libertarians. Which make sense because both believe in "Do what you want as long as you leave me the hell alone". Which is why the Libertarian party has such a hard time getting elected

.

THIS.

I actually thought when Obama suggested it, that it wouldn't go the way he thought.

I know more conservatives that don't vote because they are completely fooled into thinking that their vote won't matter because of the Liberals busing in people, and using dead people's names....etc.

Like I said earlier in this thread, I've always believed that voting should be mandatory.

Voting day should be a national paid holiday, and everyone should vote. They should also make online voting a thing. The whole problem (they say) is people not getting to the polls, so bring the polls to the people.

I vote every year, sometimes twice if they have some elections earlier in the year (primaries, etc). I have since I was 18 (a long time ago, LOL) I feel like it's my responsibility to, as a US citizen.

Mandatory voting and TERM LIMITS. My dream.

I'd rather have fewer well informed and educated voters than many ignorant and apathetic voters. If one is so apathetic and ignorant that he has to be forced to vote, I don't want him voting.

Mandatory voting will actually harm the democratic process because it will go from people studying the issues and voting for someone who most represents their interests to a name recognition contest or who promises the most stuff or even pure randomness.

originally posted by: Bilk22

originally posted by: MystikMushroom

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
Of course politicians like Obama would love to see every one of those people forced to vote. Very, very few people vote against their Meal Ticket.

Just to play devil's advocate with you burd, how do you explain how GOP strongholds can justify receiving so much federal money?

That's not the right infographic I wanted, but it's close enough. I always knew Alaska took in tons of federal money, and I always found it ironic everyone votes Republican here.

That's kind of misleading. The more populous states may get less back from the federal government, dollar for dollar, but they get a boat load more money overall, because they have far more people and a much higher tax base. Additionally, many of those red states are farming states and farms get government subsidies, sometimes to not grow any crops. Just ask Al Gore. He didn't grow tobacco and got paid for that. The BS chart you posted has been used many times in this argument, but it's still BS.


Edit: To support what I said about which states get what and for what. LINK You'll notice that the Dept. of Agriculture doles out the most dollars from the federal coffers to state coffers. Monsanto must get a nice piece of that too. 2009 census was the latest I could find, but I'm sure the numbers are pretty much the same now.

I'm also pretty sure if you add up all of the dollars by category per state, you'll see that the list won't match the one you posted for total dollars received by state.

All true. In addition most of those red states have many military bases in them, which greatly increases the influx of federal dollars. That chart has always been misleading and does not fool anyone who actually bothers to look in to what dollars are going in for what reason.

originally posted by: doompornjunkie
a reply to: coldkidc

He allowed 10 millions illegals to stay, now he wants all 10 million votes. Not-a-1-missing.

BINGO

But not just that

If we are forced to vote that means we are legitimizing die bolt system of manipulating voting

All nice and legal