Thread: Voting - What's the point?

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I don't live in the US. I have no ties to the country. I don't vote because I don't care. Let the sheep elect whichever flavor scum they wish. Enjoy....

That's fine. You don't care. You don't have ties with your home country. It's your decision to let other people decide the future of that country.

What I don't understand are people like the OP who spend hours here complaining about government, yet don't vote.

“A man without a vote is a man without protection.”
― Lyndon B. Johnson

Originally Posted by Mid

what passport do you travel on ?

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^US......And 28 years of service earned me that - more than 99% of those who hold one. If I choose not to care which lying, corrupt prick steers the sinking USSAmerica, that is my right.

Owned.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

that is my right.

indeed and my point was made

aka

you DO have ties to the country .

Originally Posted by TonyBKK

Why complain about your government if you're not willing to exercise your right to vote?

I complain about them all - they are all con artists. Some good guys get through, but not many. Fuck you and anyone who says I have no voice or right to complain - the system is corrupt and with a choice to vote in more corrupt fools or not, I chose not to.

All you pro voting crap is meaningless when there are no honest politicians tony. The party system dominates and the party system is totally bought.
Every four years you have the illusion of controlling your destiny that is won or lost over the same few largely meaningless knee jerk issues whilst in the background, your country and your rights are being systematically stolen by corporations and vested interests.
The same companies fund both sides of the election...they own the media and therefore the debate...don't you get it?
Your vote is worthless outside of a town council.

Who said, "if you don't vote, you get the government you deserve"?

Agree or disagree?

Mid: It's hardly a "tie". It's a document which allows me to travel - that's it. You've got to have one from somewhere.

FFS its a document issued by YOUR government ,

give me a break

and whats more IF you really believe you have no ties THEN HAND IT BACK

This ain't going to develop as one of those warm and idealistic threads, is it?

Seems as all the right players are in place....a few waning of course - but they'll be here in due course.

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Voting - What's the point?

In Aussie the point of voting is to avoid getting fined for not voting.

^It's a service, for which I pay top dollar.

Davis you do disappoint , that is simply a weak argument and you are intelligent enough to realise it .

Originally Posted by TonyBKK

Who said, "if you don't vote, you get the government you deserve"?

Agree or disagree?

Disagree.
If you do vote you will get the favourite brand of con man you deserve.
Democracy was a workable government when the polity was small and corporations weren't given the rights of voters.

The only thing that will redeem the value of your vote is to choose none of the above, and to keep doing so until the polity is so small, that a grassroots, non media campaign can have an effect.
That or armed revolution or the otherwise collapse of civilization.
If you think differently, then you are delusional, which given that you can't respond with anything other than memes and bumper stickers, seems to be the case.

Originally Posted by Looper

In Aussie the point of voting is to avoid getting fined for not voting

No shit - fined for not voting? I hope they pay you FOR voting then....remembering that you employ those fuckers....

Originally Posted by Looper

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Voting - What's the point?

In Aussie the point of voting is to avoid getting fined for not voting.

The trick Looper, is to never register in the first place.
The fine is for not,voting, not for not registering.

Originally Posted by Looper

In Aussie the point of voting is to avoid getting fined for not voting.

furphy , you are not fined for not voting , you ARE fined for not attending a polling place and having your name crossed of the electoral roll .

nobody forces you to vote .

Originally Posted by Necron99

The fine is for not,voting, not for not registering.

Enrolment on the Commonwealth electoral roll has been compulsory since 1912.

Eligible citizens include all Australians citizens who are 18 years of age or over.

There are some exceptions, for example in relation to some prisoners, and people of unsound mind (section 93(8) and 96A).

Anyone who fails to enrol may be punished on conviction by a fine of up to 1 penalty unit (section 101(6)).

Electoral Offences - Australian Electoral Commission

Originally Posted by Mid

Davis you do disappoint , that is simply a weak argument and you are intelligent enough to realise it .

My point was that I have no ties which would cause me to vote. I doubt that they will do away with passports. I pay income tax, and for the passport. I think all politicians are scum, and wouldn't validate any one of them with my vote. Even if I thought one man's vote made any difference - which I do not.

and once again your point is NOT valid now please stop flogging a dead horse .

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by Necron99

The fine is for not,voting, not for not registering.

Enrolment on the Commonwealth electoral roll has been compulsory since 1912.

Eligible citizens include all Australians citizens who are 18 years of age or over.

There are some exceptions, for example in relation to some prisoners, and people of unsound mind (section 93(8) and 96A).

Anyone who fails to enrol may be punished on conviction by a fine of up to 1 penalty unit (section 101(6)).

Electoral Offences - Australian Electoral Commission

Blah blah. The electoral commision don't know who you are until you register.
If you don't,register, you will never be summonsed.
Once you do register, a fine for every time you don't vote.

best rename this thread flogging a dead horse

Originally Posted by Mid

and once again your point is NOT valid now please stop flogging a dead horse .

Try an actual argument Mid.
Contradictions is 3 doors down.

Lets say in DK case that if passports for non residents ever became an election issue he may decide to exercise his right to vote?

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by Looper

In Aussie the point of voting is to avoid getting fined for not voting.

furphy , you are not fined for not voting , you ARE fined for not attending a polling place and having your name crossed of the electoral roll .

nobody forces you to vote .

Yes, this true, you can just rock up and then not vote but if I have dragged my ass down there it seems not much point in not voting.

I will vote for any party that promises to cancel compulsory voting.

I wish they would bring out online voting. If they did that then I am sure the turnout would be 95% even without a fine since who is not going to take 2 minutes out of their surfing time to cast a vote. Can't be that difficult to do a voting website.

They could have an android app so you can even vote while you are on the bus.