Should everyone really be allowed vote?

Neil3030

I think voting shouldn't be on merit. Either everyone votes or nobody votes. What's that you say? If nobody votes then what's the alternative?? I'm glad you asked....

1. Get rid of the Dail/Senate/Presiden/Civil Service.

2. Establish a rate of taxation to be written into the constitution, only changeable by referendum.

3. All individuals must pay this rate of tax to a political party or charity of their choosing.

4. Individuals are free to change their party/charity any time they wish.

There you have it. No fuss, no mess, just political parties being put to the test, having to compete for tax revenues in a free market by proving themselves to be the most competent and efficient providers of public services. This could even allow for libertarian/right-wing fiscal parties, who's only mandate would be to give taxes back at the end of the year and provide no services.

You heard it here first....

Dalfiatach

After nearly 100 years of universal suffrage I do think we really need to ask ourselves whether it is a good idea. Over the last few weeks I've heard a litany of truly bizarre, dumb, moronic and sometimes completely insane reasons for people's voting intentions.

I genuinely think that vast numbers of people really just do not understand our political system, the Constitution, the way the various institutions are structured, what their roles and powers are. They don't have a bloody clue - it's harsh but it needs to be said.

I'm coming to the conclusion that voting should be licenced. There should be an exam on simple facts of how the system works. Nothing too anoraky, just enough to prove the potential voter has some sort of idea how the system works and what they actually are voting for and on. Maybe a 10-year licence, like driving licences or passports. The mechanics already exist, just use the driving theory test rooms and machines. Make it free too, no monetary charge, just turn up, do a 30 minute test on facts, get your 10-year voting card.

The apathetic won't bother, the insane and dumb-as-a-brick won't pass. And only people with some sort of clue will be voting in elections.

Ludo

Dalfiatach wrote: »

I'm coming to the conclusion that voting should be licenced. There should be an exam on simple facts of how the system works. Nothing too anoraky, just enough to prove the potential voter has some sort of idea how the system works and what they actually are voting for and on. Maybe a 10-year licence, like driving licences or passports. The mechanics already exist, just use the driving theory test rooms and machines. Make it free too, no monetary charge, just turn up, do a 30 minute test on facts, get your 10-year voting card.

The apathetic won't bother, the insane and dumb-as-a-brick won't pass. And only people with some sort of clue will be voting in elections.

Maybe we could get potential TDs/ministers to do the same test...I suspect many of them would fail miserably.

What a rediculous thread...that high horse seems to be awfully crowded with those who think they have more of a right to vote than anyone else.

conchubhar1

less than 60% turned out to vote and you want to limit that number?

ludicrous and not the kind who released a few good singles

Rb

Ludo wrote: »

What a rediculous thread...that high horse seems to be awfully crowded with those who think they have more of a right to vote than anyone else.

In fairness, the people posting on this thread or even reading this forum aren't the kind who'll go out and vote for whoever they think is the hottest, or whoevers father they knew, or because they're a neighbour etc etc.

Some certainly might but I'd say on average those reading here would have a lot more political insight or knowledge than the average voter who doesn't.

I've met an enormous amount of people who were insisting that they were going to vote for their local TD in the local elections, despite them not running even running, or people who thought that the local council elections, by-elections and European elections were all the same thing and that George Lee, Gay Mitchell and our local councillors were in fact competing against eachother for the same thing.

Then there's those who can't differentiate between the roles of local councillor, TD and MEP.

I think a voting licence would be a fantastic idea tbh!

Rb

conchubhar1 wrote: »

less than 60% turned out to vote and you want to limit that number?

ludicrous and not the kind who released a few good singles

Less than 60% of those entitled to vote turned out to the polling stations, however if you were to change the system so that you were licenced to vote based on a test, you'd probably bring down the number of those entitled to vote overall but the % of those turning up to the polls would be a lot higher, I'd imagine.

super_furry

Seems to me someone's been watching Starship Troopers a bit too much.

Would you like to know more?

Dr. Baltar

Apologies to bump this thread from the 2nd page, if the debate is deemed over then by all means close it.

This idea of a "licence to vote" is scandalous in my eyes.
Ireland was once an oligarchy when we had landlords and I don't ever want to see those days returned when an elite rules the normal people.
In this scenario it would be an intellectual elite granted, but an elite nonetheless!

Completely against everything that our fathers and grandfathers fought for!

super_furry wrote: »

Would you like to know more?

Indulge me please. :P

Sir Baralot

Sir Baralot wrote: »

Yes, there are idiots in this country. Yes, there are people who are so ignorant of politics in this country that they only help to damage the stability of the nation but:

In my opinion, under no circumstances should a citizen of this country ever be denied their right to vote.
In fact, I believe more people should be given the right to vote. Including 16 year olds for local elections.
Not only this, but if compulsory voting came in, I wouldn't have a problem with it so long as there was a "none of the above" option.

What about the senate?

ShooterSF

ShooterSF wrote: »

The question again then is are you just discussing ideology or have you any idea how to even implement such a situation?

They already do it with the Senate. Which is totally wrong in my opinion and needs to change right away.

Dr. Baltar

Deleted User wrote: »

They already do it with the Senate. Which is totally wrong in my opinion and needs to change right away.

Agreed, the Senate itself needs some major change anyway.
Senate should be a lot more like the American style and should be elected by all who can choose Dáil seats.

wylo

Ludo wrote: »

Maybe we could get potential TDs/ministers to do the same test...I suspect many of them would fail miserably.

What a rediculous thread...that high horse seems to be awfully crowded with those who think they have more of a right to vote than anyone else.

sorry if I keep repeating myself here, I just feel that the idea is being picked up the wrong way. What im trying to say here is that peoples votes should mean something. And they certainly would if the voter no matter how smart or stupid he/she was went down to some local hall , signed in , read a bit of info for 10 mins on the candidates, left and got put on the register.

This isnt about high horses, or "I know more than these people" , or snobbynes or anything. Its about people voting that not only dont know what theyre voting on, but dont CARE.
Why should the country leaders be helped decided by people that have no interest either way.

Dr. Baltar

wylo wrote: »

sorry if I keep repeating myself here, I just feel that the idea is being picked up the wrong way. What im trying to say here is that peoples votes should mean something. And they certainly would if the voter no matter how smart or stupid he/she was went down to some local hall , signed in , read a bit of info for 10 mins on the candidates, left and got put on the register.

This isnt about high horses, or "I know more than these people" , or snobbynes or anything. Its about people voting that not only dont know what theyre voting on, but dont CARE.
Why should the country leaders be helped decided by people that have no interest either way.

There was a massive amount of spoilt votes in the North during the European Election with many people writing essays on MP expenses and refusing to vote. They just used the oppurtunity to make a political statement.
What a stupid thing to do huh?
Granted, yes, but I still believe people should have a right to do it.

wylo

Sir Baralot wrote: »

There was a massive amount of spoilt votes in the North during the European Election with many people writing essays on MP expenses and refusing to vote. They just used the oppurtunity to make a political statement.
What a stupid thing to do huh?
Granted, yes, but I still believe people should have a right to do it.

they obviously cared about their vote, and they saw that spoiling it was the best option. That to me is far far better than someone voting for someone theyve neither heard of ever care to hear about again.