Why the heck would I vote?

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

Well that's a pretty sucky attitude. Maybe they should raise the voting age to 60 when people finally know everything

With a generation raised on Family Guy, or the Simpsons, or American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars, or Survivour to expect miracles is a bit much. There are exceptions, our young British friend displays an acumen beyond his years.

We had a saying, "When I was 18 I thought my father was pretty stupid, I was amazed at how much he had learned by the time I was 21."

Given our half assed political system I suppose it does not much matter who we let vote.

People constantly moan about how poorly the government works. Imagine if a company had most of senior management swapped out every 4 or 8 years and replaced with people whose only qualification was that they were owed favours by the Chairman of the Board. The big surprise is that it even works at all.

Or imagine a company where the Board of Directors needs the 'advise and consent' of their competitors before they can hire the senior management. Where any one of their competitors can arbitrarily put a 'hold' on any of these senior appointments.

Or where they need a super majority of both friends and competitors before they can even discuss the company direction and plans, let alone implement such plans.

I just noticed in another thread a reference to the Electoral College, now there is as good a reason as any to believe that your vote is a waste of time.

There may be political systems that lend themselves more to farce but I cannot think of one off-hand.

[Brother_Karl]

Originally Posted by merrylander

With a generation raised on Family Guy, or the Simpsons, or American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars, or Survivour to expect miracles is a bit much. There are exceptions

You really think that the majority of the 'grown up' public know what they're doing when they vote? Because, if so, you may be the first person I've ever met who thinks that.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Brother_Karl

You really think that the majority of the 'grown up' public know what they're doing when they vote? Because, if so, you may be the first person I've ever met who thinks that.

No I do not, but given the sad state of the media here it would be unfair to expect them all to know what in hell is going on.

Recent political ads have (to be kind) bent the truth a wee bit, if not outright lied, but no one confronts the lies. Frex, Ethanol Grassley and Bishop Hatch both spread lies about the British and Canadian healthcare systems in the recent Congress with little confrontation. I expect it from Grassley, but the Bishop - for shame.

[Kamakiri]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Recent political ads have (to be kind) bent the truth a wee bit, if not outright lied, but no one confronts the lies. Frex, Ethanol Grassley and Bishop Hatch both spread lies about the British and Canadian healthcare systems in the recent Congress with little confrontation. I expect it from Grassley, but the Bishop - for shame.

I didn't have to wait long, did I?

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

I didn't have to wait long, did I?

My we are touchy. You will note that I said they lied and that I did not make any comparisons between the three systems. Though I will note that to the best of my knowledge no one in Canada ever had to file bankruptcy due to medical expenses.

If someone can come up with a valid argument for the Electoral College I would be happy to hear it. In some states the electoral votes are apportioned according to the popular vote, reasonably fair within the margin of rounding error. In other states it is first past the post; if a candidate gets 50.1% of the popular vote he/she gets all the electoral votes. In effect the other 49.9% of the voters were just dis-enfranchized. This is fair?

If someone has a copy of the naturalization oath please post it. It has been more than 18 years and my memory is a little vague on the part where naturalized citizens swear they will never criticize the system.

[d-ray657]

At the time the constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 18 passed, we still had a draft. A point often made was that individuals were old enough to fight and die for their country, but not old enough to have a say in who sent them there. Some fair logic there, if you ask me.

Nowadays, 18 is old enough to make a personal decision to join the military. That is a decision that will seriously impact the life of the individual and people around him or her.

I think the largest participation in voting by young people is among college students. I know that Obama energized the college-aged voters in a big way. The past two years of obstruction has likely caused dis-interest among many of those idealistic voters. I hope that doesn't have a lasting effect, because I still have hope that more members of my sons' generation will go forward with an idea that they need to think beyond their own needs and wants to the needs of the country their neighbors and their world. Mine know that they will be subjected to more excruciating lectures if they forget that principle.

Regards,

D-Ray

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I think the largest participation in voting by young people is among college students. I know that Obama energized the college-aged voters in a big way. The past two years of obstruction has likely caused dis-interest among many of those idealistic voters. I hope that doesn't have a lasting effect, because I still have hope that more members of my sons' generation will go forward with an idea that they need to think beyond their own needs and wants to the needs of the country their neighbors and their world. Mine know that they will be subjected to more excruciating lectures if they forget that principle.

Regards,

D-Ray

In a way, I have a problem with this. In effect, college kids (who are already dependent on Mom and Dad) further get to vote on how the government will spend Mom & Dad's money.

OTOH, the money that's being spent is actually being borrowed from the Chinese for repayment by future generations. What goes around comes around.

[Kamakiri]

Given our half assed political system I suppose it does not much matter who we let vote.

Including you and I.

People constantly moan about how poorly the government works. Imagine if a company had most of senior management swapped out every 4 or 8 years and replaced with people whose only qualification was that they were owed favours by the Chairman of the Board. The big surprise is that it even works at all.

Or imagine a company where the Board of Directors needs the 'advise and consent' of their competitors before they can hire the senior management. Where any one of their competitors can arbitrarily put a 'hold' on any of these senior appointments.

Or where they need a super majority of both friends and competitors before they can even discuss the company direction and plans, let alone implement such plans.

No, most companies are run by nepotism.

I just noticed in another thread a reference to the Electoral College, now there is as good a reason as any to believe that your vote is a waste of time.

There may be political systems that lend themselves more to farce but I cannot think of one off-hand.

I'm waiting to hear you mention how much better Canada is, once again.