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Compulsory Voting

MR Candyslut said:
I agree with you. And, indeed, the last thing i would like to see happen is a government with major stakeholders such as the Exclusive Brethren, Religious Right etc etc.

However, my point is, that surely when it becomes obvious that these groups are playing a part in the development of government policy, opposition pressure groups will also necessarily emerge ie ACLU, specific interest groups.

And i mean, really, look at Family First and all the other right wing penticostal pseudo-political groups. Surely you realise just how much they already mobilise their members to vote for right wing conservative parties? I don't really see the difference, compulsory voting or not.
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i just don't believe the majority opposition will be able to mobilise as well as the elites/religious minority due to their lack of cash
 
THR! said:
I'd vote regardless anyway but I guess it's just a way of fighting the typical Australian's renowned apathy towards anything that requires effort.

I'd also vote liberal, so that probably puts me out of stead with the majority here (... all it comes down to, quite simply, is tax cuts).
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keep reaching for that rainbow 8)
 
i just think it's admirable that for a few bucks of tax relief each year you support a party, that if it were possible, would allow abortions only for fetuses afflicted by the gay gene.
 
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^ I hadn't heard of that. A few points:

- I support the tax relief because I see it as the only worthwhile thing that any of the governments have proposed
- Both the liberals and labor suck - I just believe the liberals to be the best of a bad bunch
- I'm gay and hate Howard's stance on gay rights but I believe that this will, begrudgingly, change due to the pressure it will create coming up to the next election
- If I thought labor could properly govern, I'd vote for them in a flash

So I'm not ignorant about the issues. I'd vote liberal because they're the only ones that provide me with an incentive to. Labor's social programmes aren't sufficient (or existent) and I really doubt their capability. Beazley would be failure and will never lead them to an election win.
 
The idea of compulsory voting is good; the reality is irrelevant.

Because of the idea the party in power will fall over themselves trying to please everybody. Actually, they'll fall over themselves to make sure they dont displease anybody, but whatever.

With non-compulsory voting the party in power will fall over themselves trying to please the types of people who would enrol. From my experience the stronger and louder the opinion the bigger the moron. Only pleasing the political views of the statistically largest group of morons is very bad (America anyone?)

Outside of that its pretty random which of the 2 parties will actually get into 'power'. Much like sport you can choose to think it matters and cheer your side home, but your opinion doesn't make any difference ... which is why im not enrolled (or watch sport)


"Vote 1: The Christmas Racial Cleansing Party"
 - The Anti-Christmas League
 
^

OK, this is OT, but it surprises me that anyone gay could even think of voting Liberal. Does your own 'bottom line', so to speak, matter so much to you that you would chose to vote for a party that perpetuates gay inequality? Not that is justifies anything, but at least Labor is looking to redress some of the systemic inequalities that gay people encounter
 
^ It's not so much the party that is anti-gay, primarily just the PM and a few others. There is pressure, through some parts of the party, to provide said equality and I have no doubt that it will happen.

Howard might be old fashioned, but he has political sense. I don't particularly care who makes the changes, as long as they're made, and I'm confident that he will.

Now, as I've said, I'm not putting myself before these issues. I would elect to vote liberal at the moment because, at least on the federal level, nobody else and in particular labor offer an alternative. I've always voted for social issues rather than my own personal gain - even when that is of detriment to me - but until there is a proper alternative, I'll vote liberal.

So get over yourself and stop forcing your opinion on others.
 
THR! said:
I'd also vote liberal, so that probably puts me out of stead with the majority here (... all it comes down to, quite simply, is tax cuts).
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i beg to differ :)

And simply because 4 of the 110 Coalition members attempt to negotiate a bill that attempts to redress only a few of the key areas of discrimination does not mean only a handful of Coalition members are anti-gay8)

Who said i was forcing anything on anyone? I was asking you a question. This suggests an interest to understand!
 
And just because Labor propose, which they do at a state level, to support gay rights, doesn't mean they're pro-gay. It means they're potential vote-grabbers. The NSW labor government is an absolute joke.

I made that statement because that is the single-most important thing to have come out of the Howard government. Unfortunately it seems I have to repeat myself - if there is an alternative, I'd vote for it. But there isn't.
 
^ Dude, i could not agree with you more. The Labor party are really no more pro-gay than the Liberal party, at least when Beazley is at its helm. Thus, i would not vote for them either if we are talking about gay issues(although i do think they are marginally better).

But to use that argument to justify voting for the greater of two evils (at least in the context of gay rights)? My point was, you had previously said you were all about the tax cuts (ie the bottom line) and i was simply asking you if gay issues bothered you that little that you would put them below lower taxes.

No offense intended.

anyway, this is all OT, i was just interested, is all.
 
I probably do put them below taxes, yes, because I feel little personal impact. I don't necessarily feel that any of my rights are infringed, but I do realise that in some areas, I am (mostly to do with things like legalised recognition of partnership, superannuation etc.).
 
MR Candyslut said:
With all due respect though KK, to what extent do you feel your vote today was an educated one. Don't get me wrong, i think it is great that people at least make an effort to know what their vote means. BUt i mean, really, having a quick chat to your dad (who as a real estate agent would 9 times out of 10 vote Liberal) and reading a few BL posts is not what I would be wanting to base my vote on.

And i really do not mean that as a personal attack, but I think it just highlights the danger in people thinking they have made an educated choice or learning anything of substance simply by being compelled to vote. If voting was not compulsory, i think it would only be people who gave a shite who would be determining Government. At least then people know what they are voting for.
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you really dont mean it as a personal attack?!

Seriously though, who the fuck are you to put me down? I fucking did make an educated choice, i didnt just ask my dad and make a thread on bluelight, i reed up stuff on the net , talked to more than one or two people, talked to the candidates reps outside the polling booths, read a lot of articles so i could make an informed choice. I KNEW WHAT I WAS VOTING FOR. i did a lot more than a lot of the people out there who dont give a shit and simply just vote whatever they feel like on the day. what extent do i feel my vote was an educated choice?! i feel it was a very fucking educated choice. so GF.

Why do you feel the need to crap on people because they dont know as much as your high and mighty self about politics. At least i am trying, unlike a lot of people who vote. Maybe you should be a politican, you have a big enough fucking ego to be one.
 
^^ Chill KK. It was said out of ignorance of your situation and benign intent does not make a malicious attack
 
kryalkastleE said:
you really dont mean it as a personal attack?!

Seriously though, who the fuck are you to put me down? I fucking did make an educated choice, i didnt just ask my dad and make a thread on bluelight, i reed up stuff on the net , talked to more than one or two people, talked to the candidates reps outside the polling booths, read a lot of articles so i could make an informed choice. I KNEW WHAT I WAS VOTING FOR. i did a lot more than a lot of the people out there who dont give a shit and simply just vote whatever they feel like on the day. what extent do i feel my vote was an educated choice?! i feel it was a very fucking educated choice. so GF.

Why do you feel the need to crap on people because they dont know as much as your high and mighty self about politics. At least i am trying, unlike a lot of people who vote. Maybe you should be a politican, you have a big enough fucking ego to be one.
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Tehe, I don't think I've ever seen you get riled up before! I give you a round of applause for that ass-whooping =D

My husband went to the polling booth with me and leaned over and whispered "Who are you voting for?". :\ Previously he hadn't even bothered doing that, he'd just go in and tick random boxes, if he filled in the sheet at all. In my book, what you did was 1000% more informed and responsible.
 
kryalkastleE said:
you really dont mean it as a personal attack?!

Seriously though, who the fuck are you to put me down? I fucking did make an educated choice, i didnt just ask my dad and make a thread on bluelight, i reed up stuff on the net , talked to more than one or two people, talked to the candidates reps outside the polling booths, read a lot of articles so i could make an informed choice. I KNEW WHAT I WAS VOTING FOR. i did a lot more than a lot of the people out there who dont give a shit and simply just vote whatever they feel like on the day. what extent do i feel my vote was an educated choice?! i feel it was a very fucking educated choice. so GF.

Why do you feel the need to crap on people because they dont know as much as your high and mighty self about politics. At least i am trying, unlike a lot of people who vote. Maybe you should be a politican, you have a big enough fucking ego to be one.
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Whoah8o! Um, this was, erm, unexpected. KK, i sincerely was not attempting to crap on you/put you down/ sound like an ego driven maniac etc!

As i said, I honestly did not mean that as a personal attack and apologise if it came across that way. And you are completely correct - i think it is fantastic when people try and educate themselves about who they are voting for.

From what you had posted in the Vic thread though, it sounded like you had had a quick chat to your dad, read a few pamphlets and then voted. The point of my post was simply that i think compulsory voting is dangerous for this very reason as people think they are making an informed choice when voting for a party , when really, their choice may be ill-informed. That was the only reason why i picked out your post!

You didn't say what extent you had gone to and as i said, i sincerely was not meaning that post to be an attack. I simply, but incorrectly, thought it illustrated a point that I have been trying to make throughout this thread.

So I am sorry if it sounded like an attack, but really, i tried to make quite clear that it wasn't.
 
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Well i thank-you for actually being decent and apologising.
It made me feel like although i had done everything IN MY POWER to make an informed choice that i came across like a stupid dumb female who had no idea, thats what pissed me off.
I think politics just makes me angry in general.
 
Strawberry_lovemuffin said:
Tehe, I don't think I've ever seen you get riled up before! I give you a round of applause for that ass-whooping =D

My husband went to the polling booth with me and leaned over and whispered "Who are you voting for?". :\ Previously he hadn't even bothered doing that, he'd just go in and tick random boxes, if he filled in the sheet at all. In my book, what you did was 1000% more informed and responsible.
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never seen me get riled?
really?
hehehe. didnt think it was that long ago i had a big forehead.
lol =D
 
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