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Mandatory voting? Obama says it would be 'transformative'

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posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 01:51 AM
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WASHINGTON — They say the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. President Barack Obama wants to add one more: voting.

Obama floated the idea of mandatory voting in the U.S. while speaking to a civic group in Cleveland on Wednesday. Asked about the corrosive influence of money in U.S. elections, Obama digressed into the related topic of voting rights and said the U.S. should be making it easier — not harder— for people to vote.

"If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country," Obama said, calling it potentially transformative. Not only that, Obama said, but universal voting would "counteract money more than anything."

Mandatory voting? Obama says it would be 'transformative'

What are your thoughts ATS?

Do you think that this would actually help overcome the wealthy special interests that hold the ear of our congressmen?

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.
I doubt corporate interests would so easily allow the people to actually control their fate.

Besides, I've never been a fan of "mandatory" anything - I say no to this brainchild.

It appears that if this is more than talk there may be one more freedom in the crosshairs - the freedom to "opt out".
edit on 19-3-2015 by coldkidc because: (no reason given)


+32 more 
posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 01:53 AM
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I vote "kiss my ass."



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 01:58 AM
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How would more people being biased by money counteract money?



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 01:59 AM
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a reply to: OccamsRazor04

Apparently it makes sense to Obama...
edit on 19-3-2015 by coldkidc because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:01 AM
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I think it's about time, other countries have it however this should come with a media that is informative and less opinionated.
edit on 19-3-2015 by Spider879 because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:04 AM
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originally posted by: skunkape23
I vote "kiss my ass."


A very good example of why this is a bad idea.



+31 more 
posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:05 AM
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a reply to: coldkidc

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


+6 more 
posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:08 AM
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a reply to: coldkidc

Hmmm...

An interesting concept to be sure, but the devil, as ever, resides within the details. For something like that to work, there would have to be some conditions, and some changes to the way ballots work. For example, if the only candidates on the bill suck like a robotic pleasure machine from the future, and there is no box that says "none of the above, so help me God, none of the above!", then that would seem to be forcing a hegemony on the population. This would be unacceptable.

But more than having the option on the ballot paper, when counted, ballots with that box ticked should be counted up, as if they were votes, and if the overwhelming majority of folks vote that way, then guess what? New election, next week, and again and again until a clear winner is selected, and during those intervening periods there must be no leadership what so ever in government. No acts passed or trashed, no meetings, no activity of any kind that is not DIRECTLY related to allowing the smooth function of people's day to day interaction with their nations infrastructure. Obviously trash will need collecting, police must still go to work, and all other front line staff will have to continue to work, and get paid mind you. But that stuff does not require politicians, it requires accountants. There are plenty of those around.

Furthermore, during those intervening periods, between election re-runs, folk who never got the chance to run, or were discouraged or destroyed by the media (through being ignored more than anything else) should be placed on the ballot and presented to the nation as contenders, in place of which ever candidate got the LEAST votes in the last election attempt. Until a winner is selected, there must be no coalitions, no compromises, no deals with other parties to pool votes or any other trick, ruse, or hornswoggle that removes from the people, their power to directly and comprehensively effect their destiny, by selecting a leader.

I would dearly love for such a system to be instituted here in Britain. I think it would be educational, not least for the pathetic, gormless halfwits in Westminster. They are so used to having things all sewn up, that it would be a delicious spectacle, witnessing their terror at being not only utterly put in their place, but potentially having to share space in the Commons with persons who are not exclusively constructed of pure fail.


+14 more 
posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:08 AM
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Excellent way to get those who really don't care, or just don't have the time to cast votes for things they did not do any research on.

How many people would just go down the row and check off anything in random order?

Bad idea, Obama, really bad idea.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:08 AM
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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.

Or a chance for Reps to win over 10 million once they become Americans.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:09 AM
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Bad idea. But a great way to raise revenue after disenfranchising entire demographics, then fining them for failing to do what they were denied from doing.

My government makes a small fortune from penalties imposed on disenfranchised voters. Nothing compares to the sheer infuriating blood-lust you feel after receiving a fine for having your human rights violated. Needless to say it was never paid.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:09 AM
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I do wonder if they'd dump the Electoral College if voting was made mandatory?
If it went straight to popular vote it could get interesting...
edit on 19-3-2015 by coldkidc because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:15 AM
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Sorry that they're losing endorsement and not able to "net" the people for the dark side karma they intend for them when they die, as they have sold the souls of humanity, but its null and void and people aren't cooperating by endorsing evil, overall.

But I will never stamp my vote and endorsement in my country and I suggest you don't in yours. If they ever tried to force, I'd say "none of the above" across the ballet.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:16 AM
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originally posted by: coldkidc
I do wonder if they'd dump the Electoral College if voting was made mandatory?
If it went straight to popular vote it could get interesting...


That would take nothing short of a revolution to accomplish, or a revolution would likely happen afterwards.

Article 2 of the Constitution ring any bells?



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:17 AM
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Ok consider why there is wide spread apathy, a lot of people see very little difference between the two parties,I predict this could very well launch more parties rather than the two, people running for office could no longer sit comfortably in their gerrymandered districts.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:18 AM
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a reply to: Cygnis




How many people would just go down the row and check off anything in random order?


I have a sneaking suspicion that is exactly what would happen...hell it happens already.
Pretty sure most of the people that vote straight ticket don't actually know anything about most of the people they just voted for other than the party affiliation.

You want to fix the voting system Obama? Then trash the 2 party system.
Because the real problem is that not enough people care to vote because they only get 2 choices & they're both virtual mirrors of each other when it comes to anything of substance.

I'm not delusional though...it'll never happen, especially by Obama's hand.
edit on 19-3-2015 by coldkidc because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:28 AM
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a reply to: coldkidc

i would love to hear why he thinks making everyone vote would "counteract money more than anything". it is that money[\i] which pays for those running to run and to get their message out to get people to vote for them. the only way to "counteract money" within voting, is to outlaw any outside or personal money from being used at all to run for office. give all candidates the same amount of money and support, and let the best candidate win.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:30 AM
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a reply to: coldkidc

Get rid of Gerrymandering,set term limits on the Congress and Senate , voting day should be a national or state holiday,political media adds should be free but limited.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:31 AM
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a reply to: generik




i would love to hear why he thinks making everyone vote would "counteract money more than anything". it is that money[\i] which pays for those running to run and to get their message out to get people to vote for them. the only way to "counteract money" within voting, is to outlaw any outside or personal money from being used at all to run for office. give all candidates the same amount of money and support, and let the best candidate win.


It didn't really make sense to me either.
The money shapes the image and directs the media in the desired direction...which unfortunately seems to shape the opinion of the uninformed masses...of which there would just be more of.



posted on Mar, 19 2015 @ 02:34 AM
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Kind of defeats the idea of democracy. You live in a free democracy, but you must vote. Surely the freedom not to vote is just as important



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