tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post7451078450107226423..comments2023-11-02T08:15:20.107+00:00Comments on Brain Babblings: And Not a Moment Too SoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post-60175923574105751182009-06-20T23:07:51.619+01:002009-06-20T23:07:51.619+01:00a) Splitting hairs? The government is made up of m...a) Splitting hairs? The government is made up of members, I elect the member ergo I elect the government.<br />b) Sure have your choice not to vote, but don't complain when your view is not represented, and don't complain that politicians are unrepresentative *lol*<br />C) Solution: inform! Somehow everyone needs to understand the importance and impact of politics. I don't claim to be any sort of expert - in fact I'm probably quite naive and simplistic in many respects, but I really care and think everyone else should too!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00879299198644570163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post-31530578800023912322009-06-13T02:01:02.186+01:002009-06-13T02:01:02.186+01:00a) Australia is not a democracy!!!! It is a Consti...a) Australia is not a democracy!!!! It is a Constitutional Monarchy that chooses a democratic way of electing its government. Further, one does not elect the government but only the "local member". The majority of "local members" from a particular party form government. <br />b) In one sense (and far be it for me to suggest this) the US system of "enrolling to vote" is much more democratic. The very fact that I get a monetary fine (excuse the tautology) if I do not go to vote (whether it be a valid vote or not) is undemocratic!!! I want my choice not to care! (That, btw, is a joke!)<br />c) the donkey vote wins! Democracy does not work without an <b>informed</b> vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post-44565566423982375532009-06-12T21:07:32.123+01:002009-06-12T21:07:32.123+01:00The law doesn't say you have to cast a valid v...The law doesn't say you have to cast a valid vote, only that you have to cast a vote. If you choose you can deliberately make a mistake filling in your ballot paper. This is called a donkey vote and is not counted. The number of donkey votes is noted and is sometimes considered an indicator of satisfaction (or otherwise) with the choices on offer. So if you want to exerise your democratic right not to vote, that's how you do it.<br /><br />If you can't get to a polling station on Election Day, you have to write a letter explaining why you didn't vote, otherwise you get a small fine. This happened to me, when I had a migraine and couldn't get out of bed. Pete just forgot to vote, so we wrote letters with a medical certificate saying I was ill and Pete was caring for me. No problem.<br /><br />When you go to vote your name is marked on the register and any no-shows are easily identified. Also, elections are held on Saturdays, so you don't have to miss work and schools don't have to close so their halls can be used.<br /><br />There's no perfect system of democracy, but I really think, given how appalling the result of the recent election here was, something has to change. Perhaps there needs to be more rallying of the electorate along the lines of "it doesn't matter who you vote for as long as you vote."Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00879299198644570163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post-68558977977162340912009-06-11T16:28:07.642+01:002009-06-11T16:28:07.642+01:00Is there some way of having an option on the votin...Is there some way of having an option on the voting card for "abstain"? That way people can vote to, er, not vote...<br /><br />Just an idea.<br /><br />Out of interest, how is it enforced? What if you can't get to a polling station on the day, say because of illness or family bereavement etc? It's certainly an interesting idea.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773143443657529717.post-40096133566782200772009-06-11T00:12:34.022+01:002009-06-11T00:12:34.022+01:00Just a small question: how is a compulsory voting ...Just a small question: how is a compulsory voting system democratic?? I want my right not to vote if I so desire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com