I am usually very liberal and believe in freedom of speech but looking around at my peers I can't stand the fact that in a years time they will be able to vote.
In my media studies class last week only two students (including myself) knew what an MP was... I was the only person who knew who the MP for my area is. How can people who don't even know those simple things vote on who will run our bloody country? Almost all of my year group have no idea of current political events and what people do know, they've got from glancing at the Metro once a week.
There should be some test when you register to vote...
------- If nothing we do matters then all that matters is what we do.
12:34 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: Nov. 2006 | Days Active: 301 Join to learn more about dramaqueenxoxoEngland, United Kingdom | Label FreeFemale | Posts: 5,501 | Points: 8,818
LiveWire Humor
blackbandaid
Enlightened One Patron
I don't think there should be a test. But there should be a compulsory class where you learn all about politics and the voting/political system.
------- We've seen those mountains kneeling, felten and grey We thought our very hearts would up and melt away vivere senza rimpianti
12:35 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: Jan. 2006 | Days Active: 246 Join to learn more about blackbandaidNew Zealand | Label FreeFemale | Posts: 9,224 | Points: 15,906
roflfuckyou
Sustainer Support Leader
YES PEOPLE SHOULD GET TESTED ON IF THEY EVER KNOW WHAT VOTING IS. Like 900 people I talked to said they ticked random boxes.
And thats the reason why bush was voted in for four years.
------- Backwards this read to enough dumb were you if signature your as this Put
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Miden
Connoisseur Patron
Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.
------- It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country. -- Will Durant
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roryboy
Visionary
Almost everyone I talked to previous to the election here, thought the president runs the economy, it is frustrating.
The least they could do is have an understanding of the Constitution I would think.
------- 16, British (formally) and gay until I am 18
12:38 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: Nov. 2008 | Days Active: 348 Join to learn more about roryboyOhio, United States | Bi-curiousMale | Posts: 3,151 | Points: 8,284
Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.
Way to be a fucking racist.
------- We've seen those mountains kneeling, felten and grey We thought our very hearts would up and melt away vivere senza rimpianti
12:38 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: Jan. 2006 | Days Active: 246 Join to learn more about blackbandaidNew Zealand | Label FreeFemale | Posts: 9,224 | Points: 15,906
Miden
Connoisseur Patron
Quote: from littlestoxie at 2:36 pm on Dec. 17, 2008
And thats the reason why bush was voted in for four years.
Claiming stupidity and ignorance is a very easy shot to take at Americans. It doesn't take much, if any, knowledge or intellect.
Congratulations.
------- It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country. -- Will Durant
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yellowsapphire
Professional
No, whilst I understand what you mean...and share the same frustrations, it starts getting a bit dodgy.
In a democratic society, those who are of eligible age are allowed to vote. You start going against that and becoming corrupt if you add a test.
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Miden
Connoisseur Patron
Quote: from blackbandaid at 2:38 pm on Dec. 17, 2008
Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.
Way to be a fucking racist.
Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.
Its called facts...Its usually better to know what your talking about before you make harsh claims against another person. If you dont, it usually just makes you look foolish.
------- It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country. -- Will Durant
12:49 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: April 2007 | Days Active: 319 Join to learn more about MidenAlabama, United States | StraightMale | Posts: 2,870 | Points: 6,160
Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.
Way to be a fucking racist.
Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.
Its called facts...Its usually better to know what your talking about before you make harsh claims against another person. If you dont, it usually just makes you look foolish.
God you're smug. Your statement made the assumption that all Mexican immigrants would be too stupid to be allowed to vote if there were a test. It is true that they may not know much, if anything, about the American system. But that's not to say that they don't know what they want, or couldn't learn about their new countries system. I understand what you mean now. But what you said did sound racist.
------- We've seen those mountains kneeling, felten and grey We thought our very hearts would up and melt away vivere senza rimpianti
1:00 pm on Dec. 17, 2008 | Joined: Jan. 2006 | Days Active: 246 Join to learn more about blackbandaidNew Zealand | Label FreeFemale | Posts: 9,224 | Points: 15,906
Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.
I'm not sure this matters.
If you don't exactly know how the government works, but if you understand the platform of a candidate, does that mean you aren't qualified to vote?
I bet you the vast majority of Americans don't understand the finer points of how their government operates, a county, state or federal level.
Most accountants don't even understand their own state's CAFR. Don't even start on the regular folk.
A test in general is in theory not a bad idea.
The problem is what goes on the test and whole controls the content.
------- "I give the probability of this working at zero" - Dan DeMatteo
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uWhiteMage
Technician
Why don't we just line up soldiers and have the beat the hell out of anyone who looks like the might vote for the wrong parties based on their ignorance of the government?
There used to be tests to vote, it kept blacks out of the polls.
Quote: from uWhiteMage at 7:25 am on Dec. 18, 2008
Why don't we just line up soldiers and have the beat the hell out of anyone who looks like the might vote for the wrong parties based on their ignorance of the government?
There used to be tests to vote, it kept blacks out of the polls.
I know... but I'm hoping that a country can learn from its mistakes.
------- If nothing we do matters then all that matters is what we do.
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