Bantha-dung. Is that from Mars?

I wonder if the federal guv'ment spends more time on any of the above or on rigging the voting?

Yes, we do. So if you have a driver's license, you are eligible to vote. The trick is defining exactly what a "driver's license" is. Sort of like, what is the meaning of is, and other philosophic perambulations.

And what if I want to protest the lack of choice among the unacceptable candidates on the ballot? Would writing in Mickey Mouse get me on a list for reeducation? Would writing in John Galt get me arrested?

Make that a tamper proof photo I D.

I have always entertained the idea that maybe a standard appearing politician (a president especially) gets voted in by the usual means - pandering and vote buying - and then once in pulls the veil aside and he/she is a dedicated constitutionalist. Of course that would mean that said office holder could do very little because of adhering to the constitution. Oh well, never mind.

Sure. Set it up so that if any one in the population didn't vote, the default would be Obama's. No pesky ID's required.

You have motor voter registration don't you?

Sure. Then ACORN and SEIU wouldn't have to bother standing out in the street and bribing people to vote. They could just have them come in to their offices and sign the forms.

a $10 fine per non-voter, if it could be collected,
would bring in half a billion. . collection costs would
obviate that option. -- j

Bend is beautiful! Used to fly in to Sunriver for weekends back when my company stock was doing well. ;-)

Interesting to read the comments here about how only the "producers" should be permitted to vote, for in fact that's pretty much what's happening. The most consistent voters tend to be working, knowledgeable, and older. There are instances where the ignorant or incompetent are "assisted" in the voting process, but the method isn't organized enough to control the outcomes on a large scale.

Voting online presents an interesting dilemma, given the opportunity for hacking. However, the science of biometrics has advanced enough that devices now exist to identify the voter by retinal pattern, presenting a form of ID difficult to fake.

Being a proponent of the carrot over the stick, I would recommend some form of tax refund for exercising one's duty to vote. Under a flat tax system, a reduction from 17% to 16% during voting periods should be incitement enough. I think that would be more effective in inciting voter turnout than penalties for not voting.

Educated Electorate is what is needed to move things in any kind of good direction.

"Statistically speaking, Obama is correct. Less than 37 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2014 midterms, according to the United States Election Project. And a Pew Research Center study found that those avoiding the polls in 2014 tended to be younger, poorer, less educated and more racially diverse."

The less educated section of this is a key that Obama wants. A less educated voter is more easily swayed to any cause. They are more likely to do what your adds tell them to do.

Another key that BO wants that also stinks is his use of the poor as a club to beat the rich into submission and rob them to give the poor stuff. This would provide a much larger club. A star trek episode comes to mind "Muri" - Bam Bam the grumps.

Yes, there is a likelihood.
Thanks for pointing that out..

I'd consider mandatory voting with one caveat. ALL ballots for an office must include a "None of the Above" box. If "None of the Above" wins, then another election is held. Anyone who was on the ballot where "None of the Above" has won, can NEVER run for that office again.

It would be better than what we have now! At least a property owner has skin in the game

The term "useful idiots" comes to mind.

If you force the uninformed masses who do not care to vote you can get whatever vote you need by campaign advertising and political gifts. pretty easy to see what he would want it for.

No small government person would ever win again unless they behaved like a big government guy during the election.

As a landlord, I'd be happy with property owners getting to vote. That would be too old school...I know.

The same reasoning is behind Otrans inviting in the resulting flood of illegals.

Blarman,

Gave you a thumbs up even though I do not agree with the first line, the rest should be what is required to gain the privileged to vote.

Also speak English at a level where communication is possible with you in English.

I would always be against requiring people to vote. It would be a form of the government initiating force on its people and that power should be used only when no other recourse is available.

Bend, where some of the people are still sane, but rapidly diminishing in number. : - ) I think our recently deposed governor and his girl friend occasionally hang out here.

Punishment

Do not vote loose a pinky, next time loose the other pinky. They would not have to take many more fingers before people voted.

I mean really, do we plan to go that far down the totalitarian road?

We could not afford Jail time or the costs of trying to collect a fine that many many people would blow off. Enforcing such a law (without fear of loosing a finger) would be impossible and with such feat it would be a totalitarian government in the open rather than through false but perceived civility that we use on so many things today,

A good example property taxes that really make it so no one owns any land we just lease it from the government but pay for it in order to have the civil illusion of ownership.

Voting would be the same way. Vote or face the IRS. People go out to vote and simply vote for whomever they perceive as the greatest threat to them should they not vote for that person. What a motivational force to have people vote with, fear.

Beaverton for me - you?

I agree.

We have such a problem up here with spoiled ballots and how they are handled (or not handled). There have been numerous cases of people voting multiple time. It's bad.

Only in a Communist country. Look where we are headed!