So now Obama wants to make voting mandatory?

[MK Ultra]

I swear this guy never met a mandate he didn't like

Obama: Maybe it's time for mandatory voting - CNN.com

(CNN)The president whose major policy achievement is mandatory health insurance thinks maybe voting should be mandatory, too.

Asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement.

"Other countries have mandatory voting," Obama said Wednesday in Cleveland, where he spoke about the importance of middle class economics, and was asked about the issue during a town hall.

There will be the predictable gfyers who think anything the government does is just fine but I have a small problem with the exercise of civil rights being made compulsory, kind of takes the whole "freedom" aspect out of it when the government is forcing you to comply.

[Barry-xlovecam]

Bad idea.

[Robbie]

Baby steps...soon EVERYTHING will be "mandatory".

The govt. wants more power. Every time they gain power, we lose a small piece of freedom.

That's the way it works.

And yeah, like most things there is a "sweet spot" that is beneficial to society and allows for just enough govt. and just enough personal freedom.

I think we have went way beyond that sweet spot already.

[TheSquealer]

He's a constitutional lawyer. Why should he understand things like government, how the government works, rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, separation of powers, etc etc etc.

[MakeMeGrrrrowl]

"The people who tend not to vote are young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily towards immigrant groups and minority groups," Obama said. "There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls."

OF COURSE some "folks" don't want them to vote. I am one of those folks.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Baby steps...soon EVERYTHING will be "mandatory".

The govt. wants more power. Every time they gain power, we lose a small piece of freedom.

Blah blah blah...

Robbie my friend, read the second line of that article.

Asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement.

Then just a few lines down, he says

"It would be transformative if everybody voted -- that would counteract money more than anything," he said, adding it was the first time he had shared the idea publicly.

So give it a rest already. Your "freedom" is already been sold to liars with agendas like the Koch Brothers. Don't forget that many of the ads and other measures were put in place to stop people from voting in the first place.

Making it mandatory to vote may not be the worlds best idea, but it is at least one idea to counteract the the hundreds of millions spent on voting now.

[baddog]

Too early for an Oswald reference?

[L-Pink]

"The people who tend not to vote are young, they're lower income, they're skewed more heavily towards immigrant groups and minority groups," Obama said. "There's a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls."


... Yea, for the same reason "some folks" want to make it mandatory they vote.

It's called self interest.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by MK Ultra

... I have a small problem with the exercise of civil rights being made compulsory, kind of takes the whole "freedom" aspect out of it when the government is forcing you to comply.

Why didn't Bush make paying taxes voluntary?

If you can't walk naked in the street without being ticketed or arrested then you're not free

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Why didn't Bush make paying taxes voluntary?

If you can't walk naked in the street without being ticketed or arrested then you're not free

if that's considered free they yeah.. i don't want that either..

[scuba steve]

i'd be more inclined to vote for tax credit

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

if that's considered free they yeah.. i don't want that either..

[kane]

Personally I think we should do as much as possible to make voting as easy and convenient for everyone as we can and we should encourage everyone to vote. However, if a person can't be bothered to take the time to vote once every two years or just doesn't care enough to be bothered, I don't want them making decisions that could affect me.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by **********

Blah blah blah...

Robbie my friend, read the second line of that article.



Then just a few lines down, he says




So give it a rest already. Your "freedom" is already been sold to liars with agendas like the Koch Brothers. Don't forget that many of the ads and other measures were put in place to stop people from voting in the first place.

Making it mandatory to vote may not be the worlds best idea, but it is at least one idea to counteract the the hundreds of millions spent on voting now.

so side step the real issue. instead of actually dealing with big money politics, you know like maybe use one of those fancy executive orders he seems to have so many of and EO some fucking rules on politicians and pacs. instead that nitwit make it another problem for the average guy.


if we were forced to vote, the big money problem in politics will go away?


that's fucking 3rd grade logic.




thanks Obama!

[SmutHammer]

More like people should have to pass a test showing they have some type of knowledge about what/who they are voting on/for.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by SmutHammer

More like people should have to pass a test showing they have some type of knowledge about what/who they are voting on/for.

I've always thought you should sync voting with filing your income taxes. Don't file you don't get the option to vote.


.

[Sly]

Did you guys see that earlier this week the White House made it official that the Office of Administration does not need to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests? They were not doing it anyway, but now it's been made official. And before anyone cries, Bush did it as well. That's right, Obama following in Bush footsteps!

A Sunshine Week surprise: White House exempts executive office from records requests - The Washington Post

Transparency. Hope. Change. Good things.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by Sly

Did you guys see that earlier this week the White House made it official that the Office of Administration does not need to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests? They were not doing it anyway, but now it's been made official. And before anyone cries, Bush did it as well. That's right, Obama following in Bush footsteps!

A Sunshine Week surprise: White House exempts executive office from records requests - The Washington Post

Transparency. Hope. Change. Good things.

The report I read said a record amount of requests were denied.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Sly

Did you guys see that earlier this week the White House made it official that the Office of Administration does not need to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests? They were not doing it anyway, but now it's been made official. And before anyone cries, Bush did it as well. That's right, Obama following in Bush footsteps!

A Sunshine Week surprise: White House exempts executive office from records requests - The Washington Post

Transparency. Hope. Change. Good things.

Obama even added a fuck you, i'll do what i want by making it official during sunshine week.

the shit that guy shuffles.


it's embarrassing.

[kane]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I've always thought you should sync voting with filing your income taxes. Don't file you don't get the option to vote.


.

The only problem with that is that there are actually a good block of people that don't file income taxes for a good reason. For example, if you are in college and don't have a job you have no income and therefore don't file. Many retired people also don't file income taxes the same can be said for people on disability (I know there are scammers on disability that we would be better off without, but there are also people who have legit disabilities.)

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by kane

The only problem with that is that there are actually a good block of people that don't file income taxes for a good reason. For example, if you are in college and don't have a job you have no income and therefore don't file. Many retired people also don't file income taxes the same can be said for people on disability (I know there are scammers on disability that we would be better off without, but there are also people who have legit disabilities.)

It's very easy to file a zero income tax return. In fact they could fill in the zeros while waiting in line to vote. The point is they would be participating in what really runs the country, money and how it's collected and spent.

[dyna mo]

that fucking nitwit

?Other countries have mandatory voting,? Mr. Obama said at a town hall-style event

[Sly]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

that fucking nitwit

“Other countries have mandatory voting,” Mr. Obama said at a town hall-style event

I don't like the "other countries do XYZ" bull shit. We aren't other countries. We are our country. If it makes sense to do it, okay, consider it. Don't pawn off the "other countries do it" excuse in order to sway some of the resident America haters.

I'm glad he has us lumped in with the Democratic Republic of Congo. :-/

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Sly

I don't like the "other countries do XYZ" bull shit. We aren't other countries. We are our country. If it makes sense to do it, okay, consider it. Don't pawn off the "other countries do it" excuse in order to sway some of the resident America haters.

I'm glad he has us lumped in with the Democratic Republic of Congo. :-/

it's insane! i mean argentina? i just threw up a little. it's beyond embarrassing to have the leader of the free fucking world want mandatory voting, because you know, argentina has it and it will solve the big money problem with USA politics.

fucking wow.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

it's insane! i mean argentina? i just threw up a little. it's beyond embarrassing to have the leader of the free fucking world want mandatory voting, because you know, argentina has it and it will solve the big money problem with USA politics.

fucking wow.

And Lebanon. Men only.

Moving forward!

[kane]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

It's very easy to file a zero income tax return. In fact they could fill in the zeros while waiting in line to vote. The point is they would be participating in what really runs the country, money and how it's collected and spent.

That is just a waste of everyone's time and money. If the law says you don't have to file a tax return now we want to make it so you do have to file a tax return in order to vote? So we just create more red tape.

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by kane

Personally I think we should do as much as possible to make voting as easy and convenient for everyone as we can and we should encourage everyone to vote. However, if a person can't be bothered to take the time to vote once every two years or just doesn't care enough to be bothered, I don't want them making decisions that could affect me.

How much easier can it get? I get a form sent directly to my house and I vote before the election.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by **********

So give it a rest already. Your "freedom" is already been sold to liars with agendas like the Koch Brothers. Don't forget that many of the ads and other measures were put in place to stop people from voting in the first place.

Making it mandatory to vote may not be the worlds best idea, but it is at least one idea to counteract the the hundreds of millions spent on voting now.

WTF?

My freedom isn't obstructed in any way, shape, or form by the Koch' spending money on the right OR George Soros spending money on the left.

And there have been no measures put in place over the last few years to stop people from voting. You need to learn your history. That was done by DEMOCRAT southern governors back in the day.

And NO Mark...FORCING people to do something is NEVER a good idea.

I'm sorry man...but forget about your partisanship for just one second...FREEDOM is freedom to do as you choose. NOT having "big brother" command you to do it.

Yes, I agree that EVERYBODY voting would be a great thing.
I completely disagree that FORCING even one person to vote is a good thing. Matter of fact it's a TERRIBLE thing.

I can't wrap my head around faux-liberalism.
True "liberals" are supposed to be anti-establishment, anti-govt., etc.

This new breed of "liberals" seem to just be sheep who want the govt. to run their lives in every way.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Sly

And Lebanon. Men only.

Moving forward!

maybe the teleprompter guy played a joke on him? maybe? hopefully? i mean really. is it 5 o'clock yet? i need a drink.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

maybe the teleprompter guy played a joke on him? maybe? hopefully? i mean really. is it 5 o'clock yet? i need a drink.

It was an idea that he has never spoken about before.

Now you have to be wondering what else he is saying in those meetings that his staff has time to shut him down on.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by kane

That is just a waste of everyone's time and money. If the law says you don't have to file a tax return now we want to make it so you do have to file a tax return in order to vote? So we just create more red tape.

And yet a large percent of voters there are receiving tax money?

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by Robbie

WTF?

I can't wrap my head around faux-liberalism.
True "liberals" are supposed to be anti-establishment, anti-govt., etc.

This new breed of "liberals" seem to just be sheep who want the govt. to run their lives in every way.

[Dead]

Voting is nothing more then a way to make people think they had a say???? This matters none. Please pay no attention to the men behind the screen pulling the levers.

[mikesouth]

Horrible idea for several reasons first we have too many uneducated voters casting votes as it is, second its a bad idea to let people suckling the public teat vote themselves a raise...

[MK Ultra]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Why didn't Bush make paying taxes voluntary?

Hell if Bush had been able to do that and somehow make it work then maybe I would have voted for him... 3 times!

Originally Posted by Bladewire

If you can't walk naked in the street without being ticketed or arrested then you're not free

In a truly free society the government wouldn't be able to stop you walking naked on the street, as long as no harm comes to anyone else then how could it be illegal?
Are you proposing that since we don't have "True Freedom" in this country then losing more of what we have left doesn't matter?



I look at it like this: Take "Freedom Of Religion" for example, by applying the same rule as proposed you would have freedom to choose any religion you liked, but would be required to be a member of at least one.
Freedom From Religion would no longer be allowed.





And another thing, if voting became mandatory wouldn't a voter ID of some kind be required?

[crockett]

Obama is certainly a very good troll. He knows for sure that there is no chance in hell of this ever happening, yet he can say something like this and next thing you know all the right wing talking heads are outraged all over the airways and internet for the next 3 weeks looking like lunitics.

[Joshua G]

funny that repubs want to prevent the poor from voting, while obama wants to force them to vote. Both sides take these positions to benefit themselves politically, & both sides are wrong. The right to vote should not be abridged, & should not be forced either. people who do not make the effort to speak should not be heard.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by crockett

Obama is certainly a very good troll. He knows for sure that there is no chance in hell of this ever happening, yet he can say something like this and next thing you know all the right wing talking heads are outraged all over the airways and internet for the next 3 weeks looking like lunitics.

Hah! Well played.


BO the PUSATROLL.

Explains a lot rly.

Seems like its true.

[dyna mo]

Vendz is still needing to breathe in and out of a paper bag over this.

[Sly]

[MFCT]

If he can make it mandatory to vote, can he make it mandatory to vote democrat?

If people object to being forced to vote democrat, can he make it mandatory that people not object to voting democrat? Where does one draw the line? Can he make it mandatory that people refrain from drawing a line?

Seems like a slippery slope.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by Sly

[crockett]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

Hah! Well played.


BO the PUSATROLL.

Explains a lot rly.

Seems like its true.

You know it's true..

Hell BO even called Benjamin Netanyahu today to congratulate him on the win. Now you know "THAT" was a troll.

[sicone]

Anyone else have the urge to order some EXTRA BIG ASS FRIES and watch some Idiocracy?

[kane]

Originally Posted by Rochard

How much easier can it get? I get a form sent directly to my house and I vote before the election.

Same here. My state votes by mail. The ballot is sent to me a few weeks before the election and I can either mail it back or drop it in a ballot drop.

We have a high voter turnout because of this and it makes it easy.

Many states are not that way.

Let me take you back to 2004 in Ohio. The election was likely going to come down to who won Ohio (this was Bush vs Kerry). In that state if you lived in one of the major cites there was suddenly a shortage of voting machines. People were waiting in line 3-6 hours to vote. This is actually fairly common in a lot of places. It is why they started doing early voting days in many places so they could avoid the long lines and waits on election day.

[kane]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

And yet a large percent of voters there are receiving tax money?

And what does that have to do with voting?

My feeling is that if you are going to force someone to do something there should be a net benefit for society. I don't see any benefit to forcing people without a job or who are on social security/disability to fill out a tax form for no other reason than to allow them to vote.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I've always thought you should sync voting with filing your income taxes. Don't file you don't get the option to vote.


.

I bet all those retired people over 65-67 (what ever it is today) whom don't have to file a tax return, would enjoy that..

[420]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

The first one is great. That's how we become more civilized.

[Dead]

Originally Posted by 420

The first one is great. That's how we become more civilized.

No people
?
LOL

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by 420

The first one is great. That's how we become more civilized.

IT'S A METAPHOR!