You are assuming that the outcome of elections would be different if everyone were to vote. I am positing that they would not, at least not substantially.
this isn't about compelling people to vote the same as me.
If this isn't about voting like you then why are you so worked up about it? You seem to think that making everyone vote will result in something different happening, and seem to really want that to happen, which suggests that you are not happy with the current voting results. What if forcing everyone to vote resulted in more Republicans winning?
then i'm afraid your offering no solution at all.
I wasn't trying to offer any solutions because I didn't think there was a problem. Putting people in jail only to get the same outcome as before is definitely NOT a solution. You sound like those who are in favor of the drug war - only criminals use drugs and throwing them in jail will result in less drugs on the street and fewer overdoses and addictions. That didn't turn out so well.
I am positing that they would not, at least not substantially.
I think you're wrong about that, but even if you're not, the election will be a mandate. These days, all of us maintain a disdainful detatchment from our government and our representatives. we complain about them, and say they should be thrown out, and that they don't represent us. we apologize to the world when our government does something that the world doesn't like, and even the international community sometimes shows they understand it's not us, it's our government that's doing it. that's wrong. that's not the way things should be. if everybody voted, that detatchment would start to dissolve. our represntatives would truly represent each and every one of us, for better or for worse, and the main driver behind their election and re-election would no longer be about donors or money spent, but votes cast, and that's the way it should be. for me, it's not even about things being different. I think things will be different not because the outcomes would all change, but because the attitude of the voters and the candidates will have no choice but to change.
If this isn't about voting like you then why are you so worked up about it?
See, this is what baffles me about this country. We claim to be living in a society where we cast a vote and have our voice heard and the majority get what they want, but nobody respects that. Everybody's just interested in getting what they, individually, want, and they're not interested in hearing what the majority wants. It's the same attitude that gets a Trump elected, because he makes libruls mad. " who cares if they're the majority of the country! we should get what we want instead! because we yelled the loudest!" it's the same attitude that gets Net Neutrality struck down. " who cares what the majority of americans want from their internet? these guys have the most money, and they won't fund out campaign if we don't do what they say, so fuck everybody else!! my way!!!"
You're asking me why i want to change something that doesn't necessarily get me what I personally want? I'll tell you, because it's right and it doesn't fucking matter if it gets me what i want. It's about making sure society is based on the consensus of the majority, and compromising with the minority, and straight to hell with any special interests individual wants and desires. we can only accomplish that if every single person votes.
You sound like those who are in favor of the drug war - only criminals use drugs and throwing them in jail will result in less drugs on the street
you're not making a complete analogy here. first off, no, there's no form of the drug war that makes any sense. Actually, the failure of the Drug war illustrates my point quite succinctly. if you put this to a truly popular vote, today, right now, where every single eligible American had to vote, i'd bet a dollar and a half that marijuana would be legalized nationwide. i'd be willing to go 2/1 odds on LSD and other psychodelics. and yet we continue on with a drug war, because representatives are in place that cater to a wedge issue generated by a loud and stalwart minority. The drug war was created by conservatives to oppress minorities and poor people, and stoked by the greed of the private prison industry lobby, and continues against the will of the people. but we can conveniently ignore the will of the people, because we simply don't ask all of them.
I wasn't trying to offer any solutions because I didn't think there was a problem.
that's why i made my comment. there is a problem, and folks just aren't aware, or they're all busy complaining about other things. Election reform of this nature is the single most important issue for our country going forward.
1
u/poco Dec 13 '17
You are assuming that the outcome of elections would be different if everyone were to vote. I am positing that they would not, at least not substantially.
If this isn't about voting like you then why are you so worked up about it? You seem to think that making everyone vote will result in something different happening, and seem to really want that to happen, which suggests that you are not happy with the current voting results. What if forcing everyone to vote resulted in more Republicans winning?
I wasn't trying to offer any solutions because I didn't think there was a problem. Putting people in jail only to get the same outcome as before is definitely NOT a solution. You sound like those who are in favor of the drug war - only criminals use drugs and throwing them in jail will result in less drugs on the street and fewer overdoses and addictions. That didn't turn out so well.