Comments on: Numbers. http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/ Free of an agenda. Except that gay one. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:40:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: emb http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57478 emb Wed, 28 May 2008 13:25:42 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57478 Rob-- I didn't say readers/bloggers don't vote; just that the energy expenditure on blogging and political action (talking to politicians and decision-makers, communicating with nonbloggers, etc) is, in my opinion, not balanced. All those bright, articulate folks should find additional forums. That's all. Rob– I didn’t say readers/bloggers don’t vote; just that the energy expenditure on blogging and political action (talking to politicians and decision-makers, communicating with nonbloggers, etc) is, in my opinion, not balanced. All those bright, articulate folks should find additional forums. That’s all.

]]> By: Anon http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57251 Anon Mon, 26 May 2008 23:53:58 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57251 If the amendment passes, does anyone know how long before CA can put out an initiative to reverse the ban? If the amendment passes, does anyone know how long before CA can put out an initiative to reverse the ban?

]]> By: Dick Mills http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57187 Dick Mills Mon, 26 May 2008 02:49:06 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57187 Maybe we need to get a initiative on the November Ballot that institutes a tax benefit of 10% for citizens who vote in every election. Maybe we need to get a initiative on the November Ballot that institutes a tax benefit of 10% for citizens who vote in every election.

]]> By: Rob Moore http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57178 Rob Moore Sun, 25 May 2008 23:12:11 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57178 EMB, I think mandatory voting is not a bad idea, either; however, I think you are a little offbase about those who read and blog. I would be willing to bet those who do read and blog about issues are more likely to vote than those who don't even bother to think about it. I have little patience with people who tell me, "I don't vote because _________". The real reasons are far less noble. These people often don't think about anything beyond the next five minutes to 24 hours although or they are so ignorant it hurts to think of anything that isn't related to food, sex, shopping, or how they look. Amongst the ignorant and weak-minded, preachers and mullahs find their prey. EMB, I think mandatory voting is not a bad idea, either; however, I think you are a little offbase about those who read and blog. I would be willing to bet those who do read and blog about issues are more likely to vote than those who don’t even bother to think about it.

I have little patience with people who tell me, “I don’t vote because _________”. The real reasons are far less noble. These people often don’t think about anything beyond the next five minutes to 24 hours although or they are so ignorant it hurts to think of anything that isn’t related to food, sex, shopping, or how they look. Amongst the ignorant and weak-minded, preachers and mullahs find their prey.

]]> By: emb http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57146 emb Sun, 25 May 2008 06:34:04 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57146 I tend to agree with An Other Greek (although pointing to such bastions of democracy as Turkey, Thailand, and Egypt may be a bit of a credibility-stretch). We see the problem here: "Oh, politician X of Y party disagrees with me on some minutiae of queer policy, therefore I shall not vote for X, or for X's party." We shoot ourselves in the foot every time. And being "too busy" to spend the 45 minutes it might take to vote is just laughable. As a new resident of California, I'm dismayed to see that we may be on the verge of an irreversible setback. If we'd all just exert as much energy on informed voting as we do on reading and posting on blogs all the livelong day, we'd be in MUCH better shape! I tend to agree with An Other Greek (although pointing to such bastions of democracy as Turkey, Thailand, and Egypt may be a bit of a credibility-stretch).

We see the problem here: “Oh, politician X of Y party disagrees with me on some minutiae of queer policy, therefore I shall not vote for X, or for X’s party.” We shoot ourselves in the foot every time. And being “too busy” to spend the 45 minutes it might take to vote is just laughable.

As a new resident of California, I’m dismayed to see that we may be on the verge of an irreversible setback. If we’d all just exert as much energy on informed voting as we do on reading and posting on blogs all the livelong day, we’d be in MUCH better shape!

]]> By: An Other Greek http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57079 An Other Greek Sat, 24 May 2008 12:43:24 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57079 Harsh? What's "harsh" about mandatory voting? Should be duty, but in our sacrifice-less empire all we have to do is shop. I'll tell you what's harsh. Harsh is having a citizenry that for one reason or another (see above) does not vote and IS NOT REPRESENTED. Here's a list of countries with "harsh" mandatory voting: Austria Argentina Australia Belgium Bolivia Brazil Chile Costa Rica Cyprus Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Fiji France (senate only) Gabon Greece Guatemala Honduras Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Mexico Nauru Paraguay Peru Philippines Singapore Switzerland (Schaffhausen) Thailand Turkey Uruguay BTW, my whole premise is that it is the liberals that most often do not show up to vote. In my life, and in the many different places I've lived, it is never the rich nor the conservatives that -find reasons- not to vote. It is usually the young, the apathetic, and the lazy, and yikes, these groups trend more liberal... --------------------------------------------------- Harsh?

What’s “harsh” about mandatory voting?

Should be duty, but in our sacrifice-less empire all we have to do is shop.

I’ll tell you what’s harsh. Harsh is having a citizenry that for one reason or another (see above) does not vote and IS NOT REPRESENTED.

Here’s a list of countries with “harsh” mandatory voting:

Austria
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Fiji
France (senate only)
Gabon
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras
Italy
Liechtenstein

Luxembourg
Mexico
Nauru
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Singapore
Switzerland (Schaffhausen)
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay

BTW, my whole premise is that it is the liberals that most often do not show up to vote. In my life, and in the many different places I’ve lived, it is never the rich nor the conservatives that -find reasons- not to vote. It is usually the young, the apathetic, and the lazy, and yikes, these groups trend more liberal…
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]]> By: CitizenGeek http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57071 CitizenGeek Sat, 24 May 2008 10:29:27 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-57071 Mandatory voting seems a little harsh. But they should definitely try to make it easier and more convenient for people to vote. Anyway, these figures sure are disappointing. If the majority of people in the most liberal and gay-friendly state aren't too happy with gay marriage, what kind of a battle are marriage activists facing in conservative states? Mandatory voting seems a little harsh. But they should definitely try to make it easier and more convenient for people to vote.

Anyway, these figures sure are disappointing. If the majority of people in the most liberal and gay-friendly state aren’t too happy with gay marriage, what kind of a battle are marriage activists facing in conservative states?

]]> By: An Other Greek http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-56999 An Other Greek Fri, 23 May 2008 22:56:57 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/numbers-20080523/#comment-56999 Many people with liberal inclinations chose not to vote. Why? Nihilism, cynicism, disenfranchisement, laziness. This is how, over and over, a conservative/corporatist minority manages outpower the progressives in government. Our system is soft. We actually do live in a democracy. If only people voted... And, no, 60% is not acceptable. Now, who does "voluntary" voting truly serve? Voting is a right AND an obligation. Mandatory voting may be worth a try. -------------------------------------------------------- Many people with liberal inclinations chose not to vote.

Why?

Nihilism, cynicism, disenfranchisement, laziness.

This is how, over and over, a conservative/corporatist minority manages outpower the progressives in government.

Our system is soft. We actually do live in a democracy. If only people voted… And, no, 60% is not acceptable.

Now, who does “voluntary” voting truly serve? Voting is a right AND an obligation. Mandatory voting may be worth a try.

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