Dnarever wrote on Jan 4^th, 2013 at 7:23am:

donations.

Mr Bleijie says it is a chance for everyone to have a say.

Lecturer in politics at Griffith University, Dr Paul Williams, says there is room for improvement for Queensland's electoral system.

"Only a fool would say the voting system is perfect and every piece of legislation should be reviewed from time to time," he said.

However, Dr Williams says compulsory voting should stay.

"The quite preposterous idea of voluntary voting, while the rest of Australia remains in compulsory voting - this is not the place to discuss it."

Political analyst Professor Scott Prasser says this is one of the more sensible documents put forward by the Liberal National Party (LNP) Government.

"It is a bit of that renovation of our system of government people like me have been calling for," he said.

"I know there is always political motives involved and all these things, but I think we should give Government a bit of a tick for at least putting these issues on the agenda."

Professor Prasser says he does not have a problem with unions supporting political parties.

"If a trade union wants to give money to a political party, as long as that trade union is above board, then that's what they should be able [to do]," he said.

"It's no different from a business wanting to give money to a political party."

The Government is accepting submissions until March 1.

freediver wrote on Jan 4^th, 2013 at 7:08am:



So what is your counter argument exactly, it must be bad because so many first world democracies embrace it?


Let's look at those great democracies that embrace forced voting like we do.

Argentina - up until recently military juntas had direct political influence over the people and didn't mind killing any opposition

Brazil - also up until recently run by a military dictatorship, is seem compulsory voting is very popular with this type of government, so it must be good.

Democratic Republic of the Congo - it has democratic in its title so it must be a great place for human rights; sadly no. But they do have compulsory voting that keeps their dictator in power.

Ecuador - was a military dictatorship for long time, decided the being a true compulsory voting democracy was the way to go, up until a recent military coup.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

Crap countries dispose of basic human rights to meet the political ends, the company we keep with these political systems is not one we should be proud of.

Your argument that being popular is in itself wrong, is total bullsh1t. The reason nearly every single first world democracy embraces the right to vote is because it produces the best type of democracy. It's only ignorance and hubris that keeps us a backward semi-democratic country.

It is not compulsory in any other Western country - not the US or Canada or Britain or, across the ditch, in New Zealand. Why are adult Australians treated like children?

KJ, argumentum ad populum is a logical fallacy.

KJT1981 wrote on Jan 4^th, 2013 at 9:21am:


Without looking up the numbers on informal votes, I'd say it's no where near 50% .... which is less than what the voter turn out in the last US el;ection was ... sure some people want to protest and vote informal, you say it's because they just don't want to be fined, I say they vote informal because they don't like the choices , its probably a mixture of both .... by making them go and vote, you make them take an interest .. even if it's only an cursory interest, its more than they would take in any other system.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 4^th, 2013 at 6:27am:


If it's such a good standard then why the preferential voting system ?

That is a scam !!

He was just ranting his BS on TV saying the "far left" want to "tax air" so they shouldn't have to vote.

SOB

John Smith wrote on Jan 4^th, 2013 at 12:57pm:



You know you are on a winner when barnaby joyce is on your side. 


He doesn't even bother to prove any of his statements with examples from any of the first world democracies that suffer from this affliction.


Maybe someone should point out that in counties that force their citizens to the polls, argentina, equador, lebanon greece, mexico, the politics (human rights) isn't so crash hot either, but never let the facts get in the way.