oh dear: Hoon calls for compulsory voting

[dundeegeorge]

It is to laugh

"Stops cases like the US where a well organised minority (Christian right) have hugely dispropotional influence on national politics."

Stop cases like the UK where a well organised minority (Labour voters) have hugely disproportional influence on national politics

[datestamp]

Interesting. I'd like to see a law whereby the defence minister is forced to postpone his holidays on the eve of a major invasion. But it will never happen (either idea).............

[wendigo100]

I'd like to see a law whereby the defence minister is forced to postpone his holidays on the eve of a major invasion.

Excellent datestamp. I'd like to hear someone put this to Mr Hoon.

[gromit1000]

Well he would

As it increases the labour vote. Oz has "compulsory" voting. It is mandatory to register at a polling booth otherwise one gets a fine. It is however perfectly legal to register then return a virgin ballot paper, thus one doesn't actually ahve to vote merely turn up. A distinction that is beyond most people. Currently the fine is about ₤20 - a deterrent to your average labour voting chav but not you high paid tory contractor.

[wendigo100]

Re: Well he would

Currently the fine is about ₤20

Blimey, you could buy a new car over here for that - how many oz dollars to the pound?

[velvetwood]

No he didn't. He called for compulsory ATTENDANCE

Excuse me

Geoff Hoon didn't call for COMPULSORY VOTING. What he called for was compulsory ATTENDANCE at a polling station.

Now I know this might sound like splitting hairs but if you're going to denounce a politician as a buffoon and/or a purveyor of unworkable policies (and hey, why not, and lets face it there are fewer more deserving cases than Hoon) then please get the charge sheet right before putting on the black cap to pronounce sentence.

Mind you, I think all that ssuch a measure will do is reduce the amount of revenue collected by the returning officer,

Think about it a minute.

Back in the late 70's I voted for "The Official Bring A Bottle Party Candidate" because I couldn't bring myself to vote for Sunny Jim Callaghan and alas Miss Whiplash had pulled out at the last minute despite canvassing for my support at my front door (which is more than any mainstream party politician has ever bothered to do then or since)

However, they all lost their deposit through lack of support as Jim Callaghan roared past them to claim the seat and .. a humiliating defeat in the country.

Now is Hoon pressures thousands upon thousands of pissed off electors into walking into the polling station, they're gonna do one of three things :-

1. Vote for someone just to piss off Geoff Hoon,
2. Trash the polling station for something to do, or
3) Possibly both 1 and 2

However, all those carrying out task (1) will almost certainly boost the "any of the alternatives to the tosspot on the all woman shortlist" vote, and thereby drastically reduce the income from failed election seekers.

[AtW]

attendance

> Geoff Hoon didn't call for COMPULSORY VOTING. What he
> called for was compulsory ATTENDANCE at a polling station.

Turning up or attendance in this respect is getting voting papers in the poll booth, naturally after that people will vote by either following procedure or spoiling the paper.

[WageSlave1]

Voting should be compulsory in Britain as a way of ending political alienation, restoring community and addressing the dangerous issue of "serial non-voters"

Yes, this is really the solution to political alienation and restoring the community.
Yet again it NL fail to address the real issue. The main reason people are politically alienated is because politicians are spin masters lacking any substance.

In this country we have historically enjoyed personal liberty. This is yet another example of NL attempting to erode the fabric of our democracy.