Santorum poll:

[RoBoTeq]

Hmm, over 200 views of the poll so far.

21 bothered to vote and 4 of them appear to be informal.

I wonder if anything can be gleaned from this...

Probably not.

For the most part, Americans are pathetically negligent of our right to vote. How is it in Australia?

[Slatts]

For the most part, Americans are pathetically negligent of our right to vote. How is it in Australia?

Compulsory.


The jury is still out as to whether or not that's a good thing.

[RoBoTeq]

Compulsory.


The jury is still out as to whether or not that's a good thing.

Well, it's been that way since 1924 and you don't really have to actually vote, but rather just show up.

While I don't really like that sort of government mandate, since the penalty is so low and all citizens still have a choice as to whether they really want to participate or not, I would not be apposed to it.

Here in the U.S., the biggest complainers turn out to be the ones who don't even bother to vote. Then they want to give you a thousand reasons why your vote doesn't count.

Just like in this poll; if you don't want to participate, I don't want to hear your opinion.

I understand, Slatts, that you are not an American and would not want to cast a vote. You also don't make critical commentaries about the U.S. As an unbiased observer who is not openly judgemental, I appreciate your input.

[Slatts]

We seem to have a disproportionate number of politicians elected whose names start with the letter "A" over the years.

That could be seen as a down side of compulsory voting.

All the parties are scrabbling to get someone named Aaron Abbot on their ballot paper.

[RoBoTeq]

We seem to have a disproportionate number of politicians elected whose names start with the letter "A" over the years.

That could be seen as a down side of compulsory voting.

All the parties are scrabbling to get someone named Aaron Abbot on their ballot paper.

LOL! All American politicians start with an "A"....errr, ok, not really their name

[glennac]

Compulsory.


The jury is still out as to whether or not that's a good thing.

Do you mean if you are blind, deaf and dumb you still have to vote and even if you have been in prison also. That is crazy in my opinion. But to each his own I guess. Thank you very much

[RoBoTeq]

What the heck? If dead Americans and Mickey Mouse can vote, why not deaf, dumb and blind? In fact, why should deaf, dumb or blind have anything to do with not voting?

[glennac]

What the heck? If dead Americans and Mickey Mouse can vote, why not deaf, dumb and blind? In fact, why should deaf, dumb or blind have anything to do with not voting?

Funny being deaf. dumb and blind is precisely why you shouldn't be allowed to vote. Voting is a privilege not a right. Why should some one who has no reasonable way of judging who or what to vote for be allowed to vote.

We need reasonable literacy tests to ascertain if one is capable of independent thought and judgement to make such a vital decision.

We don't need folks who depend only on their preachers, "trusted race baiting community" leaders, or other liberal community activist organizations who tell them how to vote, etc.

This is precisely why we are in the fix we are in with voters "blindly" putting their X in the box for the Marxist Obama or his socialist Democratic party colleagues. I know you know better than that robo. Thank you very much

[classical]

Funny being deaf. dumb and blind is precisely why you shouldn't be allowed to vote. Voting is a privilege not a right. Why should some one who has no reasonable way of judging who or what to vote for be allowed to vote.

We need reasonable literacy tests to ascertain if one is capable of independent thought and judgement to make such a vital decision.

We don't need folks who depend only on their preachers, "trusted race baiting community" leaders, or other liberal community activist organizations who tell them how to vote, etc.

This is precisely why we are in the fix we are in with voters "blindly" putting their X in the box for the Marxist Obama or his socialist Democratic party colleagues. I know you know better than that robo. Thank you very much

Glenn unfortunately it works both ways, Republicans also listen to the pundits and vote whomever their chosen talking head tells them to vote for. Granted it is not as bad as the liberal side but it does exist. As to literacy test as appealing as that is that would also remove a great many conservative voters. Just look at the Romney situation, certainly no reasonable thinking conservative leaning person could prefer him to the plethora of choices this cycle.

[glennac]

Glenn unfortunately it works both ways, Republicans also listen to the pundits and vote whomever their chosen talking head tells them to vote for. Granted it is not as bad as the liberal side but it does exist. As to literacy test as appealing as that is that would also remove a great many conservative voters. Just look at the Romney situation, certainly no reasonable thinking conservative leaning person could prefer him to the plethora of choices this cycle.

Funny classical, I don't know of any illiterate voters voting conservative but you can bet 10 to 1 all of those who are will vote Democrat for the reasons I gave before and also because they know who will give them a free ride in the welfare state. Thank you very much

[RoBoTeq]

Wow! How did we get to discriminating against American citizens due to physical deficiencies such as not being able to see, hear or speak? Granted, Helen Keller was a Communist, but she was as deaf, dumb and blind as you can get and she earned a college degree.

One of my wife's uncles in law is blind. He was an electrical engineer before retiring due to his blindness and one of the sharpest guys I've ever talked with. I can't imagine someone not wanting him to have the right to vote.

As far as literacy, I know for a fact that there are some who consider themselves to be conservatives on this site who have trouble understanding posts that they read....

[classical]

As far as literacy, I know for a fact that there are some who consider themselves to be conservatives on this site who have trouble understanding posts that they read....

UH! duckman comes to mind.

[RoBoTeq]

UH! duckman comes to mind.

Well call me too stupid to vote, but....I don't get this...