Post B0lv7vGCWpX4vJhR5c by Photo55@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by Photo55@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #B0lZbPzP9x1zdOVEMC by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-11-30T09:03:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
All countries that claim to practice 'compulsory voting', don't. Because they all offer a 'no confidence' option. Which is, in effect, not voting.It's a nonsense, and a distraction from meaningful attempts at democratic reform https://nzpod.co.nz/podcast/past-present-future/fixing-democracy-compulsory-voting(1/2)#podcasts #DavidRunciman #PastPresentFuture
(DIR) Post #B0lZePkcVDirlP138S by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-11-30T09:03:51Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Defenders of electoral democracy tell is it gives us meaningful choices. Not just a choice between this seasons flavours of despotism, pre-selected by capitalists.If that's true, then 'compulsory voting' is a self-contradiction. Just like 'libertarian slavery' or 'voluntary authoritarianism'.(2/2)
(DIR) Post #B0la3chpTPCJBMjOHg by Photo55@mastodon.social
2025-11-30T09:08:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Compulsory attendance, then.There is no way to stop spoiled ballots, but it is possible to counteract laziness and oppose vote-supression.
(DIR) Post #B0latnDBerrop8H69Y by Salty@mastodon.nz
2025-11-30T09:17:48Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey The no confidence option is inherent in any secret ballot system. I may be compelled to take my ballot papers to the booth, and then put them in the box, but nobody gets to see what I do with them in the booth. It is thus always still possible for me to mark them with the classic no confidence dick-and-balls before putting them in the box.But that's not really the point. The point is to get people who just can't be arsed off the couch. Most of them will then go ahead and vote. Those who *truly object* to every single choice are free to dick and balls it as they like.
(DIR) Post #B0lgCOAnTUEeROqMPQ by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-11-30T10:17:12Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@Salty > The point is to get people who just can't be arsed off the couch. Most of them will then go ahead and voteThis seems to be the typical attitude of people who advocate for "compulsory voting". An elitist, patronising attitude towards people's choice not to engage with a system they see as either irrelevant to their lives, or actively harmful to it.If you want people to vote, *that's* what you have to change. You can't make them vote, and it's arrogant to think you can.
(DIR) Post #B0lgRYMfrgGeORd7QW by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-11-30T10:19:58Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@Photo55> Compulsory attendance, thenFor a start, it won't work. Being on the electoral roll is compulsory on paper in NZ, but does everyone do it? Of course not. It's unenforceable and silly.> it is possible to counteract laziness See;https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/@strypey/115638129971503579> oppose vote-supression"Compulsory voting" is neither necessary for this, nor is there any reasons to think it would have this effect.
(DIR) Post #B0lv7vGCWpX4vJhR5c by Photo55@mastodon.social
2025-11-30T13:04:26Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey The words most often found adjacent to "no confidence" are, I think, "a vote of". (Albeit in practice the vote is usually of confidence, for ancient reasons)So it is, in effect, voting.In Athens when a matter was to be discussed by the demos, ropes soaked in purple were swung through the agora.Possibly hard on the non-citizens.
(DIR) Post #B0lvd2jemoGx5HJhJY by Photo55@mastodon.social
2025-11-30T13:10:03Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey @Salty You say "you" but it is "we".Well, not me in NZ, but it is a determination by the people to run their country for the people.There are always people who ignore or defy or forget law and convention. They probably drive excessively fast and park on double yellow lines as well.But speed limits and road markings work despite not being universally observed at all times, and discarding all rules because of that would not be an improvement.(It is a silly argument)