Space Cowboy
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- Today, 15:41
- Joined
- May 19, 2024
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He is so far ahead of the game it is unreal.All roads lead to Trump even a thread about UK politics, who knew?
He is so far ahead of the game it is unreal.All roads lead to Trump even a thread about UK politics, who knew?
You have yet to tell us your preference for PM?Why are Americans so disturbed about Trump and Biden? Those are the two chosen candidates out of 300 million. Just put up with it and see what happens. It's so so boring, you wouldn't think there was anything else to say, it's all been said and argued about.
For Christ's sake don't you yanks have anything else to talk about on a British forum?
Col
Probably the reason trump is revoking abortion and contraception rights, he wants White ethnicity population growth for the reasons you have identified.
I'll be honest, I think they are all much of a muchness which is why I didn't vote. I honestly have no preference. I wish our new Prime Minister good luck, there's alot to sort out, I hope he succeeds.You have yet to tell us your preference for PM?
there's always the things you say, but that's too boring for me.For Christ's sake don't you yanks have anything else to talk about on a British forum?
A consequence of prosperity is lower birth rates, the West is breeding itself out of existence, basically self-terminating.
For Christ's sake don't you yanks have anything else to talk about on a British forum?
what's the difference between the labourers, republicans and democrats? we don't have labourers in the USA, do we?
I cannot actually criticise because it was your choice and not my business but why not vote when you have the chance?........which is why I didn't vote.......
I agree. I think it should go further - you should be required to vote. Laziness or indifference are enemies of the democracy. While voting might be compulsory - you can, in the privacy of the act of voting, choose to not select or foul the ballot paper. The incentive to stay put and not get up and make an effort unlike others, is not conducive to participation in the democratic process, then to moan about who/ what happened is a ridiculous position to take. Everyone (citizens - including those who do not pay taxes) should have a right to vote, and everyone has a responsibility to vote.I cannot actually criticise because it was your choice and not my business but why not vote when you have the chance?
I cannot understand people involved in politics or an organisation existing to help, or support others, who abstains on an issue.
Why be involved and abstain? It is so pointless and an insult to everyone else.
What if your vote doesn't make a blind bit of difference? The illusion that your vote will impact the national election is just that, an illusion. There is no record of anyone's individual vote affecting the outcome of which leader gets in power when it comes to national elections, in any country ever! So, given the futility of the individuals decision to vote, it is not a ridiculous position to moan about who gets in power, since you never had any reasonable say in it anyway. Forcing people to do futile things is more like a communist government, but of course I believe in the democratic system of voting.I agree. I think it should go further - you should be required to vote. Laziness or indifference are enemies of the democracy. While voting might be compulsory - you can, in the privacy of the act of voting, choose to not select or foul the ballot paper. The incentive to stay put and not get up and make an effort unlike others, is not conducive to participation in the democratic process, then to moan about who/ what happened is a ridiculous position to take. Everyone (citizens - including those who do not pay taxes) should have a right to vote, and everyone has a responsibility to vote.
However that would mean everyone can take the same attitude and no-one votes. One vote would matter in the extreme circumstance. Collectively we all contribute to the outcome. And you cannot expect your vote to be the one that "makes the difference" and results in the election of someone by casting it. That does not give an excuse for not participating in my view.What if your vote doesn't make a blind bit of difference? The illusion that your vote will impact the national election is just that, an illusion.
If no one votes then I would vote because then my vote would have some weight. How about addressing the maths behind it? Then your conclusion will be the same as mine. I'm talking the reality of your individual vote, you are talking imaginary and about all votes combined. If your argument is sound, why do you feel the need to exaggerate into extreme hypotheticals?However that would mean everyone can take the same attitude and no-one votes.
Correct. And I am glad that you recognise it would only be in extreme circumstances. And because it is extreme, that is why it has never happened.One vote would matter in the extreme circumstance.
I agree. And that is why your vote is statistically futile.And you cannot expect your vote to be the one that "makes the difference" and results in the election of someone by casting it.
So you believe you need to be compelled to participate in a statistically futile process?That does not give an excuse for not participating in my view.
The principles are analogous, so why are they not comparable? You have given no reason. But death and taxes seem irrelevant.Lotteries, weather... not really comparable are they? Death and taxes on the other hand - no choice it seems.
But you don't know ahead of the outcome. You look out the window and see no one is going to the polling booth? You vote, but then there were the postal votes you forgot about? You vote - and yours wins - by two votes - did you make a difference? May as well have stayed at home. Never again because the result is pre-ordained. Where there any cases where the difference was less than 100 votes. We have had some.If no one votes then I would vote because then my vote would have some weight.
There are proscribed reasons to be excused from compulsory voting, and there are legal means to vote when not able to attend a polling booth.There are many reasons not to vote. If the cost to vote exceeds the expected benefit, then going to vote is a loss for you. Let me give an example. My father had a fall a week ago. He is 89 and his back is really bad. In an ideal world, he would love to go to vote. But, the risks of him having another fall while eaving the house, despite using a zimmer, are high. So, he stayed at home.
Instead, I offered to use my own vote for him, which would have otherwise not been used. I knew it was futile, but I did it for reasons of making my father happy. It was a vote by proxy for him. He said, "Let's keep the communists out!" I went to vote to keep them out. They got in. Futile.
So there can be many reasons for people to vote, and not to vote.
I do not wish to be rude or anything, but what you said above is riddled with logical flaws!But you don't know ahead of the outcome. You look out the window and see no one is going to the polling booth? You vote, but then there were the postal votes you forgot about? You vote - and yours wins - by two votes - did you make a difference? May as well have stayed at home. Never again because the result is pre-ordained. Where there any cases where the difference was less than 100 votes. We have had some.
In some small states (thinking pacific islands) every votes "counts", any vote may tip the balance. You may be talking about your current political state. First past the post, non-compulsory voting. It still holds that potentially one vote could make a difference - and you are in no position to know the outcome ahead of time .. except past history. Irrespective your dismal position is like deciding to never get out of bed because whatever you do will not make a difference?
So to me the question of whether to vote or not is not a mathematical one. You make a statement of support (on the balance of policy/character etc). As I also pointed out - even with compulsory voting the choice is still available to not mark the ballot paper.
I think that means they are not good analogies. Just like Death and Taxes (that were given in a light-hearted fashion).. altho taxes might be tweaked by who gets elected.
Are you off to your dismal bed yet?
I have partial sympathy for this position, but again, your vote is lost in a sea of numbers. If 14,254 people voted for candidate A, then 14,255 would make no perceptual difference. If the numbers were much smaller, like 3 people voted for candidate A, then 4 is a significant increase. With these low numbers, I would be voting.I also explained that changes in support for a candidate can raise their "interest" in why the change is happening - so perhaps even votes for losing candidates is not always futile.
False. You alter the odds of someone else winning, just like with an election. But you are muddling up the principle behind my analogy.Lotteries, if you do not purchase a ticket, do not affect the likelihood of an outcome for anyone else, unlike an election.
A butterfly can flap its wings in Tokyo and cause a hurricane in America. It is called the Butterfly Effect. But without getting too silly about this, weather happens and so do election results, with your vote being statistically futile. It amounts to the same thing.Weather happens and is not affected by your non participation, whereas an election can be affected.
There are reasons why compulsory voting is rare. Most countries don't force their citizens to do it. Are you looking to enact 1984?There are proscribed reasons to be excused from compulsory voting, and there are legal means to vote when not able to attend a polling booth.
There are fines for those who do not provide an acceptable reason - as defined, and fines for those who try to vote on behalf of someone else.
Your electorate voted Labour - those dirty communists!? Did you not vote because of this? With that attitude amongst conservative voters it is no wonder they lost soooo many seats. Don't vote, don't complain, election held, don't vote, don't complain, repeat, ad infinitum
Better look under the bed!