Should citizens of a democracy be penalized for not voting?

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  1. CWanamaker profile image80
    CWanamakerposted 13 years ago

    Should citizens of a democracy be penalized for not voting?

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  2. Attikos profile image80
    Attikosposted 13 years ago

    Citizens of a free country cannot be. After all, refusing to vote can be as much a political statement as casting one. Citizens of a democracy may be, depending on the character of their society. Democracies are not necessarily free. In fact, the tyranny of the majority, which is what democracy devolves into, is perhaps the worst of all tyrannies.

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  3. d.william profile image72
    d.williamposted 13 years ago

    If people do not vote as a political statement, they certainly will be punished enough if the GOP takes over our Government.
    read this and weep.  http://dwilliam.hubpages.com/t/31c459

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    1. Attikos profile image80
      Attikosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      People who didn't turn out in 2008 have already been heavily punished. That's why they're more likely to turn out in 2012. Bad news for the demwits. Free people still have the right not to vote, though. That, not partisan sound biting, is the issue.

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  4. profile image0
    Larry Wallposted 13 years ago

    If the question is being asked in a legal sense, i.e. should there be a penalty for not voting the answer is no. That would be in conflict with the idea of a Democratic/Republic form of Government.

    If the question is asked as a political statement, the answer that because the person chose not to vote and does not like the current conditions, he has to take part of the responsibility for allowing the prevailing candidate or party to gain control.

    If he likes the conditions, he should be thankful to those who voted, but he cannot take any credit for it.

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  5. newcalendar profile image62
    newcalendarposted 13 years ago

    Personally, I don't think so, however in Australia it's a criminal offense, I believe they get fined.

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  6. profile image0
    Old Empresarioposted 13 years ago

    Penalized how and for what? There is no law against not voting.

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  7. Silverspeeder profile image61
    Silverspeederposted 13 years ago

    The only time people should be penalized for not voting is if there is a option on the ballot paper to indicate your displeasure with the politics on offer. An option such as NON OF THE ABOVE could encourage more voters to make the effert, it may even influence politicians if enough people chose the option.

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