Vote --- or Else

An interesting editorial in the NY Times. I was unaware of the manditory voting in Austrailia. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with a law like this because I vote every chance I get. And they make several excellent points about how polarized this country is becoming because the extreme bases of each party are putting people in power. When winning the elections is determined by bringing up controversial issues in order to energize bases (even if the dialogue is not at all productive) we all lose.

John Stewart (The Daily Show) put it this way. 80% of the country is made up of reasonable people who might have their differences but if they sat down and talked they could come to an understanding. The other 20% are the assholes running the country. That's not an exact quote but that was the jist of it.

My personal take on the this: I would be in complete favor of a law like the one in Austrailia. Decrying that it's taking away our 'freedom' is nonsense. Voting is a freedom but more importantly it's a responsibility that most people do not take seriously. We have abissmal voter turnout. The blame can't be placed completely on the public. When all you hear are dipshit politicians throwing mud and trying to energize the extremes it is enough to turn you off. By making it a legal responsibility you remove the incentive to energize the wackos in your base and you start trying to sway the centrists with real issues.