From: lawriew@runx.oz.au (Lawrie Waller)
Subject: Re: Compulsory Voting
Organization: RUNX Un*x Timeshare.  Sydney, Australia.
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 07:14:58 GMT

In article <brian.721368211@coombs> brian@coombs.anu.edu.au (Brian) writes:
>suter@fawlty8.eng.monash.edu.au (Mr D. Suter) writes:
>
>>In article <brian.721022231@coombs> brian@coombs.anu.edu.au (Brian) writes:
>>>	As I said in another message David, you do have the right to abstain.
>>>However you DO NOT have the right NOT to attend a polling booth.  When are
>>>you going to see the subtle difference? 
>>I see the difference. The electoral office doesn't (as far as their printed
>>material goes.)
>
>	Could it be that they are attempting to hoodwink people just a little?
>
>>>
>>>>>	David, the only person who is seeing conspiracies is yourself.
>>>>Funny - I thought you were the one that suggested that making
>>>>voting non-compulsory and/or allowing non-compulsory registration
>>>>makes us open to such exploitation. 
>>>
>>>	Really?  Where did I make such a statement?  Unless you can produce 
>>>such a statement from me I'd recommend that you apologise.  I do believe that you
>>>have, in your zealous rush to attack all and sundry who have offered an
>>>alternative opinion to your own, you have mixed me up with someone else. 
>
>	As you don't seem able to offer such an example I presume that you
>will apologise? 
>
>>>
>>>>					Must have been dreaming.
>>>>Damn, some bastards are inserting conspiracy theories into your
>>>>writings - y'now suggesting we've got all sorts of people
>>>>waiting in the wings to swoop just in case we ever make voting
>>>>optional.
>>>
>>>	Oh, please do grow up David.  First insults, now delusions of 
>>>paranioa.  I'd recommend you stop and read what people are saying.
>>OK so you tell me why you mentioned obstacles being put in the way
>>of people voting in the US if you weren't trying to suggest the same
>>was going to happen here? If you weren't suggesting the possibility
>>of a conspiracy then why did you mention it?
>
>	As a means to illustrate what could be the possible outcome of
>your seeming headlong rush towards a voluntary voting system of the style
>which is favoured overseas (and apparently by yourself).  You seem to
>confusing several different things David.  Lets sort them out:
>
>Compuslory Voting:	Doesn't exist here.  As I, Brendan and others have
>pointed out, we don't, despite what you might like to believe, and what
>the government and its agents (the electoral commission) might like to
>portray it as.
>
>Compuslory Registration:	Yes, we do have this, and it is handled by
>a federally controlled and funded commission.  I used the example of the US
>as a means of illustrating what some of the possible dangers could be if
>we followed their example and made voting, attendance and registration 
>voluntary.  You seem unable, or unwilling to understand that such systems,
>as the US example shows, can be open to flagrant abuse unless tightly
>controlled.
>
>Compuslory Attendance:	Yes, we do have compuslory attendance at the polling
>station.  You are required to have your name marked off.  You are not 
>required to cast a vote if you don't wish to.
>
>	Now, can you confine your remarks to these three items, rather than
>lapsing into personal abuse of anybody who you don't agreee with?
>
>

As one who has been following this "DEBATE?" I am truly amazed that so
much heat can be generated on such a seemingly innocuous topic.Surely
this is indicative of something-but I dont dare say what for fear of
the torrent of abuse that will surely follow. Better to delete this
thread and hope for some mature debate some day-ciao :-)

>--
>Brian Ross_____Brian@Coombs.anu.edu.au________________________________________
>	"Three discoveries are essential to the contented and civilised life -
>sex, wine, and bookshops, by no means necessarily in that order."
>_________________________________Tony Baker, Adelaide Review, October 1992____


-- 
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lawriew@runx.oz.au              |Friend is sometimes a word devoid of
Lawrie Waller-SYDNEY AUS        |meaning;enemy,never.(Victor Hugo)
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Newsgroups: aus.politics