Society & Culture Things in life you just don't understand

[Illinois Nazi]

I will never understand why it compulsory to vote for people who don't demographically represent me. Julia Gillard is on record as saying voting is staying compulsory because that's how this country works. Go back to December last year and AUSTRALIA didn't vote on the Palestine debate at the U.N.
Why do I have to vote for one of these donkeys? Why do I have to take time out of my day to queue up and say I dislike one less than the others? Democracy includes the right to say "Nope I'm abstaining cos I don't believe ANY of you can do the job". I don't get why I can't do that.

You don't have to vote. All you have to do is turn up at a polling place and get your name ticked off the register. What you do with the ballot papers after that is up to you.

 

[treefingers]

You don't have to vote. All you have to do is turn up at a polling place and get your name ticked off the register. What you do with the ballot papers after that is up to you.

Which is exactly why compulsory voting is ridiculous.

 

[treefingers]

You effectively get millions of bogans who know nothing about anything voting for JoOo0lia or Tone based on how annoying their voice is, or if they'll stop boat people...not based on what's actually best for the country.

Leave the voting to those who want to vote.

 

[Caesar]

Voting isn't compulsory. Attending a polling place and submitting a ballot paper is compulsory.

I like compulsory attendance because it avoids the farce you see in the US, where voter turnout in various areas are affected by weather, and candidates hire buses to ferry people to vote because the demographics are likely to support them, and candidates tap into wedge issues like abortion because it's more important to mobilise your base than convince people in the middle.

 

[Keys]

People who sign up to telemarketers

I get constant phone calls at work from people wanting me to sign to a new phone deal or web design or some other shit and I've never spoken to anybody who signs up to these things. But some clowns must otherwise they wouldn't bother continuing with such a system after so many years if nobody was signing up

 

[The Passenger]

i don't mind compulsory voting but there should be a "none of the above" box to tick... we should truly be able to show our displeasure at the main parties.

 

[Catfish Alley]

i don't mind compulsory voting but there should be a "none of the above" box to tick... we should truly be able to show our displeasure at the main parties.

You can scribble whatever you want on it. It doesn't matter once they tick off your name.

 

[The Passenger]

You can scribble whatever you want on it. It doesn't matter once they tick off your name.

yeah i know but an actual formal option to say you don't want to vote for any of the candidates. separated from informal voting. so that when the results are printed you'll have candidate a - x votes, candidate b - y votes, no vote - z votes, informal - a votes.

you can write "they're all ****ed" on it but they only person who'll ever see it is the person counting and they'll just drop it on the informal pile.

but there'd be nothing in that for a politician to gain so why would they implement it.

 

[Catfish Alley]

yeah i know but an actual formal option to say you don't want to vote for any of the candidates. separated from informal voting. so that when the results are printed you'll have candidate a - x votes, candidate b - y votes, no vote - z votes, informal - a votes.

you can write "they're all screwed" on it but they only person who'll ever see it is the person counting and they'll just drop it on the informal pile.

but there'd be nothing in that for a politician to gain so why would they implement it.

Ah ok. I see what you're saying. I always tried to look at it in a more micro view. You're really only just voting for your local electorate - not Gillard or Abbot. So, I'd just vote for the the best local member for parliament no matter which major party they belonged to.

 

[The Passenger]

Ah ok. I see what you're saying. I always tried to look at it in a more micro view. You're really only just voting for your local electorate - not Gillard or Abbot. So, I'd just vote for the the best local member for parliament no matter which major party they belonged to.

true but to be honest probably at least 50% of people going to the polls know next to nothing about their local member.

 

[Tigger Please!]

Up here, there is much more of a rivalry with Queensland - not only because of rugby league, but also I think because of greater perceived cultural differences. The 'Queenslander' identity is very strong. On the other hand, I think if you asked people from NSW which state they regard themselves as most similar to they would say Victoria. There is a fair degree of affinity there, at least on this side of the Murray.

this is very true in my experience, although I think the nsw-qld rivalry originally stemmed from soo and has grown to encompass other areas since. Ironically, the two states probably share the most similarities culturally (the partiality towards rugby, outdoors lifestyle) yet they harbor such a bitter rivalry. I have quite a few mates who are Queenslanders and they are the best guys to go surfing/camping/fishing with but are unbearable when it comes to talking sport as the lose all objectivity and turn into myopic troglodytes.
in the 15-odd years I've lived in Sydney on-and-off, the vast majority of Sydneysiders I've spoken with on the topic like Melbourne, they find it an interesting city to visit and enjoy the culture and European feel. As for Aussie rules: again, the vast majority view it with, at worst, mild disinterest; the militant haters are few and far between in my experience.

 

[Catfish Alley]

true but to be honest probably at least 50% of people going to the polls know next to nothing about their local member.

That's kind of a shame. People have the power to impact their neighborhood somewhat. You can't really do much about Federal politics though. It really starts from the bottom up. No point liking and voting for Gillard if your local ALP member is running local council into the ground.

 

[PurpleGreenRed]

Voting isn't compulsory. Attending a polling place and submitting a ballot paper is compulsory.

I like compulsory attendance because it avoids the farce you see in the US, where voter turnout in various areas are affected by weather, and candidates hire buses to ferry people to vote because the demographics are likely to support them, and candidates tap into wedge issues like abortion because it's more important to mobilise your base than convince people in the middle.

That's the point. If I'm going to be made to submit a ballot paper I may as well vote. I don't like being strongarmed into making a choice by the government. To me it's bullying.

 

[Catfish Alley]

The only way to make a statement is to vote. Otherwise nothing will change. I've seen voter apathy have a detrimental effect in the US and Canada and, with a smaller population, it would be even worse in Australia if voting wasn't compulsory.

 

[Caesar]

That's the point. If I'm going to be made to submit a ballot paper I may as well vote. I don't like being strongarmed into making a choice by the government. To me it's bullying.

I'm just saying, it's your choice whether you vote or not.

Compulsory submission of a ballot paper is a crucial safeguard against disenfranchisement and voter intimidation.

 

[MarcusP2]

That's kind of a shame. People have the power to impact their neighborhood somewhat. You can't really do much about Federal politics though. It really starts from the bottom up. No point liking and voting for Gillard if your local ALP member is running local council into the ground.

Though this frustrates me as I live in such a safe electorate that it doesn't matter how incompetent my local member is so long as he's a member of the Labor Party.

 

[Roobs321]

this is very true in my experience, although I think the nsw-qld rivalry originally stemmed from soo and has grown to encompass other areas since. Ironically, the two states probably share the most similarities culturally (the partiality towards rugby, outdoors lifestyle) yet they harbor such a bitter rivalry. I have quite a few mates who are Queenslanders and they are the best guys to go surfing/camping/fishing with but are unbearable when it comes to talking sport as the lose all objectivity and turn into myopic troglodytes.
in the 15-odd years I've lived in Sydney on-and-off, the vast majority of Sydneysiders I've spoken with on the topic like Melbourne, they find it an interesting city to visit and enjoy the culture and European feel. As for Aussie rules: again, the vast majority view it with, at worst, mild disinterest; the militant haters are few and far between in my experience.

Funny you say that, I actually know quite a few Sydney siders who would like to move to Melbourne. I think the thing is that Melbourne romances you over a weekend. It's just one of those cities that can win you over in a short amount of time. However, for actual cities to live in long term, I actually much prefer Sydney and Australia's underrated cosmopolitan & cultural city, Canberra. I find these cities have a more genuine long-term feel to them.

 

[The_Answer3]

lol, there is a bit of an anti-climax when you vote in a safe as houses seat (like me). With the oversegregation of government in Australia, there could be options to explore in removing a layer of segregation and imposible a country wide vote.

 

[Mofra]

Funny you say that, I actually know quite a few Sydney siders who would like to move to Melbourne. I think the thing is that Melbourne romances you over a weekend. It's just one of those cities that can win you over in a short amount of time. However, for actual cities to live in long term, I actually much prefer Sydney and Australia's underrated cosmopolitan & cultural city, Canberra. I find these cities have a more genuine long-term feel to them.

Interesting you say that - I'm Melbourne born and bred (but have lived in Sydney) and I tend to tell travellers that for short visits Sydney is the better city to visit, but Melbourne is the better city to live in.

 

[nicky]

Funny you say that, I actually know quite a few Sydney siders who would like to move to Melbourne. I think the thing is that Melbourne romances you over a weekend. It's just one of those cities that can win you over in a short amount of time. However, for actual cities to live in long term, I actually much prefer Sydney and Australia's underrated cosmopolitan & cultural city, Canberra. I find these cities have a more genuine long-term feel to them.

Hey roobs can you please expand a bit on what you mean by Sydney and Canberra having a better long term feel?

I don't necessarily agree or disagree and i actually really like canberra and sydney. Just interested in your thoughts.

 

[Tulip]

Voting isn't compulsory. Attending a polling place and submitting a ballot paper is compulsory.

I like compulsory attendance because it avoids the farce you see in the US, where voter turnout in various areas are affected by weather, and candidates hire buses to ferry people to vote because the demographics are likely to support them, and candidates tap into wedge issues like abortion because it's more important to mobilise your base than convince people in the middle.

IIRC, Romney and Obama spent millions of their election budgets to just encourage people to vote.

 

[peternorth]

i cant remember the last time i voted. turned up to an early polling booth yes. got sheets, ticked every box and submitted it.

 

[Hoffy95]

I will vote on key matters such as the coin toss in Geelong games but will probably take little interest in non events such as the Federal Election which is already decided.

 

[Jimmy1992]

Interesting you say that - I'm Melbourne born and bred (but have lived in Sydney) and I tend to tell travellers that for short visits Sydney is the better city to visit, but Melbourne is the better city to live in.

I am of the same opinion. I love getting away to Sydney for a few days. But, I absolutely love living in Melbourne, and don't know how long I could stand staying in Sydney.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

i cant remember the last time i voted. turned up to an early polling booth yes. got sheets, ticked every box and submitted it.

Whoah, Badass!!!