← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Happy Hacker
Thread ID: 15325 | Posts: 7 | Started: 2004-10-15
2004-10-15 19:14 | User Profile
[IMG]http://cagle.slate.msn.com/working/041013/lester.gif[/IMG]
The efforts to get every last person to vote effectively disenfranchises the informed voters and destroys the value of democracy. But, isn't that the point? If the informed voters have no control then the people have no real choice in who leads them. The entrenched elite control who is in office.
In a more noble time in America, the power of the voter was protected by restricting voting to those more likely to be informed.
Efforts to get everyone to vote have also make voter fraud easier, a further erosion of the value of a vote.
2004-10-16 22:40 | User Profile
The cartoon calls to mind the classic story Spengler told about the Roman Empire, how the people were persuaded to acquise in their loss of democracy by the Emperor's providing "Bread and Circuses". [QUOTE=Happy Hacker]The efforts to get every last person to vote effectively disenfranchises the informed voters and destroys the value of democracy. But, isn't that the point? If the informed voters have no control then the people have no real choice in who leads them. The entrenched elite control who is in office. What Erick Fromm of the Frankfurt School called "manipulated consent".
In a more noble time in America, the power of the voter was protected by restricting voting to those more likely to be informed.
True, dilution of the voting franchise has generally been linked by historians with the decline of the Roman Republic.
On the other hand, groups supposedly inclined to be well-informed, like the League of Woman voters, hardly vote better than other peopple in our society. That is why nationalist/paleo theorists like Dr. Francis put their hope in populist revolt (aka "Revolution From the Middle" and my signature) rather than elitist manipulation, in general.
Efforts to get everyone to vote have also make voter fraud easier, a further erosion of the value of a vote.[/QUOTE] True enough.
2004-10-17 16:41 | User Profile
Perhaps in order to vote, one should have to be issued a voting license. In order to obtain this license, one would have to pass a comprehensive exam on the Constitution, plus American & world history and geography. There would also be an annual licensing fee of around $25, in order to discourage those who don't really give a crap (which would necessitate the repeal of the 24th Amendment). I'd also like to see the voting age raised to 25.
2004-10-17 16:46 | User Profile
The largest bloc of un/mis-informed voters is women ... notice how they're usually part of whatever swing-voter flavor-of-the-month group politicians are courting? (which, by definition, is un/mis-informed and therefore gullible and prone to manipulation)
soccer moms, security moms, etc.
2004-10-17 17:30 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Centinel]The largest bloc of un/mis-informed voters is women ... notice how they're usually part of whatever swing-voter flavor-of-the-month group politicians are courting? (which, by definition, is un/mis-informed and therefore gullible and prone to manipulation)
soccer moms, security moms, etc.[/QUOTE]
I was reluctant to mention that, due in large part to a desire not to alienate any sensible-minded female lurkers or whatnot. But yes, we would be substantially better off if women couldn't vote (and women themselves are most decidedly included in that "we").
2004-10-17 19:41 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Kevin_O'Keeffe]I was reluctant to mention that, due in large part to a desire not to alienate any sensible-minded female lurkers or whatnot. But yes, we would be substantially better off if women couldn't vote (and women themselves are most decidedly included in that "we").[/QUOTE]
No point in alienating anyone if there's nothing to be gained. But, every effort to broaden those who may vote has only resulted in a loss of government accountability.
My point of this post has nothing to do with any desire to prevent women or blacks from voting. It's only to point out that those who want to get every Tom, Dick, and Harry to vote aren't trying to support democracy, but are trying to undermine democracy.
2004-10-17 19:46 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Centinel]The largest bloc of un/mis-informed voters is women ... notice how they're usually part of whatever swing-voter flavor-of-the-month group politicians are courting? (which, by definition, is un/mis-informed and therefore gullible and prone to manipulation) [/QUOTE]
Better to be a swing voter than those voting blocks commited to the destruction of America. I'd say that strong majority of blacks or Jews at the polls are there to use democracy as a weapon against Americans while women are only marginally more likely than men to want to use democracy as a weapon against Americans.