Archive

Voting Reform

  • Darkon
    This may have been talked about before?

    I am interested in hearing others thoughts on voting reform. The link below had some ideas that I think could help in giving third party candidates a better chance. Such as the Condorcet Voting.

    I really liked the “Nobody” option for each ballot. But as the link says it is not practical.


    http://toykeeper.net/soapbox/reform/voting
  • Darkon
    1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    2. If you pay no federal/state income tax you can not vote in federal/state elections.

    I believe if you want to have a say you should contribute.

    Just a thought. Anyone with a better idea?
  • iclfan2
    HA would Obama have gotten even 25% of the vote if you had to pay income tax?
  • gibby08
    iclfan2 wrote: HA would Obama have gotten even 25% of the vote if you had to pay income tax?
    Personal attack- LJ


    Pretty much what you're saying is that only stupid,lazy,and non-working people voted for President Obama?
  • iclfan2
    Haha not only, but a lot. They were busing people from the ghetto to vote for him chief. What poor person is going to vote Republican, who may shut off their free government monies? Who personally did I attack on here? Go cry somewhere else.
  • goosebumps
    I've brought this up before with some buddies. Why not make it a requirement that you must pay taxes to vote? It doesn't descriminate against anyone for their race, sexual orientation, sex, or anything else they can't control.

    If they did it though, it should be something like has paid taxes in the last 5 years to account for the temporary unemployed.
  • FairwoodKing
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    If only property owners could vote, school levies would never pass. Our schools are in bad enough shape now. Don't make them any worse.
  • Cleveland Buck
    Throwing more money at the schools won't make them better. That money just goes to the teacher's union.
  • 2quik4u
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    2. If you pay no federal/state income tax you can not vote in federal/state elections.

    I believe if you want to have a say you should contribute.

    Just a thought. Anyone with a better idea?
    agree with this
  • 2quik4u
    Cleveland Buck wrote: Throwing more money at the schools won't make them better. That money just goes to the teacher's union.
  • Darkon
    FairwoodKing wrote:
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    If only property owners could vote, school levies would never pass. Our schools are in bad enough shape now. Don't make them any worse.
    You may be right. But why should someone that has nothing invested have a say about someone who does?

    You may be suprised how attitudes may change when they feel they have more control of whats happening with the money.

    This may rekindle the "American Dream" to own home/business and create more producers instead of the blood suckers that have nothing invested.
  • 2quik4u
    nm read it wrong
  • slide22
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    2. If you pay no federal/state income tax you can not vote in federal/state elections.

    I believe if you want to have a say you should contribute.

    Just a thought. Anyone with a better idea?
    These are both GREAT ideas. You don't pay, you don't play.
  • NNN
    How about this?

    If you collect taxpayer-funded handouts outside of Social Security, you can't vote.
  • tk421
    NNN wrote: How about this?

    If you collect taxpayer-funded handouts outside of Social Security, you can't vote.
    There goes the Democratic party base. :P:P
  • Darkon
    NNN wrote: How about this?

    If you collect taxpayer-funded handouts outside of Social Security, you can't vote.
    I didn't think Social Security was a hand out?
    What about someone who recieves a grant to open a business? They will still pay taxes.

    With the "Pay to Play" voting, people will either ween them self from hand outs or have no say. This will eventually get representatives that will cut these programs to keep the ones paying voting for them.

    This idea still has problems such as people who are disabled ect..

    I believe people would be more enclined to get off thier ass so they have a say. This in turn would lower the hand out total.

    Also I believe Welfare is a 2/3 year deal max.
  • believer
    NNN wrote: How about this?

    If you collect taxpayer-funded handouts outside of Social Security, you can't vote.
    And put ACORN out of business? No wait...that happened anyways! :P
  • bigkahuna
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.

    I believe if you want to have a say you should contribute.

    Just a thought. Anyone with a better idea?

    So, even though I have a child in school but rent my home, I can't vote on levies for said school? Awesome idea.
  • bigkahuna
    goosebumps wrote: I've brought this up before with some buddies. Why not make it a requirement that you must pay taxes to vote? It doesn't descriminate against anyone for their race, sexual orientation, sex, or anything else they can't control.

    If they did it though, it should be something like has paid taxes in the last 5 years to account for the temporary unemployed.
    Like it or not, it does discriminate.

    I didn't look at figures, but I guarantee that the top 3 groups are..

    1. Minorities
    2. Women
    3. Elderly
  • Devils Advocate
    If you want true voting reform, I would suggest repealing the 14th amendment and do away with the electoral college.

    With technology we have today, there is no reason that the POTUS should not be elected by popular vote.

    I would even take it as far as the the VP is the one that comes in 2nd place.

    The way thing stand today, It is possible for the presidency to be won by carrying only 14 states.
  • CenterBHSFan
    I've often wondered, DA, if the time has come to be finished with the electoral college. There's a few merits left to it, I guess. But the landscape of the country has changed so much since the beginning of the EC, that I wonder if it earns its keep.
  • Darkon
    bigkahuna wrote:

    So, even though I have a child in school but rent my home, I can't vote on levies for said school? Awesome idea.

    Good point. Maybe either you pay property tax and/or have a student in said school? Atleast you have something invested in the school(money or student). I believe this would also create more involvment from the community.
  • Devils Advocate
    if you are paying rent, you ARE paying property taxes. (that is if the government isn't paying your rent)
  • Bigdogg
    Darkon wrote: 1. If you pay no property tax you can not vote on school levies.
    2. If you pay no federal/state income tax you can not vote in federal/state elections.

    I believe if you want to have a say you should contribute.

    Just a thought. Anyone with a better idea?
    You mean Federal income tax. Everybody pays some kind of tax to the Federal government be it gas, alcohol, or tobacco.
  • not my name
    Darkon wrote: "Good point. Maybe either you pay property tax and/or have a student in said school? Atleast you have something invested in the school(money or student). I believe this would also create more involvment from the community."

    Just because one does not have a child in a school system or does not themselves pay a property tax does not mean that they do not have an interest in the school. Schools that perform well typically produce students who contribute to the economic well being of the community, which creates employment, which serves all (not just those that own property or have children).

    Furthermore, say a young married couple who do not currently have children move into a community and rent their living quarters. As of right now they do not, in your opinion, have an investment in the school. However they plan on having children. They do have an interest, their future children, in how a school funded.

    With regards to paying federal/state income taxes as a requirement to vote, I offer you my own situation:
    I honorably served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently finishing up my undergraduate degree (in three years, btw) and have been accepted to a graduate program. My GI Bill is tax free, my income as the veterans assistant (federal work study) at my university is also tax free. I pay no federal or state taxes. You can kiss my ass if you think that I will allow someone to repeal my right to vote.