Voting Reform

Politics 43 replies 1,431 views
Darkon's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Apr 8, 2010 8:19am
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's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Apr 8, 2010 8:19pm
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's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Apr 8, 2010 8:33pm
HA would Obama have gotten even 25% of the vote if you had to pay income tax?
gibby08's avatar
gibby08
Posts: 1,581
Apr 8, 2010 8:42pm
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's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Apr 8, 2010 8:58pm
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's avatar
goosebumps
Posts: 1,058
Apr 8, 2010 10:08pm
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.
F
FairwoodKing
Posts: 2,504
Apr 8, 2010 11:23pm
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's avatar
Cleveland Buck
Posts: 5,126
Apr 8, 2010 11:36pm
Throwing more money at the schools won't make them better. That money just goes to the teacher's union.
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Apr 8, 2010 11:41pm
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's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Apr 8, 2010 11:42pm
Cleveland Buck wrote: Throwing more money at the schools won't make them better. That money just goes to the teacher's union.
Darkon's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Apr 8, 2010 11:46pm
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's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Apr 8, 2010 11:50pm
nm read it wrong
S
slide22
Posts: 330
Apr 9, 2010 12:43am
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's avatar
NNN
Posts: 902
Apr 9, 2010 12:56am
How about this?

If you collect taxpayer-funded handouts outside of Social Security, you can't vote.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Apr 9, 2010 1:00am
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's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Apr 9, 2010 1:33am
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's avatar
believer
Posts: 8,153
Apr 9, 2010 2:55am
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
B
bigkahuna
Posts: 4,454
Apr 9, 2010 8:32am
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.
B
bigkahuna
Posts: 4,454
Apr 9, 2010 8:38am
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's avatar
Devils Advocate
Posts: 4,539
Apr 9, 2010 9:15am
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's avatar
CenterBHSFan
Posts: 6,115
Apr 9, 2010 10:18am
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's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Apr 9, 2010 10:25am
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's avatar
Devils Advocate
Posts: 4,539
Apr 9, 2010 10:35am
if you are paying rent, you ARE paying property taxes. (that is if the government isn't paying your rent)
B
Bigdogg
Posts: 1,429
Apr 9, 2010 10:39am
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.
N
not my name
Posts: 4
Apr 9, 2010 11:15am
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.