this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2024
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it's election season, Beehaw, so — what are your thoughts on compulsory (mandatory) voting? (beehaw.org)
submitted 2 months ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/askbeehaw@beehaw.org
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good idea/bad idea, necessary democratic reform or authoritarian imposition? are there better or worse ways to do it?

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[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Australia has compulsory voting with penalties for not voting. It ensures that people who don't think they have a voice or that their vote doesn't change anything actually are required to make their voice heard, even if they think that it doesn't matter.

[–] 2001aCentenaryofFederation@fedia.io 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We also have first past the post voting, so using said voice is never a waste.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

FPTP is the shitty undemocratic system America and the UK use.

We use Instant Runoff Voting, which is a type of preferential (also called "ranked choice") system. Which, as you say, means you aren't wasting your vote by voting third party.

[–] 2001aCentenaryofFederation@fedia.io 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My mistake, thanks for the correction!

[–] John_McMurray@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago

He's bragging about a system that can easily lead to a candidate nobody actually wanted winning.

[–] John_McMurray@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Australia has a lot of really borderline fascist ideas. Not a great argument.

[–] Kissaki@beehaw.org 3 points 2 months ago

What does one have to do with the other?

[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Some people in Australia absolutely have ideas like you describe, fortuitously the rest of us don't have to vote for them.

[–] John_McMurray@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] alyaza@beehaw.org 5 points 2 months ago

Anti-smoking legislation is evidence of an authoritarian society. Lifestyle control and coercive paternalism appease the whims of fanatics who hold positions of influence. In a free economy, demand dictates supply. Smoking bans and restrictions are only in place because there is currently not enough demand for smoke-free establishments to appease those who claim they speak for all society. The will of a few is being forced on the many.

wanting to exist in a society where you don't get second-hand lung cancer is not fascism, oh my god. it is perfectly socially acceptable and not even the slightest bit "authoritarian" to regulate actions that can directly harm other people. and this is an absolutely comical free-market-absolutist-brained idea of what freedom is.