License to Vote? - General - Facepunch Forum

[QUOTE=OutLawed Blade;27200395]I think reasons like this are why they made the USA.[/QUOTE] Oh please, the founding fathers didn't want the plebs controlling the votes. That's why they created the electoral college. They wanted a group of more highly educated people saying, well, it's nice that you voted, but we think you're all idiots. If anything, we've made a conscious effort away from controlling votes.

Personally I would personally much prefer a system where university graduates get a dual|double vote. Of course such a system would only work in nations where any person can easily enroll and pass a university as long as they have the capability to do so, as opposed to just having the cash to actually stay in. Ergo such a system would be completely unthinkable in the US with their very expensive schools. Admittedly such systems did exist in the past. Such a system would still not take away the rights of those who do not have the ability to pass these schools, but at the same time it awards people intelligent enough to be able to do so. Or if not exactly intelligent, people who tend to have a wider understanding of the world. A test on the basic understanding of the government seems a bit, well odd, considering that every single high schooler should have this understanding from school. (sadly this is not always the truth in Europe as well).

[QUOTE=wraithcat;27200540]Personally I would personally much prefer a system where university graduates get a duel vote.[/QUOTE] So they get to fight each other and the winner gets the losers vote? No but seriously, getting through in university doesn't mean that you are 2x smarter than somebody who didn't go to uni. But if you have an art-degree and you get 0.25x the votes then it would sound a lot better. Get real education you hippies!

[QUOTE=wraithcat;27200540]Personally I would personally much prefer a system where university graduates get a duel vote. Of course such a system would only work in nations where any person can easily enroll and pass a university as long as they have the capability to do so, as opposed to just having the cash to actually stay in. Ergo such a system would be completely unthinkable in the US with their very expensive schools. Admittedly such systems did exist in the past. Such a system would still not take away the rights of those who do not have the ability to pass these schools, but at the same time it awards people intelligent enough to be able to do so. Or if not exactly intelligent, people who tend to have a wider understanding of the world.[/QUOTE] I've met a lot of drop outs and the like that are a hell of lot smarter and better informed than some of the college graduates I've met. This is 100% a bad idea.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27200601]college graduates I've met. This is a 100% a bad idea.[/QUOTE] Yeah, what you expected with college...

[QUOTE=evilking1;27200555]So they get to fight each other and the winner gets the losers vote? No but seriously, getting through in university doesn't mean that you are 2x smarter than somebody who didn't go to uni. But if you have an art-degree and you get 0.25x the votes then it would sound a lot better. Get real education you hippies![/QUOTE] I'm getting a BF and I'm a hell of a lot smarter and better informed than many people with "real majors." I just chose to do what I love in life instead of wallowing in a pit of misery doing actuarial science or something boring like that.

As dumb as some people may be, their home is in my country as much as my home is in their country, thus we both deserve equal say in how our government is run, no matter how foolish they may be.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27200663]I'm getting a BF and I'm a hell of a lot smarter and better informed than many people with "real majors." I just chose to do what I love in life instead of wallowing in a pit of misery doing actuarial science or something boring like that.[/QUOTE] Well sure if you think you are smarter than them, have fun.

[QUOTE=evilking1;27200719]Well sure if you think you are smarter than them, have fun.[/QUOTE] Sorry, I forgot that I'm not allowed to learn outside of the courses I take or take any courses beyond what my major entails

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27200285]To be fair, the fact that he's black is a really good reason for people to be excited that he won. Anyone who thinks that's just some minor side note doesn't understand how fucking racist this country, and the world in general, still is. I'm not saying that he is single-handedly fixing race issues in America because it's not that simple. Most people just reform there stereotypes to make an exception for Obama. But it certainly helps by bringing race into attention. America is a country that's trying to solve race issues by ignoring them. That doesn't work, so when something big like that happens, it's usually beneficial.[/QUOTE] But for him being black to be the only reason you care about him is completely stupid. He could have been the most conservative politician who didn't give a damn about the lower to middle class and they would have still thought he was the perfect president based only on his skin color. I'm glad we finally elected a black president, and that not too many American's shit themselves over it. But to have that as the only reason you care about him is just ignorant.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27200763]Sorry, I forgot that I'm not aloud to learn outside of the courses I take or take any courses beyond what my major entails.[/QUOTE] You might want to learn the difference between allowed and aloud outside of your courses too

[QUOTE=OutOfExile2;27200804]You might want to learn the difference between allowed and aloud outside of your courses too[/QUOTE] You caught a grammatical error. Thanks.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27200858]You caught a grammatical error. Thanks.[/QUOTE] Anytime

[QUOTE=Moose;27199598]because no one would put the effort into taking the tests but liberal nerds and we'd be a complete shithole of a country[/QUOTE] i love the way you take pride in your ignorance

[QUOTE=Prismatex;27200888]i love the way you take pride in your ignorance[/QUOTE] Sure, but he has a point - many people can't be arsed to take some "voting exam" and study for it. (If it doesn't need studying - what's the point with the test.) But who would study even for months and pay to get to vote? That's right, the liberal nerds.

They did this back in the... 20s? Maybe earlier. Worst idea ever. All the power was taken from the poor entirely, and at the time most black people and immigrants were dirt poor. :godwin: Same idea with intelligence tests. They're too easy to rig. Same thing with black people and immigrants, because they were so poor they hadn't had proper education. In fact I think it was earlier still and a lot of black people were ex-slaves and cotton plantations aren't the best place to learn how to read and write.

[QUOTE=cheesedelux;27200996]They did this back in the... 20s? Maybe earlier. Worst idea ever. All the power was taken from the poor entirely, and at the time most black people and immigrants were dirt poor. :godwin:[/QUOTE] hey i managed to :godwin: tens of posts ago

[QUOTE=JohnStamosFan;27200781]He could have been the most conservative politician who didn't give a damn about the lower to middle class and they would have still thought he was the perfect president based only on his skin color.[/QUOTE] Doubtful. Minorities, especially impoverished ones, have a heavy tendency to vote liberal because liberals are the ones that show at any depth that they might actually give a shit about what happens to them. Also, if he were that conservative I'd be willing to be that a lot of black people would disown him in a heartbeat.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27201019]Doubtful. Minorities, especially impoverished ones, have a heavy tendency to vote liberal because liberals are the ones that show at any depth that they might actually give a shit about what happens to them. Also, if he were that conservative I'd be willing to be that a lot of black people would disown him in a heartbeat.[/QUOTE] thanks for giving us this fact that poor people like liberals, you could then like read his post

[QUOTE=evilking1;27200942]Sure, but he has a point - many people can't be arsed to take some "voting exam" and study for it. (If it doesn't need studying - what's the point with the test.) But who would study even for months and pay to get to vote? That's right, the liberal nerds.[/QUOTE] seriously, how many people that work 10 hours a day would want to take a test just to vote? its a fucking gay idea that will only benefit the elitists.

[QUOTE=evilking1;27201126]thanks for giving us this fact that poor people like liberals, you could then like read his post[/QUOTE] Was making the point that it's highly unlikely the only reason anyone voted for him was because he was black.

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27201320]Was making the point that it's highly unlikely the only reason anyone voted for him was because he was black.[/QUOTE] 6 people in my family voted for him because he was black you dont seem to understand the mentality of people that dont have the time to follow politics or lack interest in them

[QUOTE=-Dazed-;27201320]Was making the point that it's highly unlikely the only reason anyone voted for him was because he was black.[/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDlJMtjMMvw[/media] Propagandaish but tells that there are some people that know jack shit and voted for him since he was black. Just like some white people (in their white robes) probably didn't vote for him since he was black.

[QUOTE=evilking1;27201454][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDlJMtjMMvw[/media] Propagandaish but tells that there are some people that know jack shit and voted for him since he was black. Just like some white people (in their white robes) probably didn't vote for him since he was black.[/QUOTE] To be honest, I'd expect that those people in their white robes wouldn't vote democrats anyway

Let's ban stupidity instead. :downs:

[QUOTE=evilking1;27200942]Sure, but he has a point - many people can't be arsed to take some "voting exam" and study for it. (If it doesn't need studying - what's the point with the test.) But who would study even for months and pay to get to vote? That's right, the liberal nerds.[/QUOTE] No. People who give a shit. That's the whole point. We want people who actually care to be doing things that make the decisions. A bunch of retards who can just walk in a do it for fun it stupid. If people aren't willing to study for the chance to vote, why would you expect them to put enough time and effort into making themselves aware of what the fuck they are even voting for?

Not enough people vote as it is, so adding requirements to voting would reduce the amount of voters even more.

[QUOTE=cheesedelux;27200996]They did this back in the... 20s? Maybe earlier. Worst idea ever. All the power was taken from the poor entirely, and at the time most black people and immigrants were dirt poor. :godwin: Same idea with intelligence tests. They're too easy to rig. Same thing with black people and immigrants, because they were so poor they hadn't had proper education. In fact I think it was earlier still and a lot of black people were ex-slaves and cotton plantations aren't the best place to learn how to read and write.[/QUOTE] That was done specifically to keep them from voting. Saying a black person today who can get an education is the same as a slave who was denied an education and in many situations the ability to even learn the language is stupid. [editline]4th January 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Quickoatz;27201786]Not enough people vote as it is, so adding requirements to voting would reduce the amount of voters even more.[/QUOTE] Shouldn't voting be about quality not quantity?

[QUOTE=JohnStamosFan;27201840] Shouldn't voting be about quality not quantity?[/QUOTE] No. There would be no way to measure quality within the domain of the current system (i.e, the Electoral College).

[QUOTE=J-Dude;27198926]I've been mulling things over lately, and I came up with an idea that interested me. What if, in the US at least, we changed things so you needed a license in order to vote? Didn't they sort of do something like this to keep black people from voting after they were freed in the south? Now, before anyone starts calling me a fascist or something, consider. We can all buy and own things like vehicles, but depending on which, you need to pass a series of tests to prove you can utilize them safely. Metaphorically, why should the "wheel" of a nation be steered by people who would ignorantly drive it off a cliff? Everyone of age could apply for the license, and would need to renew it, perhaps every other term, perhaps sooner. You'd be required to take tests that demonstrate at least a fundamental understanding of the government, the core ideals of the parties and the law. It might not even need to be that hard. To what end, you say? Why bother? Because frankly, so many ballots are cast in pure ignorance or out of desire to avoid contributing to voter apathy that elections sometimes seem a joke. Would half the nutjobs who make backwards votes in this country from the safety of Alabama be able to contribute their stupidity if they were required to know ONE DAMN THING about how government works? I'm guessing this would root-out a lot of non-thinkers from the equation. If one thing is made certain by our history, it's that these decisions need to be informed in nature, by informed people. This isn't to say that the license prevents them from voting however they want once they attain it, only that they pass. The test won't have any bias toward party affiliation or jam ideals down your throat. They can then vote however they like afterward. Now, I understand the next question: won't this FURTHER contribute to voter apathy? Well really, voter apathy isn't THAT bad of a thing. Yeah, it's a shame they don't vote for your cause, but if they have no opinions, convictions or KNOWLEDGE on the matter, they really SHOULDN'T be voting. And rooting out the politically ignorant might make change the entire arena for the better once the votes of the enlightened finally matter more. This is by no means a magic bullet, but where I sit I think it would help the fundamental problem with democracy, at least a little. My problem is, this feels too simple to be as good as it sounds to me. I have a feeling I'm missing an important factor, or that implementing this would somehow change it into something ugly. If I am, I'd very much like to know. So that's my pitch: favor informed decisions over rule-by-mob while keeping to Democratic and Human Rights. What do YOU think, FP?[/QUOTE] [editline]4th January 2011[/editline] What the fuck stop deleting my posts randomly [editline]4th January 2011[/editline] Didn't they do something like this to keep blacks from voting?