How do we overcome voter apathy?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Well I'm actually done in a month and a half and won't be returning to UofA. I don't know why I wasted your time to find those facts sorry, since at this point in time, it won't affect me either.

A small portion (ie. < 20%) of financial assistance came from the government, and the main facilities as far as I know came mostly through private funding. However, that is purely a guess from me and I don't have any links to prove that.

Well all I was trying to do was demonstrate how the government and it's policies DOES matter.

The most disturbing aspect to all this may be that what I'm hearing is "If it doesn't impact me directly I don't care about the issue?".

Or correct me if that's not what you are saying.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Well all I was trying to do was demonstrate how the government and it's policies DOES matter.

The most disturbing aspect to all this may be that what I'm hearing is "If it doesn't impact me directly I don't care about the issue?".

Or correct me if that's not what you are saying.

I'm sure it does matter to some people. Obviously not to me.

So, if my interests are so minor, do you think my vote should be worth as much as your vote? You have far more interests at stake then I do.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I'm sure it does matter to some people. Obviously not to me.

So, if my interests are so minor, do you think my vote should be worth as much as your vote? You have far more interests at stake then I do.

Selfishly and short-term I don't mind having a more powerful vote, but long-term I find it a scary proposition that the voting decisions will be made by a smaller and smaller percentage of the population. I find that to be a dangerous trend. Putting the power in fewer hands is not a good thing.

In addition the Calgary Sun (shockingly enough) put it in very simple and effective terms today. In place of it's usual column on the comment page it simply had this from Jose Rodriguez

"To date, 79 Canadian soldiers have given their lives in the fight to bring democracy and the right to vote to Afghanistan.
On Monday, only four-out-of-ten people chose to vote in the Alberta election.
Shame on us."

Pretty much sums it up.

[driveway]

I guess, Phanuthier, that if you choose not to vote then that is your perogative in a democracy. However, it does meant that you aren't allowed to complain when something the government is doing - at whatever level - isn't to your liking.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by driveway

I guess, Phanuthier, that if you choose not to vote then that is your perogative in a democracy. However, it does meant that you aren't allowed to complain when something the government is doing - at whatever level - isn't to your liking.

And I don't.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Selfishly and short-term I don't mind having a more powerful vote, but long-term I find it a scary proposition that the voting decisions will be made by a smaller and smaller percentage of the population. I find that to be a dangerous trend. Putting the power in fewer hands is not a good thing.

You see, this is where we differ. Rather then have 100% turnout, and the majority of them cast their equally weight vote based on little to no research (that would be me) you are contaminating the vote. I would rather vest my interests in a smaller percentage of people who know more about what is going on and can make an informed decision. I'm not saying a dictatorship, but 40% is fine by me, and less would be ok with me as well. If I do have a vested interest and am knowledge to vote, I probably would - I did vote in the last federal election.

And I understand your views on military going over to Afghanistan. One of my friends just signed on as a field engineer and will be deployed soon, and have a couple other friends that are with the armed forces. I also worked for the military this summer, in a civilian position. However, I don't necessarily have the same petriotism as some may. I am content living here, but I'd be content living in the USA (likely destination), Europe (target destination) or Asia (another target, although lesser). My military friends don't seem to have an issue with that, in case you do.

[MacDougalbry]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Well I'm actually done in a month and a half and won't be returning to UofA. I don't know why I wasted your time to find those facts sorry, since at this point in time, it won't affect me either.

A small portion (ie. < 20%) of financial assistance came from the government, and the main facilities as far as I know came mostly through private funding. However, that is purely a guess from me and I don't have any links to prove that.

Just because a corporation paid to get its name on a facility does not mean that they paid for the whole facility, nor does it mean that they contribute to the program in a significant manner on an ongoing basis.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MacDougalbry

Just because a corporation paid to get its name on a facility does not mean that they paid for the whole facility, nor does it mean that they contribute to the program in a significant manner on an ongoing basis.

My apologies for downplaying government involvement, that was a mistake. I know word on the street is the Dean recruits a ton of private funding, especially the program I study in where there is a new multi-million $ donation often on the news.

Maybe I should re-word it as, if funding were cut, I wouldn't be that sad considering the amount of construction and funding this university gets. However, no party I can think of has it in their initiative to cut funding more then half towards universities.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

"To date, 79 Canadian soldiers have given their lives in the fight to bring democracy and the right to vote to Afghanistan.
On Monday, only four-out-of-ten people chose to vote in the Alberta election.
Shame on us."

Pretty much sums it up.

Sums it up perfectly. Sadly it won't shame enough people to do their duty and vote.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Can we add an option on the poll something along the line of "I voted, I was responsible"

Please and thankyou

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Can we add an option on the poll something along the line of "I voted, I was responsible"

Please and thankyou

Was thinking of doing a seperate poll asking people why they DO vote. Couldn't come up with the categories though.

[Phanuthier]

Well I probably have vested enough time in this thread that I could have figured out who ran...

What are your thoughts limiting voting to knowledgable voters? By "knowledge" I mean a simple set of 5-10 questions on well-known facts by the candidates to deter contaminated votes.

Of coarse, this does discourage voting and will turn into lower voting turnout, but I obviously don't have a problem with that.

I have a friend that voted in the past provincial election, because he thought a certain politician was cute and wanted to see him on TV more. Do you think thats a better then not voting? (Yes she is a bit of a ditz)

When I was in Cuba a year ago, I was surprised at the pro's and con's towards communism, and how my prejudice ideas differered from what it was actually like there. It was hard to tell which issues were a fall out from the trade embargo though. China and Cambodia were also very interesting to see as well. When I'm in the former soviet states in a few months, that will be interesting to see for sure.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Was thinking of doing a seperate poll asking people why they DO vote. Couldn't come up with the categories though.

Here are a few.

Always have always will

Concerned about 1 issue

I think it is my responsiblity to vote

Pressured to do so by another (Spouse forced me to)

Interested in Politics



Just a few. Maybe I will think of more.

[Dan02]

errr whoops, my reading comprehension is bad. I voted even though i did vote, there was a lack of legitimate candidates in my eye. and moreso then the individual candidates it was the leaders this time round who really didn't deserve my vote.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Well I probably have vested enough time in this thread that I could have figured out who ran...

What are your thoughts limiting voting to knowledgable voters? By "knowledge" I mean a simple set of 5-10 questions on well-known facts by the candidates to deter contaminated votes.

I think citizens should have the right to vote for who they want for any reason. Period. The moment you start questioning reasons or testing to see if people are qualified to vote - you're no longer in a democracy.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Here are a few.

Some I can think of,

• to marginalize a leading candidate, or to vote against a certain candidate by voting for the biggest competitor
• who is cute and you want to see on TV more (don't laugh, I have a friend that votes based on that)
• promises made by politicians
• where their party theoretically sits on the political spectrum
• casting a vote for the most popular party so you can say you picked the winning party (very popular)
• casting a vote for a small party to increase the amount of funding they get for next election (have been told to vote Green by a CP member for that reason)
• who's face you see on posters and lawns more
• history of the party leader
• voting for a party for the sake of change

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think citizens should have the right to vote for who they want for any reason. Period. The moment you start questioning reasons or testing to see if people are qualified to vote - you're no longer in a democracy.

So you don't have a problem with uneducated voters? Do you not think that it dilutes the pool of useful opinions?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

So you don't have a problem with uneducated voters? Do you not think that it dilutes the pool of useful opinions?

It's all subjective - who is uneducated and who isn't. Which opinions are useful and who is not. As soon as you have anyone in society making those determinations when it comes to voting - again - you are no longer in a democracy.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

It's all subjective - who is uneducated and who isn't. Which opinions are useful and who is not. As soon as you have anyone in society making those determinations when it comes to voting - again - you are no longer in a democracy.

I would say "educated" are people who have done their due diligence before voting, thats why I prompted the idea of a simple 5-10 questionair on the ballots that you would want a reasonable voter to know.

I'm certainly not trying to marginalize certain classes. Its funny, I sit on a two professional society's committees of (their international size) both more then 200,000 members, where one of them I represented a chapter of 10 and the other I represented over 2000 members, both as student representatives. So I certainly don't disregard classes of members. (As an aside, both positions I do not hold voting status as s student representative) Moreso, I believe if you are to have input on a decision, you should be well educated in the matter first.

All those bullet points I listed above, I know a voter that fits every single category. To me, that is a contaminated vote.

[Mickey76]

What did me in when it comes to voting was the last federal election. My brother and grandparents both owned income trusts. So I voted for the Conservatives because they weren't going to tax them ...