"Dear boy" is now going to be my new phrase to undermine someone

i dont know anything about politics, so i would fail your little test, but i wouldnt define myself as 'thick'... so would i be allowed to vote or not? :unsure: :o

 

Thick is more headline grabbing than 'politically unaware' ;) if someone was on the homepage and saw 'should the politically unaware be banned from voting' it would not be as "must see" as the title i put, it worked as several people have contributed who never normally do :P

How on Earth do you expect to learn their policies without coming across their names? :mellow:

I'm not sure how it works in the UK but in The Netherlands names aren't really mentioned in their plans.

The only name I know is the Prime Minister, the King and the Queen

Why would you want to ban yourself from voting Craig?

Indeed, ever noticed that thick people always call other people thick?

 

I'm sorry Craig but you haven't exactly covered at times in glory at times on here yourself. Infact most of the time I see you get completely owned by people half your age who can actually back up what they say with at least a little bit of evidence.

Why would you want to ban yourself from voting Craig?

 

It was waiting to be said.

 

 

How on Earth do you expect to learn their policies without coming across their names? :mellow:

 

I think it's possible to not come across politicians' names but at the same time still be somewhat interested in current affairs and the world around you. If we're talking specific details of parties' policies, then OK, it's probably impossible to have not come across leading politicians' names, but someone could have a strong and well-researched opinion on something like the environment, racism, poverty etc. even in spite of that - and people like that should definitely be allowed (and encouraged) to vote.

Indeed, ever noticed that thick people always call other people thick?

 

I'm sorry Craig but you haven't exactly covered at times in glory at times on here yourself. Infact most of the time I see you get completely owned by people half your age who can actually back up what they say with at least a little bit of evidence.

 

That is a side issue, what is important here is would i be able to answer the questions required in a politics test at a polling station, the answer is a resounding yes, the questions would not be about what the GDP was under labour, how many mines Maggie closed or about the national debt, things i was proved wrong on here, i can name the majority of the cabinet so would pass the test with flying colours

 

And if i was truly thick why would i be put in charge of coordinating 142 clients at an exhibition we are organising?

To answer the topic at hand I do believe the desire to ensure the electorate knows what they're voting for is understandable, I just don't think this is the way to go about it. People can vote in elections without in-depth knowledge and still give a valid vote. If they know literally nothing, I doubt they're the type to venture outside the door, let alone to the polling station. And those votes would be dispersed between multiple candidates and in small numbers, so unlikely to make any major impact.

Somehow you've stumbled onto my main argument for not making voting compulsory so... well done?

 

As for your suggestion, there's so many problems it doesn't really bear thinking about. Any questions and any parameter of knowledge would inevitably be politically loaded and subjective.

 

Voting is a basic right for anyone with a stake in society. If you deem someone not deserving of it you may as well say they don't have the right to a lawyer if they're prosecuted and don't have a right to decide where they live. Mental.

How can you define thick then?

 

No-one should be banned from voting.

Thick is more headline grabbing than 'politically unaware' ;) if someone was on the homepage and saw 'should the politically unaware be banned from voting' it would not be as "must see" as the title i put, it worked as several people have contributed who never normally do :P

 

Didn't answer my question if I am too thick - sorry 'politically unaware' - to vote :P

That is a side issue, what is important here is would i be able to answer the questions required in a politics test at a polling station, the answer is a resounding yes, the questions would not be about what the GDP was under labour, how many mines Maggie closed or about the national debt, things i was proved wrong on here, i can name the majority of the cabinet so would pass the test with flying colours

What is more important in deciding how to vote? Is it knowing the parties' policies and their record in government or is it being able to name senior members of the party?

Also, surely people that have no interest in politics probably won't bother voting in the first place? Assumption maybe, but if you don't know who's running the country, I doubt you'd care enough to vote?

 

This.

 

If you have no interest in politics it's likely that you won't vote, right?

 

Also it's completely against democracy. This is what enfranchisement was all about, or should we go back to only Landed Gentry being allowed to vote? The only qualification needed to vote is being a citizen - this is what people fought for.

Didn't answer my question if I am too thick - sorry 'politically unaware' - to vote :P

 

This is the sort of test i would bring in

 

I will ask 6 questions, you would need to know at least 5 to get the voting card ;)

 

1) Who is the current prime minister?

2) Who was the previous prime minister?

3) Who is the chancellor?

4) What position does Boris Johnson hold in politics?

5) What party does Nigel Farage lead?

6) Which party is Ed Miliband leader of

 

I would be very surprised if you got less than 5 :P

Edited March 7, 201411 yr by Sandro Raniere

What is more important in deciding how to vote? Is it knowing the parties' policies and their record in government or is it being able to name senior members of the party?

 

Most people vote on a single issue imho be it immigration, the economy, welfare, NHS or whatever, no one but uber geeks read a whole manifesto, i have never done, ever

Most people vote on a single issue imho be it immigration, the economy, welfare, NHS or whatever, no one but uber geeks read a whole manifesto, i have never done, ever

Which doesn't even begin to answer the question. No change there then.

Dear boy i can assure you i would pass any such test with flying colours, we did a test today at work to see who could name most in the current cabinet, and i came top with 14 :)

 

 

I'd also give them a paragraph to re-write with the correct punctuation and capitals etc. and those who didn't use a capital letter I wouldn't be able to vote! :P

I'd also give them a paragraph to re-write with the correct punctuation and capitals etc. and those who didn't use a capital letter I wouldn't be able to vote! :P

 

I posted on an iPhone, too much effort with such a tiny screen :P

I posted on an iPhone, too much effort with such a tiny screen :P

 

 

No offence Craig, just couldn't resist!!!! :yahoo:

Which doesn't even begin to answer the question. No change there then.

 

Yeah but people at the lower end of the gene pool like this girl today are unlikely to think rationally about policies, they are far more likely to look at the Daily Star and think "UKIP will keep the blacks and muslims out they got my vote innit"

Edited March 7, 201411 yr by Sandro Raniere

should thick people be banned from voting?

 

can they not fit in the booth or something?