Did you know?

**nativetexan** · 11-24-2007, 09:57 AM

A little bit of useless info.

In Australia, if you do not cast a ballot during election time, you will be subject to a fine. The last election that just occurred in Australia resulted in a 96% voter turnout.

**buckee** · 11-24-2007, 09:40 PM

Not a bad idea...eh

**wtnhunt** · 11-25-2007, 05:35 AM

Does seem like a pretty good idea.

**nativetexan** · 11-25-2007, 10:29 AM

Would it really be a good idea? We have to ask ourselves how many people would just fill out a card to avoid a fine and not really educate themselves on the issues of each candidate.

**stevebeilgard** · 11-25-2007, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by nativetexan

Would it really be a good idea? We have to ask ourselves how many people would just fill out a card to avoid a fine and not really educate themselves on the issues of each candidate.

now THAT'S the truth. i'd rather see un-informed folks stay home than just go cast a vote not knowing.

**slugshooter** · 11-28-2007, 10:39 AM

Yep, learned that in Comparative Politics, Australia isn't the only country that does that either. Overall though, the level of political knowledge and participation in this country lags well behind other industrialized nations, especially among the young. I could go out and find ten people aged 18-25 and show them a picture of Britney Spears and probably everyone of them would know who it is; if I show them a picture of Dick Cheney very few if any would get it right.

**wtnhunt** · 11-28-2007, 11:50 AM

Overall though, the level of political knowledge and participation in this country lags well behind other industrialized nations, especially among the young.

That is pretty well on the money Marc.

Amazes me how some people can be so misinformed, and YES many of them do still vote. Perfect example just last week on Thanksgiving day while the kids were playing and the wife was out hunting, I had a conversation with my youngest sister, she is 30. Unfortunately like many she is pretty well totally uninformed in what is going on in the world the past several years.

I tried my best to enlighten her on several subjects. Like many, one of the misled conceptions she held was the notion that Bush is fattening his pockets on the escalated fuel prices and that was the sole reason why gas is so high here and that was the only reason why we engaged in war with Iraq. About an hour long conversation with her and she seemed to have a little better understanding, at least she said she did. She had no clue about the industrialization in China and how that played as a factor, nor could she answer why if Bush and Cheney were profiting off of US citizens why gas prices were so high all over the world.

Unfortunately you are right, and many people vote the popular vote or vote based on what the media tells them. Pretty safe to say here that letting the media decide for us who is the best candidate is quite dangerous. Guess a forced vote may not be such a bright idea after all.

**TreeStandBowHunter** · 12-04-2007, 05:17 AM

Yep, I learned that when I was in Rockhampton last June. Actually I think a cab driver told us that. Did you also know that if you order a steak in Austraila, there is no sauce for it. No such thing as A-1 or Heinz 57 in Australia

...sorry, thought I would share that seeing how we are on the topic of Australia.

I don't know though that I would encourage that here. I don't trust some of these people in this country to vote.