Page 4 | Ignorance regarding voting is rife

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 2024-06-15T15:05:35+00:00

With the GE around the corner, I read too many times some people banging on about: "You must vote..... women died for the right to vote. etc etc" - then at times you get, "My great grandfather/etc/etc for your freedom so you should vote,etc,etc!"! People around the world fought for their freedom from the Nazis. It was freedom we retained with millions of armed personnel and civilians losing their lives. Freedom is the right to choose!! *AIBU to feel that ignorance is rife regarding voting, IE many lack the basic understandings of a 'right to vote' Vs mandatory voting??* FYI, I'm posting from London/England. At times I feel that a lot of these posters may be posting from Russia, China, Australia, North Korea etc as voting there is mandatory I believe and you are not given the freedom to decide. Scenario!! Come the GE and I have a choice to vote for Labour, Conservatives, Greens, Libs, Refrom, Independent, Etc, ETC. Why should I vote for any of them as I do not just trust my local candidates and nor do I trust at all any political party they represent as things stand!! I guess, if they had a Jackass as a candidate with the above, I'd vote for that animal. Finally, everyone that is a citizen of England must have the right to vote when aged 18 and over. Importantly, the right/freedom to refrain from voting must be upheld as this is what my great-grandparents nd their parents fought for!!! Thank you.

AgnesX · 15/06/2024 18:16

WantToMakeWorldSilkySmooth · 15/06/2024 16:30

Omg I just realise who the OP is

Who is he/she??

KateDelRick · 15/06/2024 18:13

cakeorwine · 15/06/2024 16:56

What's a Jackass?

It sounds very American.

Will you be voting in the Great British General Election?

Apparently, just the "English" one.

Welshphoenix · 15/06/2024 18:08

Butchyrestingface · 15/06/2024 17:13

Finally, everyone that is a citizen of England must have the right to vote when aged 18 and over.

What about the rest of the UK?

We don't matter, typically only England appears to be relevant. I am very much of the mind voting in all of the UK should be mandatory. However would happily have a none of the above box for those who really can't take the time to look at what is offer and make a informed opinion that relates to themselves

WantToMakeWorldSilkySmooth · 15/06/2024 18:07

That poat was supposed to aay I couldn't vote

WhereIsMyLight · 15/06/2024 18:05

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:39

Calm down dear!!
I will retain my freedom of choice and that remains a fact!!

Show quote history

You’ll retain your right to do fuck all? Excellent! Well done. I’m glad you’ve started a whole threat about your fight to do bugger all, so insightful.

SocksAndTheCity · 15/06/2024 18:04

Everybody has the right not to vote in the UK, OP. Why have you got yourself all excited about something that is neither happening, nor going to happen?

As for telling the women here to 'calm down' you might do well to remember that if you're going to try to be condescending, it helps a lot to be in a position from which to condescend.

sesquipedalian · 15/06/2024 17:58

OP, I don’t think anyone in the UK thinks voting is mandatory. I would encourage people to vote, and if they dislike all the candidates to spoil their paper, because there are so many who simply can’t be bothered. But your assertion that people don’t know the difference between right to vote vs mandatory voting is frankly absolutely barking.

WantToMakeWorldSilkySmooth · 15/06/2024 17:53

Anyone can retain their freedom of choice .

But all choices come with consequences.

I spwnd over decade in UK itching to vote, but could. Seeing people just siaregard their option to do so is... Frustrating to be honest

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:39

WhereIsMyLight · 15/06/2024 17:17

Then instead of bitching and moaning and doing fuck all, run yourself. If you don’t agree with any of the national parties run as an independent. Otherwise you just can’t be arsed to even try and change the system and using the right not to vote as an excuse to do nothing. But still moan when you don’t agree.

Show quote history

Calm down dear!!
I will retain my freedom of choice and that remains a fact!!

OP posts:

WhereIsMyLight · 15/06/2024 17:17

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:10

Who said it was "mandaotory"

The OP states cleary the ignorance of those that make out it to be a crime if you don't vote!!

Sorry, I will never vote for a lying, two faced clown that believes those that vote for him/her are fools!! More importantly, the party they represent behaves like that!!

Show quote history

Then instead of bitching and moaning and doing fuck all, run yourself. If you don’t agree with any of the national parties run as an independent. Otherwise you just can’t be arsed to even try and change the system and using the right not to vote as an excuse to do nothing. But still moan when you don’t agree.

Butchyrestingface · 15/06/2024 17:13

Finally, everyone that is a citizen of England must have the right to vote when aged 18 and over.

What about the rest of the UK?

itsgettingweird · 15/06/2024 17:12

Piggywaspushed · 15/06/2024 16:17

Are you sure you're posting from London/ England? The fact that you think this is an English election and we are all English, and use the word jackass just makes me wonder.

Well spotted 👀

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:10

WhereIsMyLight · 15/06/2024 17:05

Of course voting isn’t mandatory. A cursory look at voter turnout would have told you that and the fact that most people don’t think it is mandatory. I think my constituency is just under 60% voter turnout, that’s a long way from everyone believing it is mandatory.

However, we have a democracy and our elected representatives should represent the whole of their area. That doesn’t just include the one demographic, the demographic that usually votes. What people are saying is that within living memory, women weren’t able to vote and some women died to give everyone the right to vote. So that women like them could be involved in the decisions that affect them, to get a representative reflection of that area and it’s needs.

Every fight for the right to vote has been hard won. People shouldn’t just not turn up because “they’re a bunch of clowns”. It’s an insult to everyone who fought and it changes nothing. It’s also not ridiculous to say don’t vote, don’t complain. Other than running for MP yourself it is the only way for people to get involved and try to make a difference. I think that given the younger generation is well and truly screwed, yet they are the demographic with the lowest turnout we should be highlighting how important our right to vote is. Reminding people of our right not to vote is really not that important until voter turnout is consistently much higher in every constituency.

Who said it was "mandaotory"

The OP states cleary the ignorance of those that make out it to be a crime if you don't vote!!

Sorry, I will never vote for a lying, two faced clown that believes those that vote for him/her are fools!! More importantly, the party they represent behaves like that!!

OP posts:

WhereIsMyLight · 15/06/2024 17:05

Of course voting isn’t mandatory. A cursory look at voter turnout would have told you that and the fact that most people don’t think it is mandatory. I think my constituency is just under 60% voter turnout, that’s a long way from everyone believing it is mandatory.

However, we have a democracy and our elected representatives should represent the whole of their area. That doesn’t just include the one demographic, the demographic that usually votes. What people are saying is that within living memory, women weren’t able to vote and some women died to give everyone the right to vote. So that women like them could be involved in the decisions that affect them, to get a representative reflection of that area and it’s needs.

Every fight for the right to vote has been hard won. People shouldn’t just not turn up because “they’re a bunch of clowns”. It’s an insult to everyone who fought and it changes nothing. It’s also not ridiculous to say don’t vote, don’t complain. Other than running for MP yourself it is the only way for people to get involved and try to make a difference. I think that given the younger generation is well and truly screwed, yet they are the demographic with the lowest turnout we should be highlighting how important our right to vote is. Reminding people of our right not to vote is really not that important until voter turnout is consistently much higher in every constituency.

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:04

KrisAkabusi · 15/06/2024 17:00

I'm not sure if Australia is run by a dictator but other than Australia, the other countries where voting is mandatory are run by one the whole, dictators hence the mandatory you have to vote, or esle!!

Yes, those repressed dictatorial countries like...Belgium! And Greece, Luxembourg, Costa Rica and many other properly democrat countries.

Try and educate yourself occasionally before spouting nonsense OP.

It's "nonesense" because you and others like mind disagree

What you are saying is complete nonsense. Just because the people of those countries were bullied into making voting mandatory does mean that one's freedom of choice has been greatly reduced

Why would any sensible person want to be forced into voting - it is just not sensible and a slap in the face for those that gave their lives to keep millions free from the Nazis

I'm not joking. If voting was indicated to become mandatory, I would take to the streets, a first for me but that is how passionate I ama bout freedom of choice!!

OP posts:

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 17:00

brunettemic · 15/06/2024 16:32

Comparing to Russia, China and North Korea is laughable when you’re trying to complain about democratic rights 😂 if you don’t want any of the candidates and had to vote just spoil the ballot, nobody knows who does what. If you don’t vote you have no recourse to complain about anything until the next general election.

The point is those countries along with Australia have mandatory voting

My point is as per my OP

Voting must be a right for those 18 and over but we must retain the freedom of choice, IE to vote or not vote!!

OP posts:

KrisAkabusi · 15/06/2024 17:00

I'm not sure if Australia is run by a dictator but other than Australia, the other countries where voting is mandatory are run by one the whole, dictators hence the mandatory you have to vote, or esle!!

Yes, those repressed dictatorial countries like...Belgium! And Greece, Luxembourg, Costa Rica and many other properly democrat countries.

Try and educate yourself occasionally before spouting nonsense OP.

cakeorwine · 15/06/2024 16:56

What's a Jackass?

It sounds very American.

Will you be voting in the Great British General Election?

Piggywaspushed · 15/06/2024 16:55

Auntimabelsbudgie · 15/06/2024 16:31

This is a regular poster, generally goady, often ignorant of fact

Show quote history

I know!

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 16:52

Sirzy · 15/06/2024 16:47

But not voting doesn’t change a single thing though. All that counts in the long run in the crosses in the boxes on the day nothing else.

Show quote history

Again, you make a valid point but my principles are not easily won!!

I just wished we had one decent, honest B that could tell the truth and I'd vote for that person but then the problem is the Jaclasses he is affiliated too

I'm not sure what the solution is but we must reatian the right not to vote

I'm not sure if Australia is run by a dictator but other than Australia, the other countries where voting is mandatory are run by one the whole, dictators hence the mandatory you have to vote, or esle!!

OP posts:

Iwasafool · 15/06/2024 16:50

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 16:29

You don't think???

The messages I read as per my OP suggest otherwise, hence their ignorance of our voting rights and the freedom to choose. The very freedom our families fought for!!

We are not in Russia/Australia etc

Show quote history

I don't think you are understanding what they are saying. They aren't saying you have to vote as a legal thing, they are saying you should vote. I always vote and part of that is to honour the women who fought, suffered and sometimes died so I have that right.

It is also so I have the right to moan like #WantToMakeWorldSilkySmooth's dad.

Plump82 · 15/06/2024 16:49

Piggywaspushed · 15/06/2024 16:17

Are you sure you're posting from London/ England? The fact that you think this is an English election and we are all English, and use the word jackass just makes me wonder.

You said what I was thinking.

Sirzy · 15/06/2024 16:47

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 16:42

Valid point. However, how would one feel if they voted in someone who had little respect for women and was if favour of eroding women's's rights. Then on top of that lied about x/y/z??

As I said, you have a valid point/argument but I am of the strong opinion that one must retain the right not to vote as ll they see is misfitd/selfish/shallow/lying/two-faced clowns that treat the public and especially their voters like fools!!

Show quote history

But not voting doesn’t change a single thing though. All that counts in the long run in the crosses in the boxes on the day nothing else.

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 15/06/2024 16:42

Sirzy · 15/06/2024 16:37

But if you don’t vote you play a part in electing those clowns as your empathy means other parties (a bit less clown like!) don’t get the vote.

Show quote history

Valid point. However, how would one feel if they voted in someone who had little respect for women and was if favour of eroding women's's rights. Then on top of that lied about x/y/z??

As I said, you have a valid point/argument but I am of the strong opinion that one must retain the right not to vote as ll they see is misfitd/selfish/shallow/lying/two-faced clowns that treat the public and especially their voters like fools!!

OP posts:

SocksAndTheCity · 15/06/2024 16:39

GrandHighPoohbah · 15/06/2024 16:21

I don't think anyone in the UK thinks voting is compulsory though?

If anybody does, it'll be the OP.