Do people deserve a vote?

[dodo]

I have a vote in Mayo and in Dublin......my sister and her husband the same, if the 'official' turnout is above 50% then we could possibly have a 100% + turnout !

[Croí na hÉireann]

I have a vote in Mayo and in Dublin......my sister and her husband the same, if the 'official' turnout is above 50% then we could possibly have a 100% + turnout !

I have 2 votes as well,  like most people didn't bother going home...

[nifan]

Voting apathy doesn't bother me that much as surly its as much as someones right not to vote as it is to vote as long as they have that choice. No?

I don't think anyone has a right not to vote, that's too easy and too lazy, and an excuse frankly.  If they don't want to vote for any candidate, then they can post a blank paper, or can spoil their vote.

Id have no problem doing that if it meant something more.
I would vote if there was someone i actually felt I could support.

[Mentalman]

I would vote if there was someone i actually felt I could support.

It's a little bit chicken and egg though Nifan. If more people voted existing political parties may feel the need to accomodate their views. If not other political parties would come into existence to meet their needs.

In general I am more in favour of supply side measures to stimulate demand, rather than the other way around, but to be honest I can't see any other way of improving politics here.

[Billys Boots]

I would vote if there was someone i actually felt I could support.

I feel that the 'status quo' are depending on intelligent people like you not participating in the process, because the overwhelming likelihood is that you would register a protest vote if you did participate (rather than spoil your vote). 

[Niall Quinn]

It's a little bit chicken and egg though Nifan.

I'd vote egg. The latent potential of the unhatched trumps the tired old farmyard 'fitting in' of the clucker.

[magickingdom]

i think were a shower of fockin moaners and all future referendums should be asked in the negative, ie 'do you reject the lisbon treaty' would have pulled in a shit load of no votes cause some would vote no to sunshine and trust funds for all.

as for i didnt understand it and the gov didnt explain it, again fock off, grow up and learn to read

or the other one i got all the time was 'tralee general hospital will no longer deal with cancer patients' so i'm voting no.. apples/oranges

[Pangurban]

Agree that voting should be obligatory. Also it is usually the people who opt out of the process who do the most complaining, be it government or G.A.A. clubs or any other type of organisation.

[Main Street]

i think were a shower of fockin moaners and all future referendums should be asked in the negative, ie 'do you reject the lisbon treaty' would have pulled in a shit load of no votes cause some would vote no to sunshine and trust funds for all.

as for i didnt understand it and the gov didnt explain it, again fock off, grow up and learn to read

or the other one i got all the time was 'tralee general hospital will no longer deal with cancer patients' so i'm voting no.. apples/oranges

Usually referendums are framed in such a way that a yes vote reflects the governments position.
It's not a science but I suspect that is because people are usually more inclined to vote yes than no.

People voting yes had their stupid reasons as well as some people voting no had their stupid reasons.
Imagine, some people might say they voted  yes because they trust the government.

The Irish people rejecting the treaty is consistent with the popular opinion across Western Europe.

[fred the red]

There should be a referendum to see if people deserve the right to vote or not.

[nifan]

i did spoil votes in university elections in queens for many years as the absolute sectarian lines of the campaining and voting in queens is sickening. Not that it mattered a shite to anyone, the same thing occured every year.

[Billys Boots]

So Billy you don't believe in free will and the freedom of choice.

Where's the denial of 'free-will' and 'freedom of choice' in making it obligatory to express it?