UK elections thread

[wufwugy]

Erm no. Taking the vote away from people is not progressive democracy.

I think there are no good answers here. It's part of the inherent contradiction of democracy. It's wrong for people who don't pay taxes to have any say in government, but it's also wrong for government to have any say in the lives of people who don't vote.

So, really, the goal should be to get better results regardless of this problem. Something like I proposed would do some good on that since it would effect into a reduction of the power of the state because people who net pay in taxes dislike the state more than the general voting population.

[OngBonga]

It's wrong for people who don't pay taxes to have any say in government, but it's also wrong for government to have any say in the lives of people who don't vote.

This is just plain wrong. By extension of this, those who pay more tax will then argue they deserve a bigger say. Someone who pays £100k in tax should get ten times as many votes as someone who pays just £10k, right? Wrong.

You can't just say hey you don't pay tax, you can't participate in democracy. Elections are not a privilige that is earned, they are a basic right that should only be taken away from people in exceptional circumstances, otherwise it undermines the core values of democracy.

Besides, everyone pays tax, even those who try not to. I get a fortnightly payment off the state, that's taxed. I then go and buy food, most of that is taxed. I go and have a pint, I pay tax. Hell, they've even got me paying tax on my fucking poker now.

We don't allow prisoners to have the vote. I think that's disgusting. So you're not going to get me on side when it comes to suggesting only net taxpayers can vote.

[wufwugy]

You didn't read what I said.