Mandatory military service to vote?

Well, hypothetical question here, do you think that for a person to vote should be in the military (Reserves, Full-Time, ROTP, etc.)? I don't think so, but just curious because I heard someone mention at a dinner party last night that in order for a person to have the privilege and honour to vote, he/she must be involved in defending that right and the country in question.


I think it's a pretty noble idea, but pretty damn risky as it most likely would backfire, I am going into the military when I'm 18 (ROTP) so to me it doesn't matter. Your thoughts, thank you. No hijacking and spamming please :)

Someone has been reading Starship Troopers :rolleyes:

I think there should be some sort of "Service", that should make you work for the Right... not necessarily Military though, just something nasty and risky.

:rolleyes:

lol, ahhhh that's where it's from, Starship Troopers :lol:

Well this certain "gentleman" at the dinnerparty is in the Air Force. Your idea of "service" intrigues me, please explain :) (lol, they make you work in the IRS for a week hahahahah, god that'd just be painful)

no, though i do believe you should have to pass an exam* in order to be allowed to vote.




*not a proper exam in the "need to pass" sense, but some form of basic what politics is about course...then it wouldnt be such a popularity contest.

No.

i would go as far to say as well that if such a law was passed that those that don't get to vote because they haven't "served" should be tax exempt.

no.

4 to 1 so far.

I think it's probably the most ridiculous notion I've ever heard, hard on it's heels is the voter test idea.

I believe I've been party to a discussion on here before concerning testing voters for suitability and the last time such an awful practice was implemented (in the US circa 1960s) was to stop - the more poorly educated - black folk from voting.

The current system may not be perfect but whichever way you try to restrict people's right to vote for the country they reside in, you will always preclude some folk from participating who should not be excluded.

I expect everyone can think of instances of folk who would miss out thro' no fault of their own in both cases.

Thats why i said "service" but not necessarily Military.

There are plenty of other things that could be done.

what i would suggest wouldnt be an exam you have to pass, more a "course" of some description where they tell you what left wing, right wing, etc are and what each of the parties is standing for, policies etc. basically, the problem as i see it is that when theres an election, i believe that a lot of people who vote vote for votings sake...they dont really understand the fundamentals of what they are voting for, just
"Tony Blair has done a crap job...." though they dont know why...basically a course to get rid of the spin.

if i sound prejudiced or condascending, its only cos when i turned 18 and first got the chance to vote, i didnt know jack-shit...only what my ALevel FRENCH teacher taught us about french politics