LogFAQs > #986114089

Thorn posted...

I don't think it solves a problem, per se. I don't even think it necessarily benefits Democrats! I just think civic participation is a good end unto itself.

We should, of course, expand access to civic participation. We largely don't, of course, because the ruling regime in the US is strongly anti-democratic.

The only argument I could really see in favor of mandatory voting is that it would be a backstop against voter suppression, but that's only if you could enshrine it in the constitution, and even then the voter suppression would continue, just with more fines for poor people. It might work, but I'm skeptical. And that's ONLY if it's in the constitution, otherwise the effort would probably be toothless.

Civic participation is a good end unto itself? Sure, I guess, if you can meaningfully educate a populace that doesn't care to be and direct them to use civic participation to ends that aren't anti-social. I really don't see the use of it. We should be doing our best to educate children in civic duties but good fucking luck forcing adults at gunpoint to practice it.