continuing proofs America is wacko [3]

Left for the dingos, no doubt.

I've never been comfortable with the idea of mandatory voting. As the great political philosopher Geddy Lee once said, "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Mandatory voting takes away that aspect of free democratic choice.

having to cut their mullets off?

being forced to wear shirts with sleeves?

Eldorion wrote:I've never been comfortable with the idea of mandatory voting.  As the great political philosopher Geddy Lee once said, "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."  Mandatory voting takes away that aspect of free democratic choice.

I chose not to vote this last congressional election. I live in a heavy republican district, so my vote wouldn't have mattered for the US house, and the Gov. and Senate seat were pretty much locked down by the Dems.

bungobaggins wrote:I chose not to vote this last congressional election. I live in a heavy republican district, so my vote wouldn't have mattered for the US house, and the Gov. and Senate seat were pretty much locked down by the Dems.

There are usually local elections and various ballot initiatives/referenda that are much more up in the air and where individual votes have mathematically greater significance because of the smaller populations involved. You also get reversals even in areas that lean towards one party. Maryland is one of the bluest states in the nation, but we elected a Republican governor last year.

Generally I think voting is a good thing and I encourage people to do so as long as they can make an informed choice. But I don't think they should be forced to.

I don't even know if there were any ballot initiatives last year, didn't hear about any. Guess I wasn't as informed as I thought I was.

Well I dunno if there were any where you live. I think they're more common in Presidential election years, since those are higher profile anyway.  In 2012 Marylanders narrowly voted to legalize gay marriage and gambling so I was glad I voted on those. On the other hand, they also voted in favor of gerrymandering, but by signing a petition to get that on the ballot in the first place and voting against it I at least helped in some small way to bring greater attention to the issue. That's how I look at it, anyway.

being forced to wear shirts with sleeves?- Figg

Made to cook indoors.

having to stop talking like they are asking questions every two seconds.

They could be forced to use all the vowels in a word too instead of just skipping them

Not being allowed to watch Crocodile Dundee until after the next election?

Only being allowed to drink Fosters?

Eldorion wrote:Not being allowed to watch Crocodile Dundee until after the next election?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mandatory voting would at least help with keeping track of who's still out there. I was just seeing that there are thousands of people on the books over the age of 115 who are still drawing Social Security checks every month. I wonder if they're voting too....

https://news.vice.com/article/the-cia-just-declassified-the-document-that-supposedly-justified-the-iraq-invasion

https://www.scribd.com/doc/259216899/Iraq-October-2002-NIE-on-WMDs-unedacted-version

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/19/florida-employee-forced-on-leave-climate-change

That seems a bit, insane.

This is a really good video showing just a little of the split second decisions law enforcement has to make.

That was an interesting video. Good on the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department for helping to explain their perspective in such a striking way. Although the whole "listen to the orders of law enforcement" thing should kinda go without saying, it's good to have a reminder.

Well, horrendous as the ultimate intent of this new law is, you've got to admire the strategy of hiding it under the law's title "Religious Freedom Act".  Snuck it by before anyone noticed.  I tip my hat to the National College Athletic Association for pushback, along with all the others.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/us/politics/indiana-law-denounced-as-invitation-to-discriminate-against-gays.html?_r=0

I just read that article Halfy. It didn't seem to say much about the law itself, mostly just alarmist rhetoric. Is this a real deal or just more pre-campaign smoke and mirrors?

{{ 'tis the season for attacking straw men }}

It was passed, with mainly smoke and mirrors about defending religious freedom, but a clause in there that clearly allow businesses to deny service to anyone whose lifestyle they disagree with on a religious basis.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/politics/mike-pence-religious-freedom-bill-gay-rights/

Does this pretty much boil down to cake shops not wanting to make a cake with two guys on the top? Fuck this country, seriously.