Here's a simple, but good idea (US Tax Policy)

[Skanky Burns]

Australia just fines people $50 if they don't vote.
We get record voter turnouts every year.

[gsmoove23]

Good idea Ming

What did the Athenians do? I seem to remember them having Persian slaves who would run around gathering up citizens with lassos and dragging them to do their civic duties. Maybe there's a use for those Guantanamo prisoners...

[Master Zen]

Sounds like a good idea actually, although I do agree with Spiffor that it might make taxes a bigger electoral issue.

As for voting, I do not think it is right for people to get fined because they don't vote. If people don't vote it is because political parties have failed to convince these people that it is worth spending some time filling a ballot, and that is really sad, because it showes a political system without faith.

Until people actually sense that political parties are in it for the good of the country and not for their own agendas, will voter turnouts be low. Blame the parties for their ineptitude, not the voters for their apathy.

[Az]

Australia just fines people $50 if they don't vote.
We get record voter turnouts every year.

[Herzog]

in chile we do the same thing, around 50 bucks too....but its not obligation to vote if you are not inscribed
anyway, is very easy not to pay that fine, all you have to do is say you were 200 Km. away from your voting table

[The Mad Monk]

Well, I just finished doing my income tax. I'll write out the check after I've cashed my paycheck for this pay period. $2600.

[Berzerker]

It is interesting that tax day is roughly 6 months away from election day... Was that just a coincidence?

[Arrian]

I like the fine for not voting.

-Arrian

[rah]

Originally posted by Berzerker
It is interesting that tax day is roughly 6 months away from election day... Was that just a coincidence?

It takes me six months to get over being pissed about the 44K I gave the federal government for last year.

[Sava]

I'm in favor of it if it doesn't cost too much or create too much of a hassle.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

If people are really mad about their taxes, then they will remember in time for election. If they are only slightly mad, and the date is changed to november, then you will have more people voting anti tax because it is still fresh in their minds. Which of course gives the republican and libertarian parties a boost, while putting down the democrats, and the greens.