networkn:

 

Rikkitic:

 

networkn:

 

That's very rude (Why would I expect anything less). 

 

Just like I expect my surgeon to have a passing knowledge of surgery, I believe that those who vote should have a passing knowledge of what they vote for. 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't trying to be rude. If that is how it came across, I apologise.

 

I was trying to make a point, which I'm surprised you can't see. The essence of democracy is that everyone has a voice. As soon as you try to introduce eligibility qualifications to vote, you open up endless cans of worms. The system is the way it is for a reason, and it is a good one. 

 

Who determines voter eligibility under your suggestion? Does someone have to convince you that they are sufficiently knowledgeable? What are your criteria? Why yours, and not someone else's?

 

People vote the way they do for different reasons. These may be based on political nous, party affiliation, or the colour of the candidate's hair. It is none of your business why someone chooses to vote the way they do, nor is it anyone else's. For all its shortcomings, democracy works pretty well for most people. For one thing, it allows someone like you to complain endlessly when you don't get your way. I can't think of any other system I would rather have.

 

 

 

 

I was stating a preference that people spend time (to be fair people spend more time drinking coffee in a month than it would take to get a passing knowledge of the major parties) investigating parties and their policies, and their decisions affect millions of people. 

 

I understand it won't happen, and so we have muppets like this lady I was speaking to, who had she of done a modicum of research would have actually voted for a party that represented her actual views (I don't care which party). 

 

You are (generally) required to be qualified to do most jobs. 

 

Why my criteria? Well, because it's "my" preference.  In reality, it wouldn't be mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have always felt voting should be a licenced activity. Historically (perhaps not in NZ but in the UK from where NZ's democracy originated) voting was effectively restricted to those with education in a population  that was mostly uneducated by virtue of things like only land owners being able to vote etc and they were the only people by and large at the time who were educated.

Nowadays, the consequences of government changes can be so serious due to the ways that the world has changed, that at the very least passing some sort of exam at the age of 18 as part of the school leaving process which would test basic economic and political understanding should be a requirement before you can vote.

Some people you meet are so daft that frankly I would not allow them a voice in choosing their own clothes without help, much less choosing a government.