Apart from the obvious violation of fundamental liberty that would be required to have mandatory v…

Apart from the obvious violation of fundamental liberty that would be required to have mandatory voting -- I have an absolute right to not vote -- there's also no reason to think it would be a positive thing for society, unless you're interested only in outcomes (Democrats getting elected) and not process (the people selecting their government).

Presumably, in a country like ours, where it is easy -- but not required -- for anyone to vote who cares to vote, we get the best result: the most informed and interested electors are the ones casting the votes, while the people who don't care and aren't informed don't have their opinions considered.

In a world with mandatory voting, we descend even further into elections by slogans and popularity, hoping to capture the significant number of ignorant and apathetic electors -- in some cases, a majority -- who will be voting based on feelings instead of thoughts.

I can't see how anyone thinks it's a good idea that everyone votes, when we know so many people don't have votes that are worth being cast.  And I am not looking down my nose at anyone; it's just a fact of life.  When I first moved to my current home, there were several elections I didn't cast a vote for on my first ballot, because I was too ignorant about the people or the issue being voted upon.  When you're ignorant, the responsible act is to not vote.

But I commend the many wise and ignorant people out there who regularly choose to not cast votes, because they know that, being ignorant, their votes should not be cast.

I think the only reason Obama wants mandatory voting is clear: because he thinks that ignorant and apathetic voters are more likely to vote for his party.  It's the same reason many Republicans don't want a "path to citizenship" for illegal aliens: because they think that such citizens would vote Democratic.

Both sides are wrong: getting the government properly selected by an informed citizenry matters more than getting a particular outcome.

Obama broaches the idea of mandatory voting

While discussing money in politics on Wednesday, President Obama broached a topic normally confined to academic circles: A law requiring people to vote.