Comments on: Thoughts On Caucuses http://www.davidjmiller.org/2008/thoughts-on-caucuses/ Recording Bits and Pieces of Heaven in Theory and Practice Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:18:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Miller » Blog Archive » Requirements for Voting http://www.davidjmiller.org/2008/thoughts-on-caucuses/comment-page-1/#comment-7283 David Miller » Blog Archive » Requirements for Voting Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:09:11 +0000 http://www.davidjmiller.org/thoughts-on-caucuses/#comment-7283 [...] After I wrote about the value of caucuses I found an interesting opinion on lowering the voting age. [...] [...] After I wrote about the value of caucuses I found an interesting opinion on lowering the voting age. [...]

]]> By: David http://www.davidjmiller.org/2008/thoughts-on-caucuses/comment-page-1/#comment-7269 David Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:52:20 +0000 http://www.davidjmiller.org/thoughts-on-caucuses/#comment-7269 Thanks Fleeting. VoU, You have struck on the precise issue I am grappling with. I want the largest number of people possible to participate, but I believe we have something to gain by having people invest themselves in that participation. I would never consider returning to laws requiring land ownership for voting rights or anything like that, and I recognize that an hours-long caucus is not a reasonable expectation for most people. People such as you and I who make an effort to be informed and to cast their votes are exactly the kind of people we want to include. The question is, is there some way to give people some incentive to become informed before they vote (for those who are just as happy to ignore the process and cast uninformed votes)? Thanks Fleeting.

VoU,

You have struck on the precise issue I am grappling with. I want the largest number of people possible to participate, but I believe we have something to gain by having people invest themselves in that participation. I would never consider returning to laws requiring land ownership for voting rights or anything like that, and I recognize that an hours-long caucus is not a reasonable expectation for most people.

People such as you and I who make an effort to be informed and to cast their votes are exactly the kind of people we want to include. The question is, is there some way to give people some incentive to become informed before they vote (for those who are just as happy to ignore the process and cast uninformed votes)?

]]> By: Voice of Utah http://www.davidjmiller.org/2008/thoughts-on-caucuses/comment-page-1/#comment-7262 Voice of Utah Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:41:47 +0000 http://www.davidjmiller.org/thoughts-on-caucuses/#comment-7262 This seems counterintuitive to me. People have had to fight for years to remove barriers to electoral participation. Also, many of us work hard to inform ourselves, but due to work schedules, etc., simply would not be able to participate in an hours-long caucus. I think these decisions should be made by the largest number of people possible, not the fewest. This seems counterintuitive to me. People have had to fight for years to remove barriers to electoral participation. Also, many of us work hard to inform ourselves, but due to work schedules, etc., simply would not be able to participate in an hours-long caucus. I think these decisions should be made by the largest number of people possible, not the fewest.

]]> By: Fleeting Thoughts http://www.davidjmiller.org/2008/thoughts-on-caucuses/comment-page-1/#comment-7255 Fleeting Thoughts Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:11:23 +0000 http://www.davidjmiller.org/thoughts-on-caucuses/#comment-7255 I liked your musings on the caucus versus primary systems. From New Hampshire one news site broadcast the Republican and Democratic events. The Republican was straight forward business, but the Democratic one involved bargaining and haggling. It looked like a lot of fun. I think the more involved people can be the better the entire system (or is poltical participation "the opium of the masses"). I liked your musings on the caucus versus primary systems. From New Hampshire one news site broadcast the Republican and Democratic events. The Republican was straight forward business, but the Democratic one involved bargaining and haggling. It looked like a lot of fun.

I think the more involved people can be the better the entire system (or is poltical participation “the opium of the masses”).

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