Comments (23) (Please sign in to comment)

1. 

   Rocky said, over 2 years ago

   It’s a valid concept. Better yet, only those who are actively employed should vote since they are the ones who are paying for everything.
2. 

   x_Tech said, over 2 years ago

   One dollar of taxes paid = one vote, now that might be interesting.
3. 

   cdward said, over 2 years ago

   It is an invalid, unAmerican concept that only works for thise for whom things are going well. Disenfranchising American citizens takes us righht back to the bad old days when only land owners had the vote. We are a nation of one-person-one vote, and anyone who says otherwise can go to a third-world country where they can buy anyone they want. Frankly, the whole concept of money as speech is sickening, too.
4. 

   charlie rivers said, over 2 years ago

   why do people have such a strong desire to give up all their freedoms to wealthy people, who DO NOT CARE that you live or die. they do not care about us!
5. 

   ebsan said, over 2 years ago

   @Rocky

   I recently retired. Do you feel that I should not be able to vote?
6. 

   ebsan said, over 2 years ago

   @Rocky

   I also am a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam. Do you still think only employed people should be able to vote? You’re starting to piss me off.
7. 

   pathfindercec said, over 2 years ago

   @ebsan

   There’s a novel which proposes that first, EVERYONE must serve in the military and only when you have completed your service do you get the franchise and the right to a government job.. Thus only retired military could vote and/or govern. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me.
8. 

   Juankis said, over 2 years ago

   That was Starship Troopers, and the miliary there made sure you were able to place the good of your country before you become a veteran and gained full citizen rights.
9. 

   AlnicoV said, over 2 years ago

   @pathfindercec

   That was the fascist world state envisioned by Robert Heinlein in the novel Starship Troopers. You might want to rethink your position on this.
10. 

    SKJAM! said, over 2 years ago

    It’s worth noting that every qualified voter we meet in "Starship Troopers is maimed, physically or mentally.
11. 

    nailer said, over 2 years ago

    That was a very good movie, actually. At least the first one. Social critic disguised as an action movie, or that seemed to me. I have even heard some people saying it was an anti-war movie. The sequels I got to see didn´t seem to have that element tough, and were focused solely on the fighting.
12. 

    Olongapojoe said, over 2 years ago

    Idea of everyone gets to vote is a good one while the vast majority of people had a job and payed taxes. Unfortunately presently the majority of people don’t pay income taxes. Corrupt politicians pander to these people to stay in power. Solution to the problem would be income taxes would be used for infrastructure and a 12% sales tax on Everything would be used for social programs. If the people wanted more social programs they would have to raise the sales taxes. You have to have everyone with money in the game or it just turns into a “gimme gimme” fiasco.
13. 

    sukiec said, over 2 years ago

    It is similar to how portions of time in the Roman Empire worked. Of course, the Roman Empire changed enormously politically many times so was far from the most stable of entities politically, shifting in and out of dictatorships, permitting purchased votes even in the best of times (Political parties had a different meaning. ;-). ), having emperors often inserted militarially (though Vespasian worked out pretty much okay except for his younger son later being a real problem), etc.
14. 

    pschearer said, over 2 years ago

    @charlie rivers

    Charlie, can you explain why I should care whether YOU live or die? There may be a reasonable answer, but do you know it?
15. 

    pschearer said, over 2 years ago

    As the Declaration says, “To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…”. If government were limited to just that, it would be so small and would cost so little relative to our giant economy that it could probably be financed by voluntary donation like your local public TV station, and if not that, then other methods like lotteries.
    

    
    Of course this has to be a very-long-term goal since it would take probably generations to convince the people that it is not government’s job to redistribute wealth, grant favors, regulate honest businesses, print money, save the spotted owl, run schools, build roads, etc., etc., etc.
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