good idea/bad idea, necessary democratic reform or authoritarian imposition? are there better or worse ways to do it?

  • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgOPM
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    3 months ago

    i find this a very unpersuasive argument in any context because—if you actually believe it—it’s essentially an argument for bringing back literacy/intelligence testing in voting. and i’m sure i don’t need to tell you about the long history of that being used to disenfranchise the “wrong” people for the crime of having a certain skintone or believing in equal rights for everyone; to say nothing of other ethical issues with the notion.

    • Monkey With A Shell@lemmy.socdojo.com
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      3 months ago

      You’re mixing two opposite issues there, the literacy tests you mention where in an effort to exclude people from voting.

      In this this topic your asking if we should FORCE the uninformed and disinterested to vote.

      These are anything but the same.

      • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgOPM
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        3 months ago

        the literacy tests you mention where in an effort to exclude people from voting.

        yes, which was justified with the notion of there supposedly being people who were “too uneducated” or “not-literate enough” to make decisions for themselves and therefore deserve an equal right to vote—which is the same underlying sentiment of “Do you really want to force cousin cleatus to be involved in the leadership decisions for the country?”

        • Monkey With A Shell@lemmy.socdojo.com
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          3 months ago

          No, it’s not. Forcing someone who is not knowledgeable or interested to vote is in no way the same as testing whether someone is educated to determine if they should be allowed to.