4 ms·

I like your idea of a test before hand. Every voter is required to write a test on the matter being voted on. And then their vote is weighted on the marks they

I like your idea of a test before hand. Every voter is required to write a test on the matter being voted on. And then their vote is weighted on the marks they got for the test. That way people who have no idea what they are voting for have little say in the matter. And the people who really care about the issues will make sure they know how their vote will affect things, and they get a greater say in the matter.

MichaelGG 10y ago
And how do you grade the test? Certainly if there was objective criteria for what would happen in this case (In/Out), there'd be no need for a vote at all! On top of that, why shouldn't someone be able to vote on the basis of purely not wanting to be in the EU? Or voting with someone based on their perceived moral value? Or any other criteria? I'm hardly pro-democracy, but this doesn't seem like a democratic solution.
- executesorder66 10y ago
  > And how do you grade the test? Certainly if there was objective criteria... It would have to be on whatever objective facts are available. But in situations like this that could be rather difficult. > on the basis of purely not wanting to be in the EU? IMHO making big decisions based purely on your feelings is always a bad idea. > but this doesn't seem like a democratic solution It's not democratic at all. But I'm just throwing around ideas for interest's sake. Until a provably better system comes around, I'd choose to live in a democratic country.
corobo 10y ago
> Every voter is required to write a test on the matter being voted on Meaning less people would show up to vote due to the time/effort.
- mac01021 10y ago
  That sounds ok to me.
  - corobo 10y ago
    When you say things like that on less-jokey forums such as this one you look sillier than the people you're trying to mock. Just a heads up.
    - mac01021 10y ago
      I'm not mocking you - just disagreeing with one of your premises. While I doubt anyone will ever produce a concrete proposal for a testing system that is not too problematic for me to support it, I am not dismayed in the least by the prospect of losing voters who are not willing to invest the mental energy required by a 20-minute test on the topic of the vote. You seem to assume that a reduction in voter turnout is unconditionally bad. I disagree.

MichaelGG 10y ago

And how do you grade the test? Certainly if there was objective criteria for what would happen in this case (In/Out), there'd be no need for a vote at all! On top of that, why shouldn't someone be able to vote on the basis of purely not wanting to be in the EU? Or voting with someone based on their perceived moral value? Or any other criteria? I'm hardly pro-democracy, but this doesn't seem like a democratic solution.

executesorder66 10y ago
> And how do you grade the test? Certainly if there was objective criteria... It would have to be on whatever objective facts are available. But in situations like this that could be rather difficult. > on the basis of purely not wanting to be in the EU? IMHO making big decisions based purely on your feelings is always a bad idea. > but this doesn't seem like a democratic solution It's not democratic at all. But I'm just throwing around ideas for interest's sake. Until a provably better system comes around, I'd choose to live in a democratic country.

corobo 10y ago

> Every voter is required to write a test on the matter being voted on Meaning less people would show up to vote due to the time/effort.

mac01021 10y ago
That sounds ok to me.
- corobo 10y ago
  When you say things like that on less-jokey forums such as this one you look sillier than the people you're trying to mock. Just a heads up.
  - mac01021 10y ago
    I'm not mocking you - just disagreeing with one of your premises. While I doubt anyone will ever produce a concrete proposal for a testing system that is not too problematic for me to support it, I am not dismayed in the least by the prospect of losing voters who are not willing to invest the mental energy required by a 20-minute test on the topic of the vote. You seem to assume that a reduction in voter turnout is unconditionally bad. I disagree.