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I both think people have a right to dignity, which by extension means they should have a say of how to live their lives. I also think that the general population shouldn't vote. Against Democracy is a really good read if you haven't read it.
For the record, I literally will drive people to the polls (since our current system creates better outcomes if more people vote) but I do really wish that most of them wouldn't XD.
Yeah this is a good one.
I agree that the majority of the populace chooses how to cast their vote based on limited information, overwhelming biases, and erroneous misconceptions.
However, I don't know that there's a better more equitable alternative? I'll have to read Against Democracy, for sure.
Without spoiling too much from the book, the argument is "protection from the tyrrany of the massively misinformed."
The arguments hinge on the idea that, if voting is equal (I am not 100% sure on his stance for equitable), then the under informed masses force us into subjugation through their ignorance.
Pragmatically, his major point is, it's very hard (and likely impossible) for everyone to be informed on every topic, so we should abstain from topics where we are under informed (which for most of us, most of the time, is most topics).
mandatory voting is better than any sort of voter controls, the catch is you also have to combine it with a properly funded/structured public education system designed to grow well rounded individuals capable of critical thought (instead of mindless factory drones, like the US's).
I am not sure I buy the conditional statement
"If a population is well educated then they will vote well"
There is a component of research time that greatly limits ones ability to vote in most matters.
Furthermore the afformentioned conditional statement ignores the litany of cognitive biases that would influence a vote.
insofar as falling for the obvious propaganda the US oligarchs pomp out, i think an educated populous helps immensely. at the very least, it drives the worst of humanity back into hiding when they no longer feel safe operating out in the open