Does your vote really matter?

[el canadiano]

The UK has had this debate for years, amongst the "Should 16 year olds vote?" argument.

I believe we should be able to, but as only 1 out of 3 adults vote, I don't see how the "16 year olds aren't mature" argument really fits in with this.

The UK actually has much higher voter turnout than the USA. The UK had sixty-five percent voter turnout in 2010. In the 2010 election in the USA, I believe the turnout was below forty percent (it usually is for congressional elections). It could be argued that turnout is higher in the UK, though, because elections are held less often. Also, the UK has a multi-party system thanks to proportional representation, so people actually have some genuine alternatives.

UK doesn't have Proportional Representation for their MPs (US equivalent is congressman/woman). That one uses the Westminster system, which is very first-past-the-post. A few of their local/European parliament uses other systems, including PR.

Canada's system is basically the same as the UK's, so I'd know. However, New Zealand uses a system that blends PR and FPTP.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

Oh, I see. I thought the UK had proportional representation. I still think that the parliamentary system is inherently much better than the US system, though.

 

[Nebulous]

My one vote doesnt matter. However if everyone thought like that & didnt vote then one vote would matter. 😛

 

[alfred01]

I have to agree with "The Visitors" and with the general consensus of answers here. That is why I believe that the "Party" system of government is the problem. What's needed is to have the Party system abolished. Make every member of any Parlimentary body only Independent so they can represent the wishes of the constituents and not the Party line. 🙂

 

[Deleted member 1609]

Being a socialist in the United States, my vote is about as worthless as it gets. 😛

 

[etc]

i live in a corrupt country since time, but i still think my vote counts. else these politicians won't be killing each other for it 😀

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Reagan may have passed that law, but he didn't stop the hospitals from sending out large bills after the treatment was done. Poor people don't seek health care because of that.

However, one does not have to pay that bill. Often the emergency room, when used for non-emergencies, is used as a free doctor's office for those who cannot afford health care. In fact, if I only wanted stabilizing treatment for an injury, it would be cheaper for me to say that I have no insurance than to present my insurance card. Some of the reason for high hospital costs in the United States is that people who don't pay for treatment get treated at a hospital. The hospital is forced to absorb the cost, and passes the cost on to those who can pay.