Do you feel that in order to vote, one should be a prouctive member of society? (example: pay taxes! )?
456473
Yup.  We don't tolerate taxation without representation.  Why should the reverse be acceptable?
575968
yes, if you are a citizen!!!
785705
I think it is a civic duty for every American citizen to vote. But you are very right that an ignorant vote may defeat your own purpose, because when you randomly vote for anyone on the ballot that somehow seems at the moment to possibly be the better choice, even though you know absolutely nothing about that persons history or views, you may actually help elect someone who does not have your best interest in mind. Even voting blindly straight down for one particular party, but you really don't know if some of them do not represent you political views, you may be making a mistake.\n\nHaving said that, I urge that all Americans start caring to research the candidates before any election and become INFORMED and there fore be an informed voter for a better America. I am Republican because I believe in Republican values in general, and I vote mostly Republican, but I will vote Democrat or Independent or Green, too, if I like that candidate better for his or her voting history or moral outlook over the Republican alternative. I voted for Bush and I stand by him now even when there is so much Bush bashing going on all around me, because I have done my homework and I see that he is an honest man who is doing his best and has the right ideas. I do also resent that there are so many stupid people who want to undermine our leadership in a terribly dangerous time of war which weakens our position and makes all the other countries laugh at us. And, I don't believe in blindly following a trend that hates one candidate or loves another just to be popular not really understanding all there is to it. So, before you vote, please study all of the issues in depth and know what your candidate really stands for, and don't listen to partisan propaganda to form your opinions.
1143277
It's a good point, but....\nI guess the Dept. of Labor sees working before 18 as a privelege,\nnot a right or a necessity. In exchange for permitting you to earn what they THINK is your own money, they require you to pay tax on it. I think you're right though, they should'nt tax you if you can't vote, but look at it like this: the tax you pay benefits you somewhat. Don't you get to drive on the roads? Aren't you entitled to police service/protection? Know anyone who goes to a public school? All these things are paid for with tax dollars.
875924
No.  You do that on your own time.  What, you want to be paid to perform your civic duty too?  Jeesh.  The polls are open till 7.  Make time and stop making excuses.
433179
I think it will have the exact opposite effect that you want.\n\nHow many of us can afford to volunteer full time? That being the case, only the very rich and the very corrupt can afford to take public office.\n\nThe very rich can afford the time, but it basically sets us up as an Aristocracy. Rich families will become more powerful, because they can afford to work for free.\n\nMore often, people will volunteer, then use their influence to get bribed. Since these "volunteers" would be writing laws, you can bet that gifts and donations would become legal. After all, "we've got to eat"\n\nI think it's wonderful when people feel a genuine call to public service. I don't begrudge them being paid for the work they do.
182562
Absolutely not. We the American people are the ones that voted them in and we are the ones that should say how much they make and when or if they should ever have a pay raise. They are employed by us and in every other business the boss decides who gets a raise and who doesn't. Put the vote to the people and see how much money we could save on the incredible, ridiculous salaries and benefits these politicians get. I am a registered voter and I do exercise my right to vote each and every time an election comes around.
898034
No.  People have differing priorities, and differing work ethics.  Some work very hard to become educated, and then work very hard at their jobs.  They earn their higher standard of living.  Others choose not to pursue education at all,  but work extremely hard to compensate, and still do well.  Others choose to focus on having children, whether or not they can support them.  Some don't work at all.\n\nIn the USA, lifestyle is very much about choices people make in their lives.  Not everyone has the same range of choices, but it is still very possible to go from rags to riches, or at least comfort and security, purely because one works hard.  \n\nThere are far too many people ready and willing to simply exist, and let others do all the work.  They are already an unfair burden to society; your proposal would guarantee their numbers would increase dramatically.  Additionally, with no hope of reward, the inventive, pioneering, adventurous spirit of so many Americans, encouraged by our current society, would be suppressed, and oppressed, in yours.\n\nI'm not advocating money as God, or capitalism over democracy.  Socialism does have it's place, in certain applications.  A equal-for-everyone health care system, for instance, or a flat tax for all Americans over the poverty level, no exceptions, would do much to solve some of the problems we face today.  Extending it to an entire social system is doomed to failure, however, for the very simple reason that all people are not created equal when it comes to their willingness to work.  Those who won't do not merit the rewards of those who will.
613534
A way for lazy people or people that refuse to help themselves....steel more money out of actual tax payers wallets just to give it to those who don't want to help themselves by working / getting educated or becoming a contributing factor to society!
71271
Of Course!\n\nA person should live for who they are....not what others expect them to be.....\n\n:)\nPeace
1132493
Do your civic duty, it's the price of being able to vote.  You might not be chosen anyway.
704315
Yes, because part of the "choice" in a democracy is not to vote for anyone at all. (Although a "none of the above" option on a ballot would suffice for that.)  The problem is that Americans don't believe that they have a duty to vote.
650859
Absolutely not.  However, I am considered an unsympathetic party so maybe I shouldn't have an opinion. To take this question a step further should they be able to really have the opportunity to go to our schools?  Our healthcare?  Our tax payers dollars when they are here illegally?  Not to say I hate them or anything of the sort especially since I am related by marriage to some.  Seriously though since when should my dollars go to them in any form.
785635
I think we should.  Because the people are the ones being effected, so I think the registered voters should be allowed to vote.   I think it should be this way for each individual city or town.  If the people of the city or town vote to not grant amnesty to the illegals, then I agree that the illegals and their kids(whether they were born here or not) should be deported.  i think it would be a lot cheaper to have them deportedthen to spend our hard earned taxes on them to have free welfare and medical benefits, and send their kids to school on the taxpayers expense.  Not that I don't think their kids shouldn't get an education.  I just feel like it's a burden on the people (taxpayers) who have to pay for their education out of their own paychecks while the illegals just sit back and collect under the table and don't have to contribute to the education system or any of these other things they are getting for free.   I'm not racist, I just feel like our money could be going to other problems this country has.
980395
Do we ever get to vote on any subjest that we think is importantto us?
919981
You are absolutely right. If noone in this country voted for anyone, then YES, there would still be someone elected for office. They would still say that there were voters, even when there wasn't. Actually, the day we all agree to NOT vote........ Period, is the day that the goverment officials won't care, it will no longer matter that we find out that its all staged at that point, because by then, they have us so controled and under wraps per say, that we won't be able to do anything anyway. Its rather funny I think. 30% of the people here in the USA don't vote even if they are registered to. 15-20% are not registered voters. Then you have all the felons and the prisons and those that have lost their voting priveledge. Thats another 30%. At least. There is still a large portion of the people that vote in the USA, however, its the higher elected officials who's votes matter. Watch the poles, you can see it for your own eyes. Its the majority votes in the house and the senate that counts. NOT US. They just do this to make us think that we count, that the people still have a say even though we don't. It won't be long now before this country turns its own army against us. We will be a police country before long. Its sad. We thought we were free, and all along, we were given a little while they were taking alot away from us. We never saw it comeing. We work for a small pay that barely keeps our heads above the water. If work applied with you instead of you appling to work for them, what would be your self worth? How much would you charge that company to employ you? I bet it would be more then $6 -$9 an hour. I know my self worth, sweat, and hard labor is worth more then that to me. But to this country......... our physical body labor and the pains and the down falls from that labor that comes when we are older is and means nothing to the officials of this country. What is their hard labor? Signing wagers, ledgers, passing new laws, making meetings, lunches, dinners, riding in limos, have security to protect them, making public announcments. And how much do they earn? A few million a year, live in a big fancy, comfortable home, and never worry about getting through the day with a nickle, a quarter, and a few pennies in their pockets because they just paid the rent, their car insurance, and the light bill. We are real trouble, and we have been since Bush got into office. Noone thought twice about this. Come to find out, this war was all about the Iraq oil. Bush and his greed to have their oil. This is what our husbands, and sons, and daughters, and wives are dieing for and have died for. Blessed be.................\n\nPs... when is it that we make the laws and decide on new ledgers and how and when are the people invited to make these  changes or not? We don't. We are given a few to vote on during the voteing period, but look at the majority of law changes and new laws being added that are soulie up to the goverment officials, the house and the senate and the president everyday, that we are not apart of, that we find out once they have been made and decided for US.............. We never had a say in anything. we are pawns on a chess board and its the goverment that is playing us on a daily basis.
444736
I think it's a great idea too. Everyone should, at some point in their life, contribute something (other than taxes) to the country they live in. Making it mandatory would make it less enjoyable, however. People should do it because it's the right thing to do, not because it's required.