Sept/Oct 2013
Neg: Decrease Quality of System
foundationbriefs.com
Page 63 of 104
Compulsory does not address the problems of the voting process, DAT
Verba, Sidney. Thoughts About Political Equality Harvard Kennedy School of
Government, 2001. Webb True political equality, where all ordinary citizens (i.e., those not in governmental decision making positions) have equal influence, would be impossible to attain and probably very bad. In considering the data on political equality and how one might respond to those data, it is important to keep this in mind. In brief form, here are some reasons why that is the case. Achieving actual equal voice would be very difficult, involve severe governmental intervention, and require limitation on freedom. It could be achieved by putting a floor and a ceiling on activity. A floor would require all to be active at some defined level -- making voting compulsory or attendance at political meetings or political contributions compulsory. Voting is compulsory (usually with minor penalties for failure to vote) in some countries. It is innocuous, perhaps, but would go against the grain in America and not add much to political equality. Compulsory attendance and contributions smacks much more of authoritarian techniques than
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