Compulsory Voting - How much time in prison should people get for "Failure To Vote" [View all]

[FrodosPet]

The vast majority of us think voting is the right thing to do. It's not just a right, but a moral responsibility. And when others fail to fulfill this obligation, we get frustrated. Particularly if these voters are likely to help our candidates.

In another thread, there was a discussion of bringing compulsory voting to America. Being a detail freak, my first thought is, "What would it take to compel a 90%+ voter turnout, and how big and powerful and invasive will the enforcement system have to be to make it work?"

So let's figure it out. What should the penalty for not voting be? And how far should the enforcement of those penalties go?

Should it be a $26 fine, like Australia, or much bigger so it will sting enough to compel action? Loss of current or benefits? Loss of professional license? Disfranchisement? Revocation of driving privileges?

Or do we really want to push the envelope to get 98%? I don't see being able to do that short of throwing people in jail.

So whaddaya think, folks? Is it worth helping Big Brother get even bigger in a vain attempt to bring him back down to size?