In the past, U.S. voting rights have been restricted by property ownership, race and gender. Today, however, almost all Americans ages 18 or older are eligible to vote. But America.gov received an e-mail from a teacher in Cambodia who poses an interesting question – are equal voting rights for all really a good thing?
“Why should the more talented people or more educated people be given one equal vote as the illiterate or low-uneducated? The more talented people have the better understanding of leadership, politics, economics, etc.”
Campaign Trail Talk wants to know what you think – post your comments below.
For more on the challenges facing democratic governance around the world, check out the blog, “Democracy Roundtable.”
Comments (11)
Demelie.Arega
17 September 2008 at 06:32 EDT
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“Change” to the United States is change to the World. The world is tired of war, economic crises and starvation.
Who can bring this changes ?
It is only Obama who has the dream.
Christine Oryema Lalobo
17 September 2008 at 07:05 EDT
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Discriminationatory tendencies is one of the causes of upheavals in the world. No group of individuals can claim to have monopoly of talents and education. The low educated and illitrates have issues that must be heard, understood and acted upon by leaders just like the well educated and highly lliterates. Unfortunately many a time lack of formal education and illitracy is confused with one’s ability to make correct choices. Everyone of majority age, regardless of education level, gender, socio-economic status, religion etc should participate in voting for the leader on an equal basis. Those who belief that their level elevates them to preferential platform will do well to use the recognition on the campaign trail and convince others to vote for their preferred candidate. One person -one vote is a better inclusive path to tread !
Peter
20 September 2008 at 07:03 EDT
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Smart enough to vote would rule out more than 50% of American voters depending on how you define smart. Americans voted for Bush twice!!! how smart is that and recent scientific studies show Republicans are dumber than Democrats.
http://www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=186014&forum_id=6&jump_to=3868173
But its not worth bothering about one person one vote is the only way to go.
Igboanu Nnamdi
20 September 2008 at 07:59 EDT
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That democracy have thrived in Europe and America, but have failed to be transplanted in most developing countries owe that failure to the mishandling of electorate qualification.
American democracy would not have thrived to the enduring institution it is today if it had started off with universal adult suffrage.
Electorates need to understand the importance and responsibility of the vote before they can use them wisely. This was what guaranteed that the early elections in America and Europe was issue driven.
robert hofman
21 September 2008 at 07:35 EDT
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i think you are right less intelligent people like senator john mccain shouldn’t be able to vote … neither do inbred nazi supporting families like the bush family.. give me a break here! everybody has the right to vote! everybody!
robert hofman
21 September 2008 at 07:45 EDT
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i agree with peter.. define smart.. ps. people are kept dumb and in the dark.. every single newspaper in the u.s as every newspaper is owned by the same companies.. the money cartels who put bush and w.bush in the seat.. as they did hitler and stalin back in the day … same people.. same money..same families..same threat! same people who discuss the elimination of ron paul at the bilderberg meetings.. this will go on if you vote for mccain.. this man can’t even count to three without help.. he’s a puppet!! wake up people!! you’ll get another 4 years of bush if you vote mccain.. then all wil be lost.. and not just for you.. but for the entire world
Rachel
22 September 2008 at 01:38 EDT
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I am so tired of the Republicans sitting silent.
Have you looked at what Obama stands for and how he as voted on Moral issues… does he stand for the values that shaped our nation, our moral foundation.
Yes the political arena is strongly controlled by ‘those that be’ who they are no one knows.
The US public has no idea how the rest of the world views them. However if/when a countries is invaded the first place they look is to the US. It is our strength and weakness together. We spend Billions helping other nations and they hate us. Imagine how they would feel if we stood back and did nothing.
There will always be war of some kind or another and those that think it will stop are living in a dream that will never happen we are dealing with human beings. When was the last time you got angry because someone cut you off, took your place in line, etc… It will never stop because of our humanity and our “rights”
paul noah from TANZANIA
23 September 2008 at 03:12 EDT
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i think obama speaks rights bush destroy america nowdays america is like a small district now its the time for democratic and obama to rule the country
Martin Smith
23 September 2008 at 05:40 EDT
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Say smart people are more able to discern the best candidate to vote for is naive to assume that they will represent the interests of all equally.
If people are represented fairly and this is measured according to factors such as education and wealth then ideologies that tend to emerge are that these people are of higher value as human beings.
To attribute humans different levels of value means that this should be reflected in reality according to what it merits. That means less resources should be dissignated to those of lesser merit.
Health care, education and wealth distribution are certainly not equal under the democracy that has universal suffrage but equality of opportunity comes closer with it if only in the sense to influence elected office. As people tend to present their own interests universal suffrage means that the interests of all represented will get greater consideration. Even if people of lesser education have smaller ability to gauge causes of the issues that effect them they are best placed to decide what effects cause them the most joys or difficulties. Thus their ability to vote does not mean that this will be detrimental to their situation.
In fact it is those who weld less power in the sense of wealth and education who tend to be oppressed because of these very factors. If a persons value is determined by their intellectual prowess, cultural influence or financial might then their suffering is justified. But if you hold that humans are created equal then this oppression is not wrong. In New Zealand (my home) as in the United States of America we hold that people are created equal and thus this value should be reflected in society. So this is why selective eligibility is seen as wrong in our countries.
robert hofman
8 October 2008 at 07:44 EDT
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hi Demelie.Arega .. the world is tired of war yes.. did you ever wonder who created these wars the last few centuries? all the money,media,your leaders are part of or in control bankers .. they create the wars and profit from this .. what will it take to open your eyes? obama and mcclain are in the same camp.. didn’t you ever wonder why with every election there are only 2 candidates in the spotlights while there are 10 candidates running for president? didn’t you ever ask yourself why one dollar bill has united states on it and the other federal reserve? for years they are printing money that’s worth no more than the paper it’s printed on.. the reason people are tired of war is because they want you to be tired of it and embrace their new world order.. in 1990 bush sr. announced the nwo.. 11 years later to the minute almost 9/11 happened and another 11 years later makes 2012.. the first step is the economical crisis they envoked which will only get worse if they pump billions into the economy to ‘’save” it.. the dollar will collapse causing worldwide crisis..they will buy all the banks parctically for free,it will cause worldwide foodcrisis and mankind will be on it’s knees.. people in southern california already are living in tents right now..you think it’s bad now? google illuminati , bush/hitler , project HAARP ,bilderberg and read the info you get.. and do it quick cause they are planning to remove the internet too in 2012.. wake up! this will affect you too! vote ron paul!!
leopeter
14 November 2008 at 15:29 EST
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perhaps the registers list should include candidates to be Presidents to have I.Q’s more than 50. Alot of incompetant people with money or connections aspire to be at the head of table. What a mistake.
Just for fun, can you name 2/ here’s a hint:
they are related.