Politics's profile . Politics group posts
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| tom_tom |
Should prisoners be allowed to vote? All of them, some of them, or none of them?
Should removing the right to vote be taken even further? E.g. in some US states convicted felons are permanently disenfranchised.
| 9 Feb 11, 10:03 PM bossy_bitch UK, 3 yrs |
Yes, I think they should. Incarceration is punishment enough, it isn't necessary to dehumanise too.
We know they have a dreadful record on human rights - why on earth would we want to follow their lead?
"Middle age is when you're old enough to know better but still young enough to do it” | |||
| 10 Feb 11, 9:22 PM MissKimberley NL, 8 yrs     |
Yes
“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act” - George Orwell | |||
| 10 Feb 11, 10:46 PM DancesWithPussycats UK(TW), 7 yrs |
On balance, yes. On one hand, one might feel that certain criminals have so outraged and harmed society that they should have no say in how society is run. However, ordinary prisoners votes are unlikely to swing an election, but it is possible that a corrupt government would imprison its political opponents on trumped up charges. International man of mystery | |||
| 10 Feb 11, 11:13 PM Attitude_Adjuster UK(N), 6 yrs |
With a population of ~50000, ie 0.1% of the populace... who cares! And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword! | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 8:28 AM Cassius UK, 3 yrs |
Until I think 1948,Oxford and Cambridge Universities had their own MPs.Perhaps this concept should be restored, with other interest groups having exclusive MPs to pursue and defend their interests at the seat of the British County Council at Westminster.The number of prisoners in UK gaols could make up a reasonably-sized constituency. Maybe it would be a way to help with their rehabilitation.(You see,I can talk crap with the best of them). 80% of "our" laws emanate from the European Soviet and any by-laws that we enact are only acceptable if they do not infringe the Diktats of the Commissars. So,if a Eurodiktat says that those who have attacked peaceful law-abiding citizens must be allowed to vote to decide who shall make laws that they will break in the future,there is nothing that the British County Council can do about it. All the rest is froth and bubble. Yet, unlike our European bedfellows, all it would take to detach ourselves from the unholy,corrupt shambles that is Euroland is a single enabling Act of Parliament....."that all and any Acts of Parliament pertaining to membership of the European Union however previously known and all treaties and regulations whatsoever emanating therefrom shall from this date be void." We could save the membership fees and pay off our debts, also any idea such as votes for anti-community activists(criminals) could like many other issues be put to referenda. My view? With Lucius Carey,I say,"Unless it be necessary to change,it is necessary not to change." But as we are currently locked into this absurdity,yes,give criminals the vote - it will make damn all difference anyway,and I don't see why more of my my hard-paid tax should go to more criminals and lawyers. Practise senseless acts of beauty. Edited 11 Feb 11, 12:29 PM by Cassius | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 10:56 AM wastrel UK(TS), 5 yrs |
In a democracy every adult should have the right to vote. If we start disenfranchising those we disapprove of, where will it end? It's also a dangerous power to give government. Allowing a government to choose which groups are allowed to vote could make it very secure. I find it strange to see the extent to which the human rights act is resisted. Why do people want our government to be able to ignore human rights? | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 11:30 AM Attitude_Adjuster UK(N), 6 yrs |
One needs to look at Florida, 2001 for an example of such abuse....
Though I am curious as to which bit of legislation gave rise to the ruling - presumably its the ECHR not the HRA, but what was the interpretation and of which bit?
Is the right to vote, in fact a freedom of expression insofar as holding an opinion - which can only be removed according to the 2. clause list?
And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword! Edited 11 Feb 11, 11:32 AM by Attitude_Adjuster | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 11:45 AM othyim NL, 3 yrs |
The European Court of Human Rights has decided that prisoners should have the right to vote. This is not a case of European interference in British affairs. Even if the UK were not part of the EU, this still would be subject to the court's ruling. As it is, the European Court is part of the Council of Europe which has nothing to do with the EU. Furthermore, apart from the moral aspects, if the government doesnt allow prisoners to vote, the tax payer is likely to have to pay out hunderds of millions in Pounds in compensation; not to mention the legal fees. The government would then be taken back to court and they would lose again. Actually, it is all very simple really. If the government enact laws that the public have to obey, then the government itself must also obey the law, whether it likes it or not.
Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash. (Harriet Rubin) Edited 11 Feb 11, 11:58 AM by othyim | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 12:27 PM Cassius UK, 3 yrs |
It is not a question of "ignoring human rights",more a question of deciding which activities,classified as "human rights",are actually,properly,"rights" at all,except as defined thus. Mrs C Blair QC is making a mint out of this act passed by her husband et al - ask her. Practise senseless acts of beauty. | |||
| 11 Feb 11, 12:38 PM Cassius UK, 3 yrs |
As I understand it,the Council of Europe may be "nothing to do with the EU" but you cannot belong to one without the other. And we have the Schengen Group - the EU members who exclude other EU members - the whole lot is corrupt.Away with it. Practise senseless acts of beauty. |
