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  From: Mark Newton <newton@atdot.dotat.org>
  To  : michaels@packet.obtero.com.au
  Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 09:23:31 +0930 (CST)

Re: Australian Censorship

michaels@packet.obtero.com.au wrote:

 > I think the political apathy comes from compulsory voting

... which would seem to indicate that countries which don't require
compulsory voting, such as the United States, would exhibit lower 
levels of voter apathy?

I think it's more likely that voter apathy comes from the sense that
voters can't actually control the outcomes because nobody they're
voting for represents their interests.  Whether you're in Australia,
the US, the UK, or anywhere else, you're going to see cynicism and
apathy whenever the only candidates are "unrepresentative swill".

 > The only reason the Americans haven't had this sort of thing happen is
 > because the interested opposition lobbies have money.  Ask 100 Americans
 > what they think about censorship, and they'll rant and rave about its
 > evils.  Then when it comes time to vote, maybe 20 will bother to vote.  

Bing!

    - mark

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I tried an internal modem,                    newton@atdot.dotat.org
     but it hurt when I walked.                          Mark Newton
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