Low election turnout the fault of lazy voter, apparently…

…and nothing, of course, to do with our vacuous political leaders.

The UK based Institute for Public Policy Research has issued a report, on the eve of local elections in that country, calling for compulsory voting. And some of the British government support it. The BBC reports:

‘Under the institute's plan, electors would be offered a "none of the above" choice or could simply spoil their papers.

Ben Rogers, from the institute, said he believed forced voting would improve British politics…

The radical solution was backed by Northern Ireland and Wales Secretary Peter Hain and Commons Leader Geoff Hoon.

Mr. Hoon said it was "disturbing" that young people and those from deprived communities were "falling out of the habit of voting".‘

Under this great 'new' (adults in Australia and Belgium have been the subject of such tyranny for decades) 'radical' (snigger!) idea, if voters decline the invitation and stay at home instead, then they would be fined.

Yawn, zzzz….

Voting, Mr. Hoon, is not a habit, like smoking or picking your nose in public. It’s a commitment to a political party or programme. If that party, or that programme, means nothing to voters then they will simply not vote for it.

Poland has a much worse voter turnout than in Britain. In the last general election only 40% dragged themselves out to the polling booth.

But we will not revive politics by forcing people to vote. Politics will be revived when politicians start offering some inspiring ideas and when political parties regain (or in Poland’s case, gain) relevance to people’s lives.

The political class blaming voter laziness for low turnout shows them to be in a state of denial so deep that I suggest they see a doctor. Quick.