Should the secret ballot be abolished?

[Platypus]

the US was 36 years after us? Geez!

I believe VIC was also the first state to enact it, too; yay us!

You made my nationalistic side very happy, Dean. And no, it shouldn't be abolished, of course.

[Platypus]

We vote on the weekends here, so not too many people have to work, and even though it's compulsory most people can get in and out of a polling booth in 15 minutes, less if they go in before ~3pm, or if they don't vote for all the candidates 'below the line' in senate elections. 20 minutes out of one weekend once every three years is not too much to ensure the electorate is represented and that democracy continues, imho.

[Platypus]

I do find it rather unhealthy when you have elections like the current ones in Lebanon with astoundingly low turnout, or the US where 60% is considered a miracle turnout. Whilst forcing people to vote isn't perfect, the benefit you get from having elected representatives that truly are elected by the majority (at least in theory, and with preferential voting) rather then minority groups with buses can't be outweighed by people declining their responsibility to protect a nation's democracy.

If anyone tries to tell me that US democracy is in a healthy state, I'm going to have to argue. Court cases determining race outcomes, gerrymandering allowing for practically uncontested elections, and low turnout isn't healthy. Australia ISN'T perfect, but we're taking better care of the gift and the responsibility that is democracy then the USA in my opinion, and that's at least in part because people vote and they have to care at least enough to make a decision, even if no more then that, and they are involved in the continuing of representation of the people by normal people, niot the millionaires that you have over there.

Will there EVER be another American president who isn't/was never a millionaire? I doubt it. Will there ever be a major party candidate that isn't and has never been?

America is the most important democracy, but it isn't healthy. And if you want to really screw it up further, take away the secret ballot. It's practically the intravenous drip sustaining the core of US democracy.