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 | VOTING RIGHTS FOR EVERYBODY to a Complete Suffrage |
| TEXTS IN SUPPORT OF THE WEBSITE | |
| This is a collection of the texts from the main page. More extensive explanation on the pdf-version. |
 | All the texts and photos of the main page in one file. |  |
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| Full participation democracy entitles all citizens to give word to their interests in the affairs of the state, either by their own voice or on their behalf. This picture of democracy-at-work shows elegantly that a parliament with only elderly gentlemen is incomplete, hence the empty seats and the sad look on the face of the figure on the right. Maybe the Romans already noticed and felt the lack of women among their mids and that of young persons of both gender. (The picture is actually "Cicero Accuses Catiline," painted by Cesare Maccari in 1888.) Whatever way we look at the picture, the parliament is an excellent forum for advocating an opinion and is best done by a representative with whom one can identify. There are of course also other ways of expressing a political idea but in the parliament we are all present or so we should. In the parliament we speak and exchange with other members to convince them of an opinion. Therefore on this place the arguments in favour of voting rights for all citizens. | |
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| A Complete Suffrage means voting rights for all citizens Suffrage (the right to vote) for everybody poses the question who everybody is. Voting rights serve a purpose and that is to have your interests represented. Everybody has interests. Everybody means from birth on. Our interests as a citizen are already influenced by the care our pregnant mothers is given. How health care for babies, how education for children is organised and many other policies are implemented by our government, is of interest to us all. Still the persons who are concerned most by this have no say in how it is organised, how the policies are made by our government. We now think that all citizens, all persons should be represented in the parliament which can be influenced by our vote. Parliament makes the laws of the land and controls the government. Parliament is sovereign, is accountable only to the electorate, all of us. Having a say in these affairs by way of a vote for our representative, is a form of participation democracy. But it is only partial participation where in most countries citizens under the age of 18 years (16 in Scotland) have no vote. Our democratic government originates from the Greek and Roman Antiquity where only a very few people (wealthy men) had a vote. From then on the argument 'we know what is best for the rest' lost more and more credibility and it is the general belief that all citizens should have an opportunity to have their voice heard through elected representatives. But again, for no other reason than age about 20% of our population is patronisingly considered not being able to vote. These 20% also have interests and in some respect these are different from the interests of all others. They at least have the greatest stake in the future where most government policies have their effect. Full participation democracy should include giving a voice to ALL citizens from birth on. This website discusses the argument in favour of Votes For All and also for Scotland to be the first country in the world to have Complete Suffrage. | |
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| arguments pro | |
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| arguments contra | |
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| Scotland is a young country with a long history. The new Scottish Parliament was a mere reinstatement of the parliament dissolved in 1707. Strong movements in Scotland for self rule early in the 20th century led to suggestions of a Scottish Assembly for domestic affairs. This ultimately led to the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999 and soon this became a mature institution with the freshness of being young and with the awareness of its long history. On many occasions the Scottish Parliament has shown to be able to hold its Government to account and to be in the forefront of nationwide developments. Lowering the voting age to 16 years was unanimously accepted by the Scottish Parliament where this is still held off by Westminster for the UK as a whole. The recent Referendum of 2014 has shown a democratic outpouring second to none in recent history. During the campaign both sides have shown a high level of argument exchange with mutual respect and with that are testimony of a population and country capable of dealing with its own affairs. The Scottish Parliament has retaken its place in the row of National Parliaments. Irrespective of being in the UK or independent, Scotland will rise further in the esteem of the nations. Here it could give the example to other nations of a Complete Suffrage. | |
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| essay | |
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| parl what to do, action plan | |
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| what is democracy | |
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| what is representation | |
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| why from birth | |
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| how to vote from birth on | |
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| xxx | |
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| All texts are subject to copyright. Please feel free to use the texts for non-commercial purposes with reference to this site. < www.votes4all.org > | |
| Thank you.
latest update: 1st July 2021 |  |