Absolutely right - democracy is the right to choose who - if anyone - is worthy of your vote. Forcing people to make a choice can simply provide legitamacy to the lesser of 2 morons.

My view is that if you pay tax in a country, you should be able to vote to choose the government who are responsible for spending it. If you don't pay tax, then you shouldn't.

Bloody right Ededed,well said!I just wasn't brave enough to make that point.After 1000's of hours lying on the beach ,drinking 1000's of bottles of wine and paying R1000000'S in Tax I HAVE THE RIGHT!...don't I?

PS As an ex-freedom fighter I hope you phoned the SOB's at the police station in Zim,or was it your clout that got the treason charge dropped?

Well, they can haul in all the expats they want and it will make no difference. Zuma scored winning points for getting Mandela to stomp for him. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...5633363C691124 I have to wonder how Mandela can ignore the indiscretions of the presidential candidate and his comrades.

Why should tax be relevant, if you breeze in for a year or 2, with the intention of leaving should you be allowed to vote? If you want to vote show some commitment and get citizenship.

It seems as good a criteria as any - and based on the fact that governments need tax to function, a fairly equality based system of selection. Getting citizenship usually requires just a few thousand rand to a bloke in a caravan round the back of the home affairs office. It appears the only certain way of getting it.

How does the fact you are only in a country temporarily or not matter? Governments by nature are usually only transcient anyway.

Anyway - don't the electorate get the government they deserve?

Didn't you see me on the news with my banner? Seemed to do the trick.

Living in Jo'Burg doesn't allow me the luxury of lying on a beach though - although I spent a pleasant 2 hours swimming in the Jukskei at the weekend. Boy, that water tasted great!

What about non tax paying citizens? 18 year olds still in school/uni and therefore not yet paying tax. Or stay at home mums and dads, who dont earn anything. Would you not want any of these people to be able to vote simply because they are not currently paying tax?

No. Anyone claiming benefit or assistance from the state should automatically be excluded and their votes given to people who matter.

Maybe there is a slight flaw in my brilliant plan here.

Yeah I came unstuck with my compulsory voting thing too

How do Zimbabwe manage it? They don't have all these issues.

Perhaps we should ask for some tips? Maybe he's read some of those leadership books off amazon?

Didn't you say goodbye and go off to the Aussie forum?

... seems you still keep on missing the point with your rather shallow comments- mate you don't get it.

There are many 'new shall we say post-apartheid exiles' who would prefer to be in Africa but have been disadvantaged by the new social order, racial violence and discrimination of the day. In their hearts Africa will always be their home. As South African citizens in exile, they should have the right to vote.

You on the other hand are clearly not one of these so run along...

I believe the "vote for me or you die"seems to do the trick.

After thinking over the ex-pats voting issues I realize it is totally pointless with the political parties available.Unless a new political powerhouse was formed consisting of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister,Thatcher Jr. as finance minister and Simon Mann as safety and security minister.Hopefully some of their manifesto would include...
1 Gin and tonic on the terrace at sundown.
2 "Longs"to be worn after 7 p.m.
3 Drinks at the Polo club on Sunday afternoon.
4 Every municipality must have at least two bars with large ceiling fans and dead things on the wall.

I am somewhat puzzled ed why you have an avatar of Denis Thatcher?

He was a hero of mine.

same for PW?