Comments on: There are quite a few of us http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/ European Opinion Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:10:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Aidan Kehoe http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20083 Aidan Kehoe Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:53:54 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20083 Well, I’m not paying Irish taxes, I’m okay with having limited participation in its political system given that. I am paying German taxes, though, and I like the country and care about what happens to it. I would like to be able to vote in parliamentary elections here, as an EU citizen and as a resident. Though I suppose if that possibility ever comes up the Spanish will argue it down out of trepidation at how all the Brits and German retirees along the Costa Blanca will vote. Well, I’m not paying Irish taxes, I’m okay with having limited participation in its political system given that.

I am paying German taxes, though, and I like the country and care about what happens to it. I would like to be able to vote in parliamentary elections here, as an EU citizen and as a resident. Though I suppose if that possibility ever comes up the Spanish will argue it down out of trepidation at how all the Brits and German retirees along the Costa Blanca will vote.

]]> By: Kimberley http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20020 Kimberley Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:28:43 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20020 Hehe, I did take your point. Not everyone lives in London, though it does feel like it at times! I was rather amused and bemused at finding I was going to vote for a mayor of a city of 7.5 million people, compared to NZ's parliamentary elections later this year which will cover a mere 4 million inhabitants. Having one mayoral candidate is appalling. It must've taken all the shine off the novelty of getting to vote for a mayor. Hehe, I did take your point. Not everyone lives in London, though it does feel like it at times! I was rather amused and bemused at finding I was going to vote for a mayor of a city of 7.5 million people, compared to NZ’s parliamentary elections later this year which will cover a mere 4 million inhabitants.

Having one mayoral candidate is appalling. It must’ve taken all the shine off the novelty of getting to vote for a mayor.

]]> By: Guy http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20018 Guy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:12:10 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20018 "Btw, my local mayor is boss over Greater London, I submit those elections do make a significant difference" Damned diversity! I was writing from my own perspective, of course, living in a village of... 2,000 :-) I voted in March this year. To add insult to injury, there was only one candidate to vote for. “Btw, my local mayor is boss over Greater London, I submit those elections do make a significant difference”

Damned diversity! I was writing from my own perspective, of course, living in a village of… 2,000 :-)

I voted in March this year. To add insult to injury, there was only one candidate to vote for.

]]> By: Kimberley http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20017 Kimberley Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:58:18 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20017 I wouldn't mind losing voting rights in my native countries after an extended period of absence *if* I had full voting rights in my country of residence. Btw, my local mayor is boss over Greater London, I submit those elections do make a significant difference. :-) I used Internet voting in the 2006 elections. While not entirely sanguine about the security of voting machines, I picked this option because you could later receive a code to double-check your vote with. I wouldn’t mind losing voting rights in my native countries after an extended period of absence *if* I had full voting rights in my country of residence. Btw, my local mayor is boss over Greater London, I submit those elections do make a significant difference. :-)

I used Internet voting in the 2006 elections. While not entirely sanguine about the security of voting machines, I picked this option because you could later receive a code to double-check your vote with.

]]> By: Guy http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20016 Guy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:34:13 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20016 check out this thread: http://www.conservativesabroad.org/blog/?p=157 check out this thread:

http://www.conservativesabroad.org/blog/?p=157

]]> By: Guy http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/there-is-quite-a-few-of-us/#comment-20014 Guy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:22:40 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3165#comment-20014 "Of course the counterarguments are well known, ultimately relating to whether someone living abroad is truly a participant in domestic politics." I am wrestling with this question too as a Dutchman living abroad. However, it does not seem right to exclude people living abroad from an important part of the democratic process. You cannot change the world much voting for your local mayor or the European Parliament with its limited powers. I must add that The Netherlands are experimenting with online voting for expats. I have already put myself on the list and I hope they'll see this through. Maybe I should do a post about this... “Of course the counterarguments are well known, ultimately relating to whether someone living abroad is truly a participant in domestic politics.”

I am wrestling with this question too as a Dutchman living abroad. However, it does not seem right to exclude people living abroad from an important part of the democratic process. You cannot change the world much voting for your local mayor or the European Parliament with its limited powers.

I must add that The Netherlands are experimenting with online voting for expats. I have already put myself on the list and I hope they’ll see this through.

Maybe I should do a post about this…

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