I'll just leave aside the somewhat humorous statements that it's the right, not the left, that loves to restrict democracy. Might want to check your history.

I realize that there is not one thing I can do about the fact that the vote of the guy standing on the sidewalk talking to the fire hydrant counts just the same as mine. Probably more so, since politicians tend to favor blithering idiots as constituents. Easy to control, you know.

"Want a cookie? Vote for me!"

Actually, now that I think about it, pretty much every election stump speech boils down to that statement.

I have my moments when I think the world would be a better place if voting were restricted in some way. These moments came a lot more often on the MSNBC board for some reason. We've discussed this before, but aside from some facetious suggestions, no one could come up with a plausible way to do it that would not be subject to abuse.

Who would get to vote?

Property owners? Might have made some sense in 1776, not now.

Taxpayers? Yeah? How much taxes? Both Bill Gates and the Fire Hydrant Guy probably pay some taxes. Too vague. One of my facetious suggestions was that maybe those people who paid (net, after deductions) huge chunks of taxes should get a couple extra votes beyond the one.

Most educated? God, no! Some of the biggest raving idiots I know are college professors.

National service, a la Starship Troopers? Has possibilities, particularly if civilian national service is included as it was in the book. Probably impossible to implement unless you start from scratch, like in the book.

Maybe the object would be to restrict the vote, like some places where felons can't vote. I once kind of liked the idea that anyone who gets most of his income from the taxpayers wouldn't get to vote, but how the hell do you draw THAT line in an era where the government has its fingers in everything? I'm working for DARPA right now. Does that kick me out?

Ah, well.

One man, one vote (except in Chicago.) Has flaws, but damned if I can think of a better idea. Anyway, the lowest common denominator works in favor of the politician, so it's going to get worse before it gets better.

It would be nice if a person at least had to be a proven citizen.