Only high schoold graduates and above are allowed to vote
By Fulltank
@Fulltank (2882)
Philippines
October 20, 2009 6:35pm CST
Before you raised your eyebrow and say "Its a clear violation of our democratic rights to vote", please read on first.
The "masa" are the ones targeted by those unscrupulous politicians in every election in this country. But who are the "masa"? People who belong to the lowest class in society, those that have no formal eduction, those that are poor, and those people that can be easily cheated during elections. The middle class or the work force of our country knows better than them when it come to choosing the right candidate for a position (don't react yet, keep reading). They know how hard it is to earn money and how big the taxes that they pay. Therefore they would choose a better politician, the one that will protect their taxes and used it for the good of the country.
The "masa" on the other hand, don't have the adequate education to choose which is the best candidate, they are very easily get scammed and cheated. If only they had a better education, then these politicians will never even bother of cheating. These would create a better education for us since government will will priority of education and people will surely make a way to be educated since it will be a requirement to vote.
This idea might be as crazy as it is, but if you have better proposal, then this is the best time to voice it out.
2 people like this
9 responses
@tarachand (3895)
• India
21 Oct 09
Adult franchise is the right of every human, educated or not. In your case, you are mixing up intelligence with gullibility and lack of awareness. A lot of uneducated folk are more intelligent than many of the highly educated people with high sounding degrees, and the educated are gullible too. You are probably talking of something akin to the practice of serfism.
Its better to impart knowledge, create awareness, rather than differentiate and cheat a human of his or her right to choose who will govern him or her.
I am speaking from the Indian perspective, but I think that this should apply to all humans.
3 people like this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
As i said, if we compare the probability of cheating an educated person and an uneducated person, who would you prefer to cheat? I think I go with the second one. Therefore, if all are educated enough, these politicians will think twice before making any cheating during the election. It still boils down to the education and what I'm suggesting is only a start. The more educated we are, the better our judgment would be. Its not always the case, but most of the time we prefer to have an employee who are high school graduate that that of illiterate one.
Any better ideas would be highly appreciated.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
Voting is our right, you should not take that "right" from those who were not able to finish high school. They may not be the smartest voters but their not dumb. I don't think that the middle class knows any better, the "masa" also has mouths to feed like rest of us. In my opinion, they work even harder than the middle class. What the "masa" need is education especially in family planning. For the longest time, we have been thinking that it's the politicians who'll brought us out of poverty but in reality it's not. It's too great a burden to be handled by a handful of politicians in a few years time. Cheers!
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
So it still boils down to education, right! People who don't have the right education are easier to be cheated. If the only way to get a good Government official is for the "masa" to be educated, then why against the suggestion?
As I said, any other suggestion is free to elaborate here.
1 person likes this
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
I'm against the idea because it's restrictive. I don't like the idea that you have to have education before you can vote as against the idea that you have to have education so you can fully understand politics. The idea of people having education before they can vote is just like putting a cart after the donkey instead of the other way around. Cheers!
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37932)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
I do not think that it is an exclusive right for educated people to vote. I do think that there are still educated people who can be corrupted still. You cannot always say that only educated people can vote wisely because I know many uneducated voters that is voting wisely as the educated ones. Education is not a good basis for being a good voter or not everybody is proned to be corrupted by corrupt people.
@rsa101 (37932)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
Bright idea is to campaign everyone to exercise their right and advocate to vote wisely. It is entirely a choice in an individual to make his own decision as to who will he vote. Educational attainment must not be the basis for him that he is eligible or not. It is a right that was provided for you when you reach a certain age as a citizen of your country.
1 person likes this
@fatherblogger (673)
• Philippines
23 Oct 09
I don't think there should be any discrimination when it comes to voting. I strongly suggest that we all help each other to choose what we think are better leaders.
With respect to the "masa" people, I don't think education can be a burden to vote wisely as well to have a very good leader. I remember one time I heard that there was an illiterate candidate who won for mayor, and eventually became a good one. 
Likewise, there are highly educated voters who also fail to choose the right candidates and even allowed themselves to be used by some corrupt officials. 
Therefore, I think we just need to help them be aware of who will be the better person to lead our country.
Thanks!
Likewise, there are highly educated voters who also fail to choose the right candidates and even allowed themselves to be used by some corrupt officials.
Therefore, I think we just need to help them be aware of who will be the better person to lead our country.
Thanks!
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Mar 10
hello there father-blogger,
the Barangay should have access to cable and internet so that ordinary people can watch and see how the people fight or debate to show their ideals..education is never the burden, just give them access to technology and have an expert to handle everything in terms of internet, very neutral not bias.@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
25 Oct 09
Awareness is still part of education. What I'm telling is that in order to uplift the awareness of the voting public, education is the key. I suggest that a part of the qualification of being a voter (in addition to Filipino nationality and 18 yrs and above), you must be a high school grad in order to vote. These means less cheating to the politicians. And eventually would change how election is done here in the Phils.
@afarrell1 (258)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I think it's brilliant. Hopefully the educated masses, because they do have more on the line, are a little more savvy on the issues. Many times when it is election time people don't care to educate themselves before going to the poles, they just vote for who the person supplying them with the most free stuff, the best name recognition, or because someone in their social circle tells them to.
I think if you are not going to take the time as a responsible voter to educate yourself to the issues, you shouldn't vote - irregardless of social class. Even if it is your right, just because you can - doesn't mean you should. Know the issues, know the candidates, and be smart.
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
And to know the issues, to know the candidates, and to be smart requires education, right! It may not be always the case, but an uneducated person can be easily cheated by politicians. So why not make it a qualification for voters?
Any bright ideas are welcome.
1 person likes this
@dekada80 (388)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
that's a good logic actually and besides, exploitation of these poor "masa" is very visible by the existence of illegal shanty everywhere, they were supposed to be not there since they are trying to occupy government if not private property but they are being allowed since comes election time they could make or break the fate of a politician specially during local and baranggay election. I believe that something must be done so that these poor people will not be again exploited specially during elections.
@VANILLAREY (1470)
• India
21 Oct 09
How do you know that the workers and low income group people can easily be cheated? Just because a person is illiterate does not mean he/she can be fooled in every way.
Besides politicians can fool everyone by lying.
Rich people don't want slums and hawkers. They will elect a politician who will remove the hawkers. So what will happen to the hawkers. Who will support them? Every segment of the society needs to be represented in the parliament. Hence every person has the right to vote and has the right to stand for election irrespective of their education or income.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Mar 10
Hello fulltank,
although, this topic is five months ago i think it's still good to talked to. maybe it's a way to convince the people of the voting age, but the problem is that people are so simple minded, they don't have access to media television like debates. local tv show can be editorialized. @saqibthe007 (39)
• United Arab Emirates
21 Oct 09
As you are saying that only the high school graduates are allowed to vote. I think this is rite thing to implement, because at that stage or above, a being got proper knownness of everything, and he know what he is doing, without coming in the pressure of anyone. He takes the matter seriously at this stage and response to the VOTING in a sound informative way.
