Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 10:21:57 +1000
Subject: Re: AUT: Jaywalking (Was voting ... A Reply to Noam Chomsky)
From: Thiago Oppermann <thiago_oppermann-AT-bigpond.com>


On 6/4/2004 7:28 AM, "Lautre Nom" <lautrenom-AT-yahoo.com> wrote:

> In Australia, I hear they have a bylaw against
> jaywalking.  My cousin there tells me that last month
> she was at an interesection and even though there were
> no cars, she had to two minutes for the light to
> change because a beat-cop was nearby and she didn't
> want to risk getting a fifty dollar ticket.  And now
> you tell me they have mandatory voting there too!
> Fascism it is. 
> 
> Josh
> 
>> 
>> In Australia, I am told, not to vote is a criminal
>> act 

In the Australian Capital Territory if you are busted smoking dope in public
you get a 75 dollar fine, which is the same as jaywalking. They usually let
you off with a lecture about doing it somewhere safe. Tyranny!

Neither offence is considered a crime, nor is failing to vote. I don't know
anybody who has ever been charged with jaywalking, the improper use of
warning devices, driving slowly so as to impede traffic, or any of the other
arcana, except, that is, in relation to protests.

BTW, I am not an Australian citizen, I am Brazilian. Voting in Brazil - and
just about anywhere else that's half-sensible - is compulsory. As an
expatriate, I can only vote in the presidential elections, but I am supposed
to vote for congress as well (go figure) so last time I went to Brazil I was
slapped with a fine for 10 years of dodging votes. The sum? 14 Reais, or
about 7 US at the time. Roughly a day's basic food. If I didn't pay it, I
wouldn't be allowed to vote. That was pretty special.

Thiago



     --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---