Compelling case for compulsory voting

Is it time to ask whether the people have any right not to be arsed about democracy, such is the low turnouts in western democracy, asks Michael Clifford

At a critical juncture in the history of this island, Éamon de Valera is reputed to have declared that “the people have no right to be wrong”. The comment arose following the election victory for the pro-treaty side in 1922. As history records, all hell broke loose soon afterwards in a savage civil war.

Today, the world as we know it is at a critical juncture. Strongmen are pointing fingers and shaking fists, and getting elected in countries around the world. The old order of liberal democracy, which has continued since the end of the Second World War is under threat. Life as the western world has known it for the last 70 years may be coming to an end.