2. What is the central theme and the author's purpose in the text below? How does the author develop and communicate this theme and purpose? Give specific
evidence from the text to support your answer. (10 points).
In our current system of voluntary voting, the winner of an
election is determined by the candidate's ability to create
controversy rather than by leadership skill. Campaigns therefore
focus on highly motivated voters. These also tend to be the most
partisan. This constant appeal to extremes on both sides of the
political spectrum abandons voters in the middle. In turn, these
moderates opt out on Election Day, since none of the candidates
seem to be speaking to their concerns. Compulsory voting would
offer candidates less incentive to inflame passions (Ornstein,
Galston). Without having to spend so much of their time trying to
appeal solely to the highly partisan voters most likely to show up
at the polls, they could instead spend more time crafting policy
proposals to meet the needs of all voters. Fewer highly partisan
lawmakers would mean more cooperation and less unnecessary
government gridlock.