he 'd tried to introduce ephebian democracy to lancre , giving the vote to everyone , or at least everyone `` who be of good report and who be male and hath forty years and owneth a house [ 16 ] worth more than three and a half goats a year , '' because there 's no sense in being stupid about things and giving the vote to people who were poor or criminal or insane or female , who 'd only use it irresponsibly .