Soon Like Other Countries?

06.27.12 (1:20 am)   [edit]

Is America soon to model other countries? The AP news item reads: OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - President Barack Obama's campaign has recruited a legion of lawyers to be on standby for this year's election as legal disputes surrounding the voting process escalate. Thousands of attorneys and support staffers have agreed to aid in the effort, providing a mass of legal support that appears to be unrivaled by Republicans or precedent. Thousands of extra poll watchers it appears. I envision that within the next couple of elections, we will have armed guards at the polling places, just like other countries.

"Eligibility to vote in the U.S. is determined by both Federal and state law. Currently, only citizens can vote in US elections (although this has not always been the case). Who is (or who can become) a citizen is governed on a national basis by federal law. In the absence of a federal law or constitutional amendment, each state is given considerable discretion to establish qualifications for suffrage and candidacy within its own jurisdiction."

Over the years groups like the following have been denied or found it hard to vote: blacks, the poor, homeless, residents of the District of Columbia, Native Americans, women, yound people (some states had lower age requirements than others), prisoners, the military, citizens living overseas and so on.

Especially in close elections, the swing of some votes can make a world or difference in the outcome. Politicials fight over these issues, both looking at bwhat can and might happen.

Illegal aliens being accepted as citizens and later being allowed to vote may very well vote for the party that made their life easier. Lowering the voting age to cover children now eligible to fight in a war might have a terrific effect on who get elected next term.

Lyndon Johnson voted 22 times NOT to allow Hawaii statehood. It is suggested that he represented Southern Racial Opposition and was afraid that Hawaii would send Senators to Washington to oppose segregation. Whether that is true or not, as I contend, many decisions about voting can have major effects in policy.

Our Constitution and later laws give reasons not to disallow certain parties the right to vote, but leaves much of that issue up to individual states.

I contend that anyone who is eligible to vote, be allowed to, and those not eligible to vote be denied.

We are careful not to allow a person to run for an office they are not eligible to hold, yet don't care if people vote for that person even if not eligible to vote.

In order to run for a Union office, you must be a Union member (what we call a "card-carrying member" whose dues are paid and is in good standing). In order to vote in a Union election, you must be a Union member.

Our 50 states and territories are part of a "union". Why would we treat it otherwise?