Domestic Disenfranchisement
Re: Keep Out The Vote
It is a shame that 42 years after the landmark Voting Rights Act, we still have those who want to prevent minorities, the poor, and mostly first time voters from having their voices heard. After years of complaining of widespread voter fraud on the part of Democrats and aggressive prosecutions of individuals, the truth is that this is a red herring. A smoke screen used by some Republicans to marginalize these voters and institute various forms of poll taxes and other types of voter impediments.
The truth be told there are no widespread conspiracies to corrupt our electoral process. Were it not for the vigorous prosecutions of individuals (the majority of whom were black, poor, and Democratic) there would have been no prosecutions at all. Until now, no individuals who accidentally violated voter laws have ever been prosecuted. Think about it: we are spending millions of dollars to prosecute poor individuals casting one vote due to either misunderstanding or misinformation provided to them by those who are supposed to understand the laws. By prosecuting individuals in this manner we are sending a message to those communities that if you vote, you could be sent to jail, deported, or tied up in legal action. This is significant because it strikes fear into communities that normally are afraid to exercise their voting rights anyway. By making examples of those brave enough and concerned enough to exercise their right, you are in effect saying "voters beware" and in turn suppressing that community’s voice. Can you imagine what those first-time voters must be thinking after being arrested for voting? Make no mistake, news like that travels fast in those communities sending a chill through any would be voters in the future. Further reinforcing the mindset, “This is why I don’t vote” throughout the whole community.
Instead of setting up barriers to participating in our democracy, we should be working on ways to include more of our citizens in this process. With less than 50 percent of all registered voters even showing up to vote, it is incumbent on a healthy democracy to get as many people voting as possible. Why, for instance, was it important to get as many Iraqis to vote as possible, and not important to get as many Americans to vote? A high voter turnout is important because it allows everyone to feel that they have a say in what goes on in the democracy and prevents a select few from deciding for the many. It also removes the opportunity of fringe elements to recruit from the disenfranchised. We, as Americans must resist any attempt to limit our voting rights. It may be this group today and you tomorrow. A wise man once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Let’s not allow anyone to roll back the hard won gains of the past with misinformation, division, and scare tactics. Let’s say "no" to those who want to limit participation in our democracy and reach out to extend that democracy to all those willing to join us.
It amazes me that the same administration that praised the participation of foreigners in democracy around the globe is working so hard to limit that participation at home. Are we not good enough to enjoy the fruits of democracy? Shame on those who want to limit the access to our democracy based on fear, division, and race.
Rodney Knott
http://thedisputedtruth.blogspot.com
What Kind Of Legacy
Re: Jerry Falwell’s Immorality
And what kind of man would urge his followers to buy Krugerands to support South Africa's Apartheid?
And what kind of man would tell his followers to give to the church before feeding their families?
That man was Jerry Falwell ... a sorry excuse for Christianity.
Muriel Cahn
Discomfort And Ploys
Re: The Empathetic Presidency Is Back
I favor the restrained presidency. I wish the president would stay away from disaster sites and let people get on with things rather than having to waste their time participating in presidential photo ops. Bush's problem with Katrina was not that he was too late in getting there physically, it was that he was only there for an obvious stage-managed lip service visit. I wish the president would stay back in the office and be a competent executive and not fly around being the victims' obviously insincere consoler in chief.
P Mack
Laws Don't Heal
Re: Labor Law Reform Not Just For Unions
The state of West Virginia passed laws to kick people off worker compensation. Some were hurt in the mining industry no fault of their own. Because a company boss energized a piece of unsafe equipment and caused head damage that resulted in spinal surgery of the neck that couldn't be repaired and this person was denied compensation. Even though he has brain damage because of the unsafe equipment. They even stopped his medical treatment too. This person is me, Paul. What can be done to protect workers like me? Does this fall in the discrimination of disabled people? The compensation now called Brick Street is a private compensation firm. They wouldn't accept my doctor’s reports of my injury. But did accept a workers' doctor report that said I was lying about my injury. How can you lie about an injury that was so severe that you still have problems? The laws they changed didn't miraculously heal me. I'm still the same an injured coal miner of no fault of my own.
Paul Nelson
You Are What You Eat
Re: Faith-Based Food Fumbles
It's not about eating or not, it’s about what you eat. So potentially all of the pork, fish and chicken are contaminated. Even if they aren't contaminated with melamine or whatever it is, meat is not something humans should eat anyway. Check out www.goveg.com for information from studies that are linking animal protein consumption with osteoporosis, obesity and Alzheimer’s.
James Hughes
