Don't argue with me over semantics. EVERY American has the inalienable right to vote.

Some rights, as you'll no doubt agree, can be revoked, such as Freedom (when one commits a crime and is sentenced to prison time). Voting is another one of these rights. It can be revoked. But EVERY American starts out with the right to vote. One should not have to take a test to be able to vote. THAT is an unAmerican idea and unConsitutional.

 

Your just repeating my thoughts above.

-Chris

 

Rights are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution but are surpassed by state law regarding voting (and many other laws which is besides the point). Seeing how the 14th amendment gives states the power to deny federal voting privileges -and- you don't fill out a "federal ballot," voting is not a right. Fu*k... it's like talking to a wall.

Go ahead and test the Constitution, Chris. You'll find that many of our "rights" are figments of your imagination to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We only have a handful of actual rights to our names... the rest of these "rights" have limitations and can be revoked... therefore, these "rights" are actually a privilege.

 

Well it isn't in the bill of rights, but it is in the constitution.

Amendment XV

Section 1. The RIGHT of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

i.e.; "stupid people get to vote"

Heck they even went and "enfranchised" the poor a few years later;

Amendment XXIV

Section 1. The RIGHT of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.



So even tax cheats can still vote, whaddya know?

and what were those guys thinking?

 

I think some of these guys need to study the Constitution a little harder.
It's valid to say that voting is a right (because our rights are God-given*, not a result of a piece of paper). But nowhere in the Constitution is it stated that this right is available to all citizens.
Does it say that voting can not be limited on the basis of race? Yes.
On the basis of age? Yes.
On the basis of payment of taxes? Yes.
On the basis of ignorance, drug addiction, brain damage, retardation, stupidity, or illiteracy? NO


*The reader may substitute an equivalent secular or polytheistic phrase of his or her choice.

 

Umm, no. Race, color, servitude have NOTHING to do with what I am talking about.

 

Does it say that ANYTHING can not be limited by those factors? NO.

Your little list doesn't prove anything. Where did I say that the constitution is what gives us the right to vote? It's sad that you don't want everyone to be able to vote. So you would like to live in an elitist nation? Very sad. How very Un-American of you.

-Chris

 

http://www.righttovote.org/

Voting is a fundamental right of democracy.

 

So because it isn't specifically prohibited by the constitution you think we should implement such a scheme?

They didn't suggest such restrictions because even back then they recognized that such terms have subjective thresholds and such ambigugous restrictions would be impossible to ever establish standards for, or enforce.

I mean whose to decide? - so suppose I think you are ignorant, therefore you can't vote?

Wanna make us pee in a cup before we can vote? that doesn't sound very Libertarian to me!

....pass a 4th grade reading test? maybe a test on current world affairs? or even more ridiculous- as was suggested to start this off track adventure- some test on obscure economic theories? I don't think the current president could even do that.


give me a break dude......

 

Oooh the "Unamerican" card! You sound like a Bushie now.
I'd like to live a nation where leaders are chosen wisely. As long as we have idiots voting, it will never happen. Your principles are admirable but I've had an assfull of DNC/GOP tyranny, which is sustained by type of TV-brainwashed semiliterate drones that I seek to eliminate from the electorate via my system. 100 questions on economics, current affairs, recent history. If they can't get 60 right they don't get to vote.

 

You're right, it would be impossible to actually implement. But I still like the idea of it.

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..."

 

Thats why we have the Voting Rights Act. Whitey was making blacks prove they could read up to a 6th grade level before they could vote.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAvoting65.htm

Sound familiar?

 

You really want illiterate people voting?

 

Thats why I threw the "unamerican" card in there. I should have put it in quotations to show I was using another's words. My bad. Some questions for you about the test. Who will write the test? What language will it be given in? What about those who are audio/ tactile learners (who have been proven to do worse in multiple choice and short answer standardized tests regardless of their knowledge of the subject)? Standardized tests don't work that well on their own. Hence, even college entrance boards don't use SAT scores alone as the qualification for addmission.

-Chirs

 

Oooh it says it on the internets! It must be right!