A free and democratic society?

[Expat]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Millions of U.S. citizens, including a disproportionate number of black voters, will be blocked from voting in the Nov. 2 presidential election because of legal barriers, faulty procedures or dirty tricks, according to civil rights and legal experts.


Only in America. SHAME !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Savage]

Actually I'm sure that happens in a lot more places too.

 

[wa senior]

The next paragraph in the article is:

"The largest category of those legally disenfranchised consists of almost 5 million former felons who have served prison sentences and been deprived of the right to vote under laws that have roots in the post-Civil War 19th century and were aimed at preventing black Americans from voting."

It also states that many people are turned away because they can't prove who they are, no picture ID. Here in WA, it's a simple matter to get a picture ID from the state. The article goes on to cite "facts" based on the 2000 election. Have there been changes in the past four years? It doesn't say. But it does make me wonder who's behind this. Perhaps we should do like Chicago in the "old" days, vote, and often!

After the latest "Dan Rather" gaffe, how much of the "news" can we trust to be the truth? I'm not saying that some or even most of the article is false, but to only give the first line of a lengthy article without any additional information can be misleading.

This story originated from Reuters. If the "facts" in the story turn out to be false or misleading, will they print a correction?

Before I get bashed for being thin skinned, believe me, I have thick skin, I'm just tired of "facts" appearing on the front pages, on TV or on the internet, and when these "facts" turn out to be false, no correction is made.


Keep your stick on the ice. Remember, I'm pulling for you!

 

[daddywarbucks]

I read this article on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald and was outraged.



1. All felons are bared from voting. Not just black or democratic voters. This is part of the penaty for commiting a felony. The article later goes on to say "Florida is one of 14 state that prohibit ex-felons from voting". When did they become ex-felons?? My dictionary says that a felon is a person that has been convicted of a felony. That applies to state issues. FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS FELONS FROM VOTING.

There were no black felons prior to the civil war and damn few thereafter.

Also, who said that the law was passed for this reason?? No source is quoted.

2. If the incidents that are supposed to have taken place in Baltimore and Georgia actually happened, Dan Rather would have had them as the lead story. He would also have tipped off the democrates so they could have had an ad campaign ready to go.

3. Who said that the people standing out side of a polling place in Philadelphia were pretending to be plainclothes policemen. They were sure stupid to be exposed in that way. I have stood at a polling place as a poll watcher for a political party. Yes, I wore a suit and tie. Yes, I challenged a few voters; one who was trying to vote claiming to be a person that had died 2 years before.

4. The federal government dosen't have but very general election laws. The details are left to the states. Most states have the provission calling for proper I.D. The type of proper I.D. varies from state to state.

5. If blacks commit more fellonies than other races, by a very large percentage (13% of the entire black male population) whose fault is that. Iowa sure isn't a "cracker" state; they fought on the side of the union in the civil war.

IF YOU DO THE CRIME, YOU MUST DO THE TIME. Part of the penalty is losing your right to vote.

It is also interesting to note, while not stated, every one quoted is a Democrat.

Mr. Reuter, meet Dan Rather

DWB

 

[eastcoast]

Zeig Heil...

 

[rickoshadows]

All felons are bared from voting. Not just black or democratic voters. This is part of the penaty for commiting a felony. The article later goes on to say "Florida is one of 14 state that prohibit ex-felons from voting". When did they become ex-felons?? My dictionary says that a felon is a person that has been convicted of a felony. That applies to state issues. FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS FELONS FROM VOTING.

Well that nicely solves the problem of votes from the pro legalization of drugs lobby, doesn't it. If all these guys have a criminal record, they won't be able to vote for any candidate who represents their view. It also nicely eliminates many votes from the pro gay marriage and legalized prostituion groups as well, as many people convicted under sodomy and adultery laws would not be able to vote either.

Voting is a duty and a right of all citizens, whether you consider them desirable or not. A true democracy does not disenfranchise any citizen. I doubt these people are exempt from taxes, remember the no taxation without representation battle cry of the revolution.

America has led the world towards democracy, but somewhere along the way, it seems to have stepped off the path.

rickoshadows

 

[Cock Throppled]

There is an amazing article in the September Playboy detailing the unbelievable screw-ups Florida has created in trying to solve the year 2000 "hanging chads" fiasco. The solutions are worse than the original problem and look to cause just as much confusion and and fraud. In many ways the USA runs their elections like a third world country and are open to such criticism for not cleaning it up.

 

[moonglow]

I think Jimmy Carter is needed back in the states to monitor the elections more so than the third world countries...oh wait....America is now a 2nd world country ..quickly on its way to third world status

 

[drromance]

The nations citizens, Canada and the US, have become way to dependant on the press and TV for their info, and indeed want instant news, answers, analysis and gratification, this leads to massive errors in all the systems, just look at the "experts" who write software and say it is "bug free" and these guys are so called experts in thier field.

 

[BushPilot]

Federal law prevents felons from voting

Whatever happened to doing your time, then being allowed to move on in your life as a contributing member of society. If that is the federal law, it's a horseshit one. It's one thing to bar incarcerated felons from voting, but free people being barred from voting? It's fucked up.