Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Take the Impossible “Literacy” Test Louisiana Gave Black Voters in the 1960s
Slate ^ | June 28, 2013

Posted on 06/29/2013 6:30:34 PM PDT by Wellington VII

This week’s Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder overturned Section 4(b) of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which mandated federal oversight of changes in voting procedure in jurisdictions that have a history of using a “test or device” to impede enfranchisement. Here is one example of such a test, used in Louisiana in 1964.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History
KEYWORDS: ballotlanguage; democratscandals; disenfranchisedvoter; howtostealanelection
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 261-278 next last
To: Wellington VII

The OldPossum took the Alabama literacy test in 1964. It was not anything like this. Basically, it involved reading short passages, mostly from the Constitution, and answering simple questions based upon what had been read.

If you could not pass this test you were too dumb to go into a voting booth.

I think it was a good thing and I think it ought to be brought back.


61 posted on 06/29/2013 6:58:56 PM PDT by OldPossum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

Easy test, but tedious and irrelevant to what passing allows you to do.

Much better would be a test covering the Constitution, Bill of Rights, American history, state versions thereof, and current events.
...but Leftists would object, deeming it “impossible”.


62 posted on 06/29/2013 6:59:02 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (Making good people helpless doesn't make bad people harmless.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII
Write right from the left to the right as you see it spelled here.

What does this mean? It doesn't make sense without quotes around the word "right".

I think the racist morons who concocted this test were barely literate themselves.

63 posted on 06/29/2013 6:59:09 PM PDT by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

back when democrats ruled every statewide office...


64 posted on 06/29/2013 6:59:29 PM PDT by SoFloFreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

Did you read the test? ONE wrong and you fail. I am intelligent but I know it is easy to get 1 wrong in a test like that.


65 posted on 06/29/2013 6:59:35 PM PDT by impimp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

Yup. You didn’t draw a line around that number, you drew a circle.

You didn’t draw a cross above that letter, you drew an x.

Its actually a pretty good basic test if it’s fairly graded.


66 posted on 06/29/2013 7:00:18 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: johniegrad

Democrats we gain democrats


67 posted on 06/29/2013 7:00:39 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII; a fool in paradise

I failed. No soup for me!


68 posted on 06/29/2013 7:00:52 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

What was the right answer?


69 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:07 PM PDT by MNDude (Sorry for typos. Probably written on a smartphone, and I have big clumsy fingers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: piytar

You are right. I would be able to vote taking this test because I would pass pretty easily. However, I would fail miserably the test from 1800’s that is passed around here from time to time.


70 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:09 PM PDT by napscoordinator (Santorum-Bachmann 2016 for the future of the Country!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

I don’t think testing is necessary, but I sure would love for everyone to take a philosophy or critical thinking class before voting.


71 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:10 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (sue the DNC for the IRS abuse! Can RICO laws be used against the DNC?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!

Compared to some of the responses in this thread you are being accurate in your assessment.


72 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:17 PM PDT by sakic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: SoothingDave

Yeah, I get your point.

There are actually two important questions raised here:

1) is THIS test fair?

2) Is the concept of literacy testing of voters a good idea?

As to 1): if EVERY voter (black, white, rich, poor, etc.) has to take the test under the same conditions, then a particular crummy test will quickly be rejected. And if NOT every voter has to take it, then absolutely, on its face the test is unfair.

As for 2). I offer as a constructive proof the mess we’re in now, with low information voters electing totally unsuitable governance at every level.

But to be honest, given a choice between a “literacy test” or a “skin-in-the-game test” (the simplest of which would be a poll tax), I’d vote for the latter in a heartbeat. Non producers simply SHOULD NOT be able to vote themselves largesse.


73 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:48 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

As I said to another poster, fair enough.


74 posted on 06/29/2013 7:01:55 PM PDT by piytar (The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul
And the cures for our social ills were much worse than the problems. Yes?

In many case, absolutely. Affirmative action, for example, is a cancer.

75 posted on 06/29/2013 7:02:38 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

And if any state was doing this today, it would still be wrong. But there are no states doing this so I don’t understand what the concern is. Maybe someone could clue me in...


76 posted on 06/29/2013 7:03:11 PM PDT by jaydee770
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_rr
If you were a Black person in Louisiana in the 1960s, it might not be so easy. The Democrats did an amazing job of keeping Blacks suppressed.

Granted, but that has nothing to do with the test, per se. SCOTUS will probably disagree with me, but I'd have no problem with the use of a test of this difficulty, so long as the answers were written down and make it like one of those tests in school where you black in the circle and grade it by machine. The leftards will still say that's discriminatory. I don't know or care whether it is or not, but the fact remains that someone not sufficiently literate and intelligent to complete that test (graded without bias) has NO business voting on anything that affects me or anyone else able to complete the test.

77 posted on 06/29/2013 7:04:09 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

Literate or not, most people are uninformed or misinformed. Check out the Zimmerman trial threads for examples, trivial perhaps, but telling.


78 posted on 06/29/2013 7:04:15 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SoothingDave

>> Sorry, i misquoted the test.

OH! NOW it comes out! You LIED!

Okay, I’m tearing up my reasonable reply and working on a snarkier one. :-)


79 posted on 06/29/2013 7:04:16 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Wellington VII

Yes, it’s easy, but........

I’m willing to bet that a third of today’s voters would not be able to pass this within the maximum of 10 minutes.


80 posted on 06/29/2013 7:06:54 PM PDT by cookcounty (IRS = Internal Revenge Service.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 261-278 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson