The English Franchise ("Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing")

National Review Online | June 20, 2006 | Peter Kirsanow

[seasoned traditionalist]

The Senate is in the midst of hearings concerning reauthorization of the temporary provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Indeed, it looks as if Congress is moving rapidly toward reauthorization, although the Senate Judiciary Committee seems to be considering a few amendments that might strike most Americans as just common sense What troubled the senators was obvious: if certain citizens do not understand English well enough to participate in the electoral process, how did they become citizens in the first place? After all, in order to become citizens most applicants must take a test demonstrating that they can read, write, speak, and understand English.

[seasoned traditionalist]

If one were a skeptic--and willing to risk being labeled as xenophobic or racist--they might just presuppose this multi-language ballot issue as an attempt to facilitate voting for millions of "undocumented imigrants."

And who, might I add, does this policy benefit the most?

[carumba]

...a few amendments that might strike most Americans as just common sense What troubled the senators was obvious: if certain citizens do not understand English well enough to participate in the electoral process, how did they become citizens in the first place?

Let me count the ways:
1. Walk across the desert.
2. Stick around on an expired student visa.
3. Head north.
4. Pay a Coyote.
5. Die as a registered Democrat. etc.

[cake_crumb]

And who, might I add, does this policy benefit the most?

LOL! Yeah, good question.

[philman_36]

Link...The English Franchise
What troubled the senators was obvious: if certain citizens do not understand English well enough to participate in the electoral process, how did they become citizens in the first place? After all, in order to become citizens most applicants must take a test demonstrating that they can read, write, speak, and understand English. They must also comprehend basic civics well enough to correctly answer (in English) a series of questions concerning U.S. history and government. Anyone who can pass the test should easily qualify as being able to read at least at a 5th-grade level.

Simply unreal!