Posted on 12/09/2006 12:02:13 AM PST by goldstategop
Should anyone be allowed to vote in America? Probably most people would answer in the affirmative.
But what about people who don't even know the meaning of the word "affirmative"? Should they have an equal voice in the governing of our republic?
I was listening to Sean Hannity's radio show earlier this week. Periodically he sends one of his crew out to find candidates for man-on-the-street interviews. Sometimes these randomly selected people are asked to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Sometimes they are asked who the vice president of the United States is. Sometimes they are asked if they can name any members of the U.S. Supreme Court.
On this particular day, Thursday, Dec. 7, they were asked why the date was significant in American history. Keep in mind this was the 65th anniversary of "a day that will live in infamy."
As always with these tests, a surprising number failed miserably – unable to associate the date Dec. 7 with any important historic event. With some clues, a few remembered something they learned about Pearl Harbor. One recent college graduate suggested it was the date "the Chinese attacked."
But what struck me about this simple test was that every single person who flunked the test had voted Democratic in the midterm elections. They did this because they believed the Democrats were "for the people," or "supported labor" or "fought for the little guy."
They uniformly agreed with Hannity, as he played the role of devil's advocate, that the rich did not pay their fair share of taxes. They agreed with his suggestion that the wealthy should pay 80 percent of their income to the government so it could be redistributed to the poor and the schools and other worthy causes.
On the other hand, every single person who knew the significance of Dec. 7 balked at the suggestion. Some argued articulately that tax rates that high were a throwback to the Soviet Union and counter to a free market system. Not surprisingly, none of them voted for Democrats in the last election.
It occurred to me after hearing this shocking series of interviews that the inmates are running the asylum in the USA today.
In a few weeks, the party of idiots will be running both houses of Congress. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting the Republicans deserved to win. I think I've been very clear about the opportunities squandered by the GOP over the last 12 years and especially the last six. But, let's face it. The people who will be running the most important of the three branches of government come January owe their political careers to stupid people, deceived people, people who don't even know what happened at Pearl Harbor.
How does that make you feel?
Do you think people like that should be allowed to cancel out your informed vote?
Don't you agree there should be at least some minimal standard of competence to enter a voting booth in this country?
I don't know who would devise the test. I would be happy to do so. The test I would give would likely mean 90 percent of Americans could no longer vote. But I guaranty you freedom would be expanded in America for one and all. I guaranty you leaders would be elected who would make America safer. I guaranty you there would be greater economic opportunity for everyone.
How could that be a bad thing?
Nevertheless, I know it will never happen.
Instead, I'm afraid, America is going to continue its slide down the slippery slope of stupidity.
Worse yet, the country is not just getting dumber every day, it's getting more immoral.
I fear we're headed into a new dark age that threatens our very national identity and existence.
What you're proposing is one more step towards socialism. Fergetaboutit.
I had to stop watching "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno due to the "Jay Walking" segments. It was too painful to watch.
Mark
I find watching the demonstrations of stupidity painful, as I posted earlier. I simply can NOT watch the "Jay Walking" segments from the Tonight Show.
Mark
For a very long time, I believe that every citizen should be allowed to vote, but that some peoples' votes should count for more than others.
For example, right off the bat, if you're a citizen, you get 1 vote.
If you've served in the active duty military (current or retired), you should get 1 vote plus one for every year you served in active duty.
If you've served in the National Guard, or reserves, you would get 1 additional vote, plus 1 for every year of active duty service (over and above the "normal" activations). Even if you're sent off for a month or two, you should get credit for entire year, but if there is more than a single activation during that year, you would still only get the 1 additional vote).
I would include the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine in the above 2 certifications.
Tax payers would get an additional vote. For every $5,000 in federal income tax paid (minus any "credits," like the EITC), you would get one additional vote.
Education should not be a factor in this... Some of the dumbest people I ever met were in college, and many are still there, chasing advanced degrees and teaching. Though I might make an exception for an "extra-credit" test, where if you can answer 10 questions right about American history and the Consitution, you would get 1 extra vote.
Of course there's no way this could possibly be made to work... Imagine the levels of corruption that this sort of scheme would invite.
Mark
The woman referred to is the remnant of Israel and I have often prayed that the eagles wings and wilderness were America. Although we have fallen a ways I believe God still has a purpose for us.
Although I'm not a Christian, I've long believed that America (and to a lesser extent, our allies, England and Austrailia) are the only hope for the "People of Israel," i.e the Jews. With these few protectors, Israel is surrounded on all sides by nations who want to see the State of Israel gone, and the Jews dead. It's a biblical fact that when the Jews turn their back on G-d, he allows the "chips to fall where they may." How many times has Israel been conquored, and the Jews sent into diasporas? Given the way things are going, I have little doubt that the State of Israel as we know it today will be destroyed, killing millions of Jews, Christians, and muslims. And America will be the last, best hope for the Jews. I just hope that so many Jews can get over their irrational hatred and mistrust of Christians. They're really the only friends we've got.
Mark
Yup. BTW, this morning, I told my 14 y/o son about Hannity's "man on the street" quizzes - you know, the easy stuff, like "who's the Sec of State?" Son pipes up, "Condoleezza Rice." Easy one. He was astounded that so many Democrat voters don't even know who the VP is. Or that one chess player in the park (described on Mike McConnell's show) pointed out Brazil on the map, thinking it was the U.S.
Sheesh.
I have heard the same overview from others. The last election almost makes it a certainty. International Jihad Inc is relishing what they hope will be reversed in January.
It's like mid-1939 all over again, and this time the (Islamo)Nazis have nukes & bio-chem weaponry. G-d help US!
Joseph, let's all just have twice as many babies as the left, train them well, and we'll have nothing to worry about.
Cutting taxes would not replace an annual salary and allow one parent to stay home. How would a quality education provided by employers be a step toward socialism?
Bring back having to own property to vote. I think that those who are being taken from should have the right to say where it goes. Those who are receivers should not have a voice in how much and how it it spent. If they want a voice, become a productive member of society and start paying taxes first.
I see it a different way. Hopefully this means the US will be gutted during the rapture. If the Christians are removed, those that are left (pun intended) will not be interested in helping or protecting Israel, and therefore are not mentioned in endtimes prophecies.
Biblically God does not want support of any nation for Israel during the time of Jacob's trouble. Isreal needs to (and eventually will) turn to GOd and God alone for its security. All other props will be taken away.
When Israel is delivered in the Ezekiel war, they will know for certain it was Gods doing, not any human ally. Sadly, I used to think the rapture would have to occur first for America to turn its back on Isreal during its great need. Now I am not so sure (sigh)
Biblically God does not want support of any nation for Israel during the time of Jacob's trouble. Isreal needs to (and eventually will) turn to GOd and God alone for its security. All other props will be taken away.
When Israel is delivered in the Ezekiel war, they will know for certain it was Gods doing, not any human ally. Sadly, I used to think the rapture would have to occur first for America to turn its back on Isreal during its great need. Now I am not so sure (sigh)
No, I wasn't kidding. I know the tax story. And I agree with some of your points.
Employers providing a quality education as a work benefit would be much the same as providing health care coverage for a family. Do you consider health care coverage by an employer to be socialistic?
If a company decides it can afford to provide it as a benefit and believe it's cost effective, then more power to them. But if one company offers it, others eventually will have to, too, if they're competing for the same workforce. Or if a company won't offer the benefit when others do, it's targetted, much like Walmart constantly is. (Frankly, I would rather have much lower income taxes.)
It's the same with health insurance. Employers attempt to attract better employees by offering benefits - the flip side of that is employees nowadays think they're entitled to health insurances, abuses them, and don't appreciate how much the employer has to pay for this benefit. So the ol' socialist mentality is there.
Every time someone gets "something for nothing", there will be someone else standing by holding out their silver plate demanding theirs...
Looks to me like employers attracting better employees by offering better benefits is pretty close to capitalism. Personally, I hope it breaks out all over.
Normally, I would, too, until the demand for outrageous perks goes beyond what a company would normally entice their workforce with. I used to work for a company that had some very generous benefits; turns out the perks were demanded by potential employees in California. Here in our conservative area and with our frugal attitudes, we considered the CA EEs a bunch of spoiled brats. That company spent (read: wasted) a ton of money on a lot of nonsense. But...to each their own.
Nice chatting with ya. I have to focus on my own schoolwork.
BTTT
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