Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why we need voting reform...

Posted on 06/27/2009 5:57:48 AM PDT by BillyKess

I know this is old news, but after this past election I became convinced that there needs to be some requirements needed by an individual before being allowed to vote. A high school diploma or equivalency for one. Another might be the person should not be currently on welfare. They should also speak English and pass a simple common-knowledge quiz on American history and a few basic questions about the current political landscape. Knowing who controls the House and Senate would be one. Knowing who your 2 U.S. Senators are would be another.

But people also tell me that is unconstitutional as all American citizens should have the right to vote - no matter how clueless and uninformed they may be.

When I heard those people from HowObamaGotElected.com and the Howard Stern Harlem thing - (You can listen to them all here on this one podcast) - I was more outraged than amused. Especially when these people were asked questions like:

"Do you support Obama because he wants to keep the troops in Iraq until the war is won?" and these people replied "Yes. I am behind him on that! I think the troops should stay in Iraq!"

And another question "Do you think Sarah Palin will make a good Vice President with Obama?" and they replied - without batting an eye - "Oh yes. I am glad Obama picked her. I think she'll do a good job"

Others were asked who Nancy Pelosi was. They had no clue.

Others were asked "what party controls congress?" - they had no clue. Most said Republicans. One said "Republicans because Bush is a Republican". I mean, these people have no clue how basic politics work. They think whatever party the President is with means that same party controls congress? Didn't they learn anything in 4th grade when we were taught about the 3 branches of government?

It really makes me a bit angry to see these people in their 40's, 50's, and 60's coming out waving the American flag for the first time in the lives because a black man was running for President. And yes, that is the reason why these people voted for him.

So... since many people think that placing requirements on a voting right is unconstitutional, I have another proposal.

Voting on issues - rather than the actual candidates.

In other words... when a person walks into a voting booth, there will be no levers on any specific candidate. Instead, they will be asked a series of questions regarding the issues that each candidate stands on.

So when they would have went into the booth to vote last November, instead of a lever for Obama and a lever for Mccain, (and the other 3rd party candidates), there would be questions.

* Do you want to bring our troops home or do you want to see them stay in Iraq and finish this war?

* Are you for stem cell research or are you against it?

* Would you consider yourself prolife or pro-choice?

Etc etc... and after about 30 or 40 questions, the machine will calculate which candidate aligns most to your positions.

This way, these morons who were waving their Obama signs ranting all about hope and change will have to know where he stands on the issues. Because these idiots who were interviewed in Harlem would have voted for Mccain if they really meant what they said to the reporter who asked them those questions.

Imagine that. The clueless Obamabot goes into the booth and answers the questions and then gets a little note saying "Thank you for voting Mccain/Palin".

It's a way to get people to pay attention.

Billy Kess

http://billykess.com/


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 06/27/2009 5:57:48 AM PDT by BillyKess
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

absolutely agree but...

GOOD LUCK in your quest let us know how many liberal democrats you convince.


2 posted on 06/27/2009 6:03:29 AM PDT by zwerni (this isn't gonna be good for business)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

French political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville said that in a democracy, we get the government we deserve.

http://jonathanturley.org/2008/11/23/elected-officials-score-lower-on-civics-tests-than-average-citizens-who-score-lower-than-basic-condiments/


3 posted on 06/27/2009 6:04:07 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 (Tagline server crashed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

It would not work for people who are strongly focused on one issue or even just a few issues. The voting machine automatically would give each issue equal importance.


4 posted on 06/27/2009 6:05:28 AM PDT by beejaa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess
some requirements needed by an individual before being allowed to vote

Too late, no? Who'd vote for their disenfranchisement? Welfare recipients and homeless people vote, they're not going to let you take away their ability to advance the welfare/nanny state. Before 0bama's through with us, felons in prisons will be voting.

5 posted on 06/27/2009 6:10:16 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (Rent this space.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

Good idea. I would settle for something simple. No federal voting for those on the dole, food stamps, welfare, section eight housing assistance, etc.

The assumption is that only citizens with a positive stake in our way of life should be granted the franchise.


6 posted on 06/27/2009 6:16:24 AM PDT by Jacquerie (All Muslims are suspect.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

“But people also tell me that is unconstitutional as all American citizens should have the right to vote - no matter how clueless and uninformed they may be”

I believe a better course would be to concentrate on voter fraud, instead of how well informed the voter is. I would also like to see voters issued a “ticket” with a unique number, when they cast a vote. They could then use that number to view their vote in the returns and challenge (under penalty of perjury) any improprieties in their vote.


7 posted on 06/27/2009 6:28:28 AM PDT by Peter Horry (Never were abilities so much below mediocrity so well rewarded - John Randolph)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Sadly it is too late. Voting wasn’t even mentioned in the Constitution as a right until the 14th Amendment Section 2. IMO, voting should be a privilege, much like driving. It should be granted to anyone who is a non-felon US citizen and net taxpayer only.


8 posted on 06/27/2009 6:34:52 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

Youtube Video For HowObamaGotElected.Com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm1KOBMg1Y8


9 posted on 06/27/2009 6:37:59 AM PDT by I Hate Obama (Just remember - if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

I can give it to you in 5 letters ACORN, or; OBAMA if you prefer.


10 posted on 06/27/2009 6:39:18 AM PDT by DaiHuy (')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

uh....Our future elections, including the past one, will be a mirror image of the Iran elections.

The methods to cheat were quite similar here in the US. More voters than eligible voters, intimidation etc.

In Iran, as in the US, the winners are both scum.


11 posted on 06/27/2009 6:43:38 AM PDT by dforest (Anyone dumb enough to have voted for him deserves what they get.. No Pity!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

What? And undo all the work by democrats in the transfer of trillions from those who work to those who don’t?


12 posted on 06/27/2009 6:58:19 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

It all started downhill when voting became a “Right”.

If we could return to simply referring to voting as a “Responsibility”, these same people would avoid it like the plague and we’d have our country back.

Simply solutions are usually the best


13 posted on 06/27/2009 7:00:26 AM PDT by CrappieLuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess
Another might be the person should not be currently on welfare.

That's a lovely idea, but unfortunately a solid majority of the citizens of the US are on welfare of one sort or another. Having children in public schools is one of the most under-recognized forms. Very few of the people who have children in public schools have paid or ever will pay anywhere near enough in taxes to cover what the school system is spending on their children. In my district, the high schools are now at over $24,000 a year per student, and that's really not unusual for the Northeast and big cities all over the country. Public school advocates love to cite falsely reduced figures, to garner political support -- often just "operating expenses", an accounting classification which excludes the cost of the buildings and of the interest on the bonds issued to pay for the buildings. The schools are being paid for largely by people who have their children in private schools, and by businesses. It would be extremely rare for anyone who has more than 2 children in public schools to ever pay the full cost, even after you take into account all the taxes they pay after their children graduate, and many people wouldn't ever cover the cost of even 2.

14 posted on 06/27/2009 7:02:33 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GovernmentShrinker

Nothing has been more destructive to the voting process than the Motor Voter Law signed by Clinton.

There was once a time when one had to give a damn about the political process enough to take 30 minutes to go the registrars office and register to vote. Now any uninformed airhead can vote as easy as voting for American Idol contestants. Sad.


15 posted on 06/27/2009 7:14:39 AM PDT by phoneman08 (Reagan conservative union member. Not as rare as you think!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

Never happen ... but something as simple as a driver’s test. Simple questions: Who is the Vice President, who is the Sec of State, Couple of points on the Constitution. A 10 question test would eliminate most people who would vote for a Rock Star instead of someone who could lead this great country. Today, most of them would vote for Micheal Jackson.


16 posted on 06/27/2009 7:25:27 AM PDT by DHC-2 (my flags: http://www.jdlinn.com/liberty.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: phoneman08

True story: I rent rooms to college students, and a few years back one of them had a foreign student friend over(Pakistani or Indian, I believe) who told us her Motor Voter story. The young woman was here on a student visa, not a US citizen, and had no intention of trying to illegally register to vote. But she’d recently received a voter registration card in the mail, showing that she was registered and eligible to vote. She called the Elections Board to find out how this had happened, and explain that she should not be registered because she wasn’t a citizen. She was informed that she’d been registered to vote when she got her Pennsylvania Driver’s License. Well, she’d clearly checked the “NO” box where it asked if she wanted to register to vote, but apparently the helpful union workers who staff the driver’s license offices just register people anyway — or at least dark-skinned females who they’re sure would vote Democrat.


17 posted on 06/27/2009 7:32:47 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: BillyKess

End open primaries now!


18 posted on 06/27/2009 8:05:38 AM PDT by Califreak (Dissident under duress)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Califreak

“End open primaries now!”

Exactly, candidates should never be chosen by those who have no intention of voting for them in the general election.


19 posted on 06/27/2009 4:15:33 PM PDT by Peter Horry (Never were abilities so much below mediocrity so well rewarded - John Randolph)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

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
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

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