Today’s comic started another firestorm over at comics.com.
Most reasonable people agree that these voter ID laws are a solution without a problem. I say reasonable because a careful analysis of the facts shows there are very few cases of voter fraud. But these facts are supplied by the government or the main stream media. If you have a carefully nurtured distrust of all things government and/or media then these facts become propaganda. No facts and you can just believe whatever you want to believe. Based on… what?… a hunch?… the stars?… whatever some talk show host says?…
Here’s the problem: a citizenry that can’t agree on the validity of the basic facts needed to make informed decisions is in big trouble. It’s not that the truth won’t eventually come out, it’s that facts that should be self-evident don’t become subject to wide spread agreement until AFTER we’ve enacted stupid and unnecessary laws like Voter ID and we have to deal with nasty fallout from denying citizens their constitutional right to vote.
In all my years of cartooning, I’ve never seen the partisan rancor this bad.
It’s really nasty out there. And I don’t have a solution. If we can’t stand together on a level playing field of basic agreed upon reality, how can we have an honest debate? How can we run a country? A state? A city? A family?
How can we get out of bed in the morning?
Hilarious (what else would we expect). True. Hammy (’nuff said). Smarter than the average media. And non-partisan… or non-Parmesan. Or something. Please do let the squirrel vote. He’s smarter than a lot of the humans. I had to tweet, facebook and flood my email list with this too. Carry on!
Why not implement one single card-format document to each citizen as his link to Federal services? If well implemented, it can be validated and even shared at State level, actually co-designed by willing state legislatures.
It exist in many countries and works fine!
It’s still sad to think that the citizen can be “flubbed” by the state or federal govts for partisan reasons. Tay.
I would like to make a statement on this sort of issue, and I am going to actually try to do it politely.
There is such a thing as voter fraud and it does go both ways unfortunately. How much it occurs remains to be seen because, as you point out, it is “he said/she said” currently. You can look up ACORN voting scandal and there are multiple Republican/Democrat/Independent/etc. scares, charges, and court cases relating to this and more. So not only is the “politicians want voter ID laws because they want to be elected” argument logically invalid by non sequitur, they do have a point for once.
Also, the “discrimination” argument just does not make sense. I am relatively certain that most everyone eligible to vote has some form of identification. Even credit cards are a form of ID for some states including mine.
I’m not saying voter ID laws were the greatest invention since democracy, but I think the problems proposed by these laws are lesser than the problem of a true and honest voter scam occurring on a national level. Its like removing nuclear warheads internationally for some politicians. It may allow some rogue countries to completely ignore our cause and proliferate their own devices, but it sure beats a nuclear war occurring by accident.
Sorry about adding yet ANOTHER political comment, but I couldn’t help myself. Had to say something.
Garfield2 – It strikes me that if voter fraud is an issue to both sides then it would be approached as a bi-partisan effort with provisions for an extended amount of time to make sure everyone is able to get the card. In an ideal world Republicans would be just as concerned for the Democratic voting population as their own and vice versa. Unfortunately, that is not how this has been brought about. It was a last minute end run before a major and hotly contested election pushed through by Republican state congresses basically steamrolling over Democratic objections. The amount of voter fraud is minuscule compared to the total number of votes cast in this country. Small local political races where the turnout is low are the ones most affected by voter fraud and I don’t believe that those intent on fraud will be impeded by a so-called voter card. So why this big push before this particular national election when the part of the electorate that is likely to be affected is a section that generally votes for the opposition? One Republican state congressman said it succinctly…to paraphrase: We passed the voter ID so now our boy Romney is a shoe-in.
I don’t object to a voter ID card per se, but not necessarily for the reason of voter fraud and I do consider it another in a long line of infringements on our civil rights. It reminds me of when I was a kid during the cold war with Russia. We were all appalled at the very idea that Russian citizens had to carry their identification papers with them at all times. And now, that is rapidly becoming the case here. If it is commonly agreed that we need a voter ID card, then it should be undertaken with plenty of time, a grace period as is common when other regulations take effect, and effort on all parts to see that the populace is able to take advantage of their constitutional right to vote.
Finally, I want to address the commonly held belief by conservatives that it should be easy for everyone to get the card no matter what their socio-economic status is. That everyone who is eligible to vote probably already has the identification needed is I think, a myth. And even if they did, that by no means makes it easy to obtain the card. Consider: working poor with small children, no car so no driver’s license but you do have a birth certificate but you can’t afford a baby sitter so you must take the bus with small children in tow, you wait for hours for your turn at the DMV trying to keep your children fed and entertained. It’s crowded so you leave without having obtained said voter ID card to have to return another day under the same conditions. And if you are employed, if your employer will give you the day off which you really can’t afford anyway, you must go through the same scenario. And this is only one of many variations that would keep certain parts of the population from obtaining the card in a timely fashion.
Welcome to the decline of American society, Mr. Fry. At this point, the only solution is to let the herd run the whole culture off a cliff, then rebuild after they’ve exhausted themselves. Historically, that’s how these things usually go. Just keep your helmet handy and try to enjoy the ride.
I find fault with Fry’s contention that there should be “no barriers to voting” .
Should five year olds be allowed to vote? Should Californians be allowed to vote in Nevada? Should primaries be open to all? There have always been “barriers” to voting, this isn’t one!
Ellen Abbott- I would like to see that Republican governor. Could you give his name? The one who said Romney is now a shoe-in?
Anyway, it is a common misconception that Voter ID laws make actual IDs to vote. If that is the case, then it is silly. In the separate states that have Voter ID laws, the most strict governments have been are photo identifications. That means that a military ID, passport, driver’s license, etc. are required. In other states, like mine, ID can be one of your credit cards. So ID laws don’t make actual IDs necessary to vote, you just need to have something. IDs can’t stop illegal voting, but I believe it to be a good step. Like everything, the only way a problem is ended is if the people turn totally good. Sadly, that won’t be the case anytime soon.
About the Republicans caring for other voters and vice-versa, that will never be the case. Parties are designed to get people elected, sadly in some cases illegally. Maybe that’s why George Washington hated the thought of political parties coming in.
Udo- Good point. There’s always a limit to voting.