voter suppression laws--via the GOP

I totally get that. But somehow in 2008 those people made it to the polls to vote for Obama. But I guess they lost their ID since then.

This is an issue because Obama realizes he might actually lose this time around. The Democrats are just gearing up for their attack as to why he actually lost.

 

I wholly disagree. Even with Obama's victory, there was a large share of the US population that did not vote. Those people who don't bother are the ones who we should be seeking to include. Without the 'demos' you don't have much democracy, representative, direct, or otherwise. For example, my state's last election a few weeks ago had only 20% participation deciding its outcome.

 

Good god.

Could you have a worse case of cranial-rectal inversion or what?

I'm an unlazy white American born woman who can't take two hours out of my life to get my DL renewed.

Why?

Because thanks to laws enacted as to what I need to prove so that I can get a renewed DL..I have to spend upwards of 100 dollars and go thru a WHOLE lot of hassle and back and forths to get this one document that is ALMOST 30 years old and 3500 miles away from where I live to be able to have it renewed.

So I can vote. And drive. And do other Life Affirming things.

Do you really think I'm going to bend over backwards for drivers lic..when they ALREADY have said documents in their system?
Do you think I'm going to spend 150-200 dollars to get something that in reality should only cost me 30$ and not 2 months worth of bullshit to procure?

Nope.

If it come down to it...and someone says..hey get your license or die..THEN I'll do it. Until then I'll live with out it.

And I certainly won't vote.

 

I agree and disagree. I agree that every eligible voter should be able to go to the polls and cast their vote, regardless of party. But the people who don't bother are the people I'm talking about. If you don't bother to take the time to make your voice heard, then I don't care.

 

And even if this were the case (and I am not conceding this), democratic rights aren't restricted to the hardworking and industrious. It is a person's right by virtue of being... a human being. Period. And let's be honest, the structure is set up to protect those already in political power. If they really wanted to maximize participation, you would have an election last over a period of several days (eliminating the need for early voting), especially on weekends (many countries include Saturdays and Sundays for those who work long hours on weekdays). Voting is an inconvenient pain in the ass, but it is necessary. We should be maximizing participation, not limiting it.

Your statement is premised upon the idea that they don't vote because of apathy. It is more likely that they either cannot get there, lack the requirements, are unaware of what to do next (as a frequent canvasser I can attest to the existence of many such people) or feel that their vote makes no difference (which is something both parties want them to think, hence the bias against 3rd parties in election laws across the country). And I do care about those people.

 

Ok, that's your choice!

Personally, I wouldn't mind spending $100 to get my drivers license renewed if I could do things like...drive and vote.

I'd love to see what you do spend $100 on, it must be some really important stuff if driving and voting don't make your list.

 

My only issue is that people have 4 years to prepare for this. It's not like a pop quiz that comes up randomly. People know that November 6th is election day. People can even do mail in ballots and never even leave their home here in California. So it's just hard for me to buy the excuse of it's too difficult to participate. If you want to do something really bad, you make it happen. If I told people I would give them a round trip all expenses paid trip to Hawaii and all I needed was an ID, they would be at that DMV line in 15 minutes.

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm

 

You do know it's not only voter ID laws that are being implemented correct, since this seems to be your hang up in making this a Democrats want to win issue? You do know in some heavily Republican leaning districts voting hours have been extended to insure people get to vote while in many poor Democratic leaning districts voting hours have been limited and the number of polling places in some areas have been reduced. I suppose the evil Democrats making a stink about those points is just sour grapes also from your POV?

 

I don't share this negative view of human nature. In my work I have encountered more people overwhelmed by life circumstances and struggle, not the trifling sloth you think exists. And many of those that don't bother, I have found, don't because they believe the game is rigged and it won't matter. And I have to say, the game is rigged. In favor of the two existing parties.

 

THIS.



Rep sent your way sir.

 

Do you know how many voting districts there are in America? 435. The number of precincts is even larger. Trust me if you go through the list of voting hours, there will be plenty of Democratic districts with long voting hours. I wish the Democrats would put down the violin and talk about serious issues.

 

yeah...it's called food.

Because even if I ate my expired DL I'd still be hungry.

 

First, who said anything about me not caring about people's life circumstances. Circumstances are bad right now which should be even more of a reason to vote. Like I said, I encourage every eligible voter to go vote...regardless of party.

They don't vote because the game is rigged? Seriously?

Tell them to follow these steps- get up, go to a voting station, show your ID, vote, go home. They will tally 1 vote in your name...end of story.

Don't people get tired of the excuses? I'm tired just listening to them.

 

Talking about disenfranchisement isn't "the violin". The truth about the voting hours issue is that there are no (to my knowledge) Democratically-run county election boards that have been reducing access in Republican precincts. What I am aware of in Democrat-run counties is the official wing of the party using such measures to block access by upstart Dems.

Re-read, jameswilson1. I didn't accuse you of not caring. I said I have seen more evidence of circumstances overwhelming people than the evidence of sloth (i.e. the party cruise example) you cited. That is all. I am not casting aspersions on your character.

And the game is rigged. The electoral laws are designed to impede the progress of 3rd parties (i.e. those most likely to engage the people who do not vote now).

And acknowledging the fact that there are people who are, in fact, overwhelmed and/or broken, isn't making excuses. It's acknowledging a fact. I agree with you that we should be encouraging everyone to vote, period.

 

Sir. If you are a representative of the kind of "caring Republican" that you claim Mitt Romney is in other threads, you have just lost him votes with your complete lack of apathy to the circumstances that a good deal of honest poor individuals go through in this thread. Just my two cents though. SMH.

 

Just one more reason to vote out Obama. You shouldn't have to eat your expired DL to survive.

 

I'm not costing Mitt Romney any votes. The people on these threads have made up their minds.

I'm a caring person who has gone through more than most people on this thread. I was unemployed for 9 months after my small business took a dive. I worked odd jobs for minimum wage that entire time. So let's not cast judgement about me not being apathetic. All Republicans aren't rich white guys living in mansions.

 

No...what I should do is vote two asstwats into office that will cut the safety net for millions of poor Americans who need additional assistance (like snap) completely so that when it comes down to where that 100$ goes..

I'll know in good faith that eating my drivers license was absolutely the only choice I had.

http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/working-poor.aspx

 

I wasn't casting judgment. And I have been through everything you mentioned above. In fact, I joined this forum on the back end of that period. I don't doubt your sincerity or your struggle. I just think that there are people out there who get overwhelmed by these same circumstances you've gone through and can't just bounce back. And their inability to recover shouldn't condemn them to no assistance and perpetual exclusion. Efforts should be made to achieve 90%+- participation, and in a democracy, it would be worth it.

 

My point is that it is not disenfranchisement. They have the opportunity to vote. Whether they choose to do so is their own option. Just like the lady in this thread.

I can't dispute what you've seen. If you've seen more people not vote because of the voting process being daunting, then that's cool. The overwhelming majority of people that I know that don't vote, just don't take the time. And remember, people never want to say they're lazy. They will always give you an excuse as to why they don't do something.

In order for 3rd party candidates to rise, they need to gain more popular votes. Unfortunately, it will always be a two party race until more people start supporting 3rd party candidates.