Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can’t Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. FYI - I can get drafted (luckily, Daniel Berrigan burned my draft board’s records) and I pay taxes, yet I cannot vote for President. On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day.
But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can’t - and don’t intend to - finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights. Global warming? What’s that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks - we’ll stick with a good 'ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.
Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain’t over 'til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.
David Byrne
NYC
Mr. Byrne is a gem, a gift, a genius, as far as I’m concerned. What’s your opinion on what he has said.
If he feels so strongly he should naturalize here and be a dual US/UK citizen. Then he could vote, poor baby.
Good Lord, I can’t believe how angry it makes me that he bitches about being able to be drafted (so can undocumented immigrants, Mr. Bryne) and having to pay taxes (so do undocumented immigrants, Mr. Byrne) and makes it appear as if for some reason it’s nothing but his fault that he can’t vote.
Put your money where your mouth is and naturalize.
Tsk. You would think that the Brits would have learned their lesson about trying to tell Americans what to do after that whole Revolutionary War business.
As a fellow green-card holder, I don’t understand how David Byrne can get drafted (he’d be far too old, like me). And if he wants to vote, he can apply to become a citizen.
He was born in Scotland, family then moved to Canada, then on to the US. He can have dual citizenship with both, so he’s not giving anything up.
Except the ability to bitch about the hardships of being subject to US law yet not allowed a “voice” in US elections.
My god, what is WRONG with me?? It’s like I have this you don’t like it here you can leave, son, attitude. Where did that come from??? I better go cast my ballot for the Socialist before I completely turn into Mr. Hyde!
Yeah, but what if the waning days of the Iran War, we’re down to tweens and aging rock stars??? Huh??? What about THAT??? You think he should get a pass???
Christ, thanks a lot KSO, I was trying to respond to Starving Artist. If I’m going to be expected to preview, then I’m going to take my marbles and go home. Jeez!
As someone who could almost write the same thing verbatim except with a differnt name and State at the bottom (TX) and minus the draft comment, I want to point out one thing. In Mr. Byrne’s case he may have the choice to become a U.S. citizen and not lose his current citizenship but many of us cannot. I have been in the States since '96 and have been royally screwed over by immigration lawyers and U.S. Immigration finally receiving my Green Card a couple months ago. I have to wait another 5 years before I can apply for naturalization. As soon as I can I will since voting is important to me and I will not lose my Canadian citizenship but you can’t automatically assume an immigrant is choosing not to become a U.S. citizen.
Agreed. My view is that if you’re an artist and you want me to pay attention to what you say, say something artistic. His banal rant tells me nothing that I can’t already read on ten thousand blogs.