Which is why I said “might”. But sorry if I implied otherwise.
Right
Because if you have no car, or bank account, or job skills beyond a high school diploma… you just pick up and move to the city and get a “good job”.
You might do it for the necessities of life, but would you take a day off work for the purpose of doing all the legwork to get that voter ID? When doing so meant that your rent or utilities went unpaid, your kids went hungry, or you couldn’t pay your bills? Make no mistake, Alabama isn’t doing this to save money. They’re doing it to suppress the vote.
nvm
Yeah… sure… of course. I’ve never been poor, thankfully, but I see a lot of poor people in this small southern town where I live make unwise and illogical (or shortsighted or emotional) choices. I can not dispute that. Many of them seem to be that way.
I’m tired, no sleep last night, pretty tired… so perhaps I misread you, perhaps what I see as you being callous is some other factor. I agree, if you loose your food stamp card… you shouldn’t of lost it. If you need a drivers license… go get one. If your truck got reposed you should of paid your bills more responsibly.
But really, some people are just more capable than others. Unless I am misinterpreting your comments… your stance seems very callous to me.
You questioned their right to vote based on their economic situation.
This.
I wonder how many of these allegedly downtrodden Alabamans actually want to vote? After all, voter turnout was only 58% in the 2012 election.
In many (most?) states, voter id is free. Their economic situation is irrelevant.
You clearly questioned why they should vote because they’re poor.
Others can see the posts I quoted.
The documents required to get the voter ID card are not free.
There’s a difference between being poor because you spend all your money at the liquor store buying loosies and cigars and fifths and (just outside) pot and 5 dollar a box cereal, because you can’t be arsed to take a bus ride to the wal-mart and pay far less money for a week’s worth of groceries… and being poor because you have relatives in need who have massive medical bills and can no longer take care of themselves, and every dime you make is taken up by familial support, or because you are temporarily out of work and jobs are scarce in your area and you simply can’t leave because moving is a massive expense for many people.
There are plenty of people who have money and spend it poorly, these are people who are poor by choice.
But to paint all poor with the same brush is incredibly ignorant and callous.
It’s the same tired “personal responsibility” mantra. There’s no such thing as a person who is poor because of circumstance. If you’re poor, it’s because you haven’t gotten off your ass to be not poor! That’s not what the American dream is about! Stop spending your money on the booze and the blunts, poor people! Just go get a better job and then you won’t be poor anymore.
It’s so easy.
If Hillary can swing a few more black votes her way by yelling Racism! do you really think she’s going to worry about the details? It doesn’t matter whether it’s true, most people will hear Alabama and rush to judgment (as many of the answers in this thread show ample witness.)
Then I wasn’t making myself clear. The real question is why we (and Mrs. Clinton) are attempting to make a mountain out of a molehill. They closed 31 satellite offices, most of which are located in the same building as the regular offices. BFD. I guess it’s just easier to shout Alabama! and Racism! though.
No, the real question is why you care.
States and most governments have finite resources. At some point where does the responsibility of the individual in a free society become the determining factor in how that individual lives? Alabama has budget problems like many states and yes some people will be inconvenienced. Some people will have a harder time than others due to geographical or financial considerations for voting, going to a state park, fishing, driving on the interstate, or using any other form of government subsidized activity.
In some rural areas post offices are closed. Is that for racist reasons or due to the fact that government at every level has to make choices with regards to efficient allocation of limited resources and services? I’m more concerned with the disparity in education in wealthy districts compared to poorer districts than I am with a couple of lifetime events to acquire documentation for voting or driving.
Here’s a simple yardstick - if your state doesn’t have the budget to provide easy access to the office that issues IDs, don’t require IDs to vote. Budget problems are no excuse to infringe on civil rights.
Voting is a civil right. Identifying yourself as an eligible voter is a civic responsibility. All rights come with responsibilities.
That, or loosen up ID requirements to make it easier. I.E. aren’t receipts, utility bill etc.
Voter fraud is an issue, but there’s little evidence that in-person voter fraud happens often.
Can you explain how “And they should vote, why exactly? So they can spend other people’s money?”, said by you in #181, was “unclear”? Because it seems awfully clear to me. Thanks.