# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 830
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16581 "2014-09-09T22:29:55Z")
If at any point you’re finding yourself complaining about making it easier for people to legitimately cast their vote, you’re wrong. Full stop. End of story. You’re done. You’re out. Do not pass go. You are standing against democracy, are a moron, and have no place holding a microphone. The fact that this guy’s justification is racist is just the icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16582 "2014-09-09T23:19:36Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > If at any point you’re finding yourself complaining about making it easier for people to legitimately cast their vote, you’re wrong. Full stop. End of story. You’re done. You’re out. Do not pass go. You are standing against democracy, are a moron, and have no place holding a microphone. The fact that this guy’s justification is racist is just the icing on the cake. I feel the same way about people who think “guilty until proven innocent” and “innocent until proven guilty” are essentially synonymous. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16583 "2014-09-09T23:22:07Z")
That’s your opinion. IMO, voting is like jury duty. It’s a civic duty that everyone should be able to do, but we shouldn’t be practically chasing them with a ballot, which is where Democrats are heading because their voter base is unreliable. We had a bipartisan agreement for decades about how voting should be done, but once Democrats realized they had a turnout disadvantage suddenly it became the height of virtue to make it as easy as possible. Problem is, no matter how easy they make it, it doesn’t work. This state rep is a moron. First, given what he said after, he probably is a racist and he exposed himself as a racist. Second, he needn’t have worried. Democrats have been trying, and failing, to boost turnout in non-Presidential years for a long time and it hasn’t worked. It’s all about motivation. Black voters turned out at higher rates than whites when Barack Obama was on the ballot. When he’s not, they turn apathetic. The presence of a voting booth so conveniently located that they probably can’t avoid voting without turning and running away screaming won’t make much of a difference if there are no candidates they truly support. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16584 "2014-09-09T23:37:20Z")
Why _shouldn’t_ voting be as easy as possible? Would it be a problem if it was made far easier than it is now? Elected officials have to convince people to vote for them - the people don’t have to justify their rights to vote. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16585 "2014-09-09T23:38:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > …Second, he needn’t have worried. Democrats have been trying, and failing, to boost turnout in non-Presidential years for a long time and it hasn’t worked… Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16586 "2014-09-09T23:38:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s your opinion. IMO, voting is like jury duty. It’s a civic duty that everyone should be able to do, but we shouldn’t be practically chasing them with a ballot Which is it? Should it be like jury duty (i.e. the government energetically pushes, and even requires, participation) or not? > [@](#): > > We had a bipartisan agreement for decades about how voting should be done Which “decades”, specifically? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16587 "2014-09-09T23:41:07Z")
Voting is pretty darn easy. It’s easier than applying for a job, easier than opening a bank account, easier even then buying an Iphone. Something I bet every one of the people in that mall in Dekalb have done in all three cases. The drive to make it easier to vote isn’t about making it possible for people to vote who currently can’t. It’s about getting unmotivated voters to the polls. I don’t have a problem with debating from a policy perspective whether this is desirable or not. What I do have a problem with is Democrats treating their political interests as a civil rights issues. Banning literacy tests and policies that kept black voters off the rolls is a civil rights issue. Early voting is not. States that do not have early voting are not racist, and they are not vote suppressors. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16588 "2014-09-09T23:42:50Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > which is where Democrats are heading because their voter base is unreliable. It’s ok, you’re among friends. You can go ahead and call them “lazy” if you want. Feel free to append “darkies” or “beaners” as appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16589 "2014-09-09T23:44:28Z")
We aren’t the ones specifically targeting black voters out of concern they won’t come out. That would be Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16590 "2014-09-09T23:47:38Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We aren’t the ones specifically targeting black voters out of concern they won’t come out. That would be Democrats. That’s because you don’t want black voters to vote. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16591 "2014-09-09T23:51:12Z")
It’s kind of amazing that a bat signal like "Stupid Republican… " took this long to attract adaher. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16592 "2014-09-10T00:03:45Z")
Well, we checked our tank and we were a stupid Republican low. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16593 "2014-09-10T00:04:46Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16594 "2014-09-10T00:06:56Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, we checked our tank and we were a stupid Republican low. This is what we get for having a tank with a dipstick. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16595 "2014-09-10T00:22:45Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It’s kind of amazing that a bat signal like "Stupid Republican… " took this long to attract adaher. He identifies with batshit. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16596 "2014-09-10T00:28:34Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s your opinion. No, no it is not, and you’re an idiot for saying so. The point of a democracy is to make the voice of the people the deciding factor. Any action that leads to more legitimate votes being cast is a positive factor for democracy. Regardless of whether or not what you try works, _the attempt is in itself noble_. Everything except that last sentence is a basic concept and you have no excuse for not getting it. > [@adaher](#): > > Voting is pretty darn easy. It’s easier than applying for a job, easier than opening a bank account, easier even then buying an Iphone. Something I bet every one of the people in that mall in Dekalb have done in all three cases. You want to know the difference between voting and all of those thing? _Those other things are not fundamental to the functionality of a democracy_. Oh, they matter, but a man’s vote is the most fundamental unit of political power in the system we have. And you know what? None of this means that making it easier to vote is a bad thing. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s wrong to make it easier. Of course, “easy” is one of those terms that really shouldn’t come to mind when talking about voting, because _it ain’t_. @jsgoddess: you mean dipshit? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16597 "2014-09-10T00:38:11Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > No, no it is not, and you’re an idiot for saying so. The point of a democracy is to make the voice of the people the deciding factor. Any action that leads to more legitimate votes being cast is a positive factor for democracy. Regardless of whether or not what you try works, _the attempt is in itself noble_. Everything except that last sentence is a basic concept and you have no excuse for not getting it. I’m not that old, and I remember when there weren’t serious attempts to make voting easier. It wasn’t until the 90s that this suddenly became a matter of urgency because it was clearly affecting one party. > [@](#): > > You want to know the difference between voting and all of those thing? _Those other things are not fundamental to the functionality of a democracy_. Oh, they matter, but a man’s vote is the most fundamental unit of political power in the system we have. And you know what? None of this means that making it easier to vote is a bad thing. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s wrong to make it easier. Of course, “easy” is one of those terms that really shouldn’t come to mind when talking about voting, because _it ain’t_. Voting isn’t easy? It is easier than the things I mentioned, and the fact they do not have the same purpose is irrelevant. The fact is, nearly everyone does those things because they are motivated to do so. Likewise, people motivated to vote do so. THe reason not everyone votes is because they are not motivated to do so, not because it is too difficult to do so. I agree that making it easier to vote isn’t a bad thing, provided the integrity of the system is maintained. If Democrats want to do away with registration because it’s an obstacle to voting they can go to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16598 "2014-09-10T00:48:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We aren’t the ones specifically targeting black voters out of concern they won’t come out. That would be Democrats. Adaher, a while ago you went to the [trouble of creating your very own playroom where you could write on the wall with whatever bodily substances you desired.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=725730) Is there any chance you could take your endless mindless digressions and attempts to excuse the inexcusable to that thread and let this one fulfill its actual purpose instead of serving as one hideous example of one Republican’s stupid ideas? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16599 "2014-09-10T00:50:04Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Voting is pretty darn easy. It’s easier than applying for a job, easier than opening a bank account, easier even then buying an Iphone. Something I bet every one of the people in that mall in Dekalb have done in all three cases… OK, but was it just as easy for them as it is for Ashley McWhiteboy? Shouldn’t it be? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/16600 "2014-09-10T01:35:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Georgia Republican House Whip: “[It shouldn’t be so convenient for blacks to vote](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/09/09/3565073/georgia-senator-early-voting-suppression/).” He’s also against churches running buses to voting places as a violation of separation of church and state. Which is the first time I’ve ever heard a Republican object to that. Ya know, that is such a GREAT money quote that I wish you could link to a site that quotes him actually saying/writing it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=829) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=831)