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I have long advocated for a strong pro-democracy agenda to repair and strengthen our broken electoral system. The needs are many--from creating an Election Day holiday, to requiring voting machines that produce a voter-verified paper trail, to re-enfranchising former felons who have served their sentences, to public campaign financing.
Just this past week, when my 18 year old daughter was back from college for fall break and told me it was too complicated to go register this Tuesday, I realized why we need another important reform I've written about for these last few years--same day voter registration.
Last week, the Same Day Registration Act was introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (S.1986) and Congressman Keith Ellison (H.R. 3957) requiring states to provide for same day registration (SDR). With SDR, a citizen who misses a voter registration deadline can register at the polls on Election Day or the period leading up to it, and then cast a valid ballot.
Voting participation in the US averages an abysmal 50 percent for presidential elections and 40 percent for congressional elections. SDR has already proven it makes a real difference.
In the 2008 election, the top five states for voter turnout were Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, New Hampshire, and Iowa. All had a turnout of 70 percent or more and all have same day registration. A total of nine states currently allow for it--the others are Idaho, Montana, North Carolina, and Wyoming.
"In these states, some of which have used SDR for 35 years, voter participation rates in Presidential Elections are consistently 7 to 12 percentage points higher than in states without [the] law," said Miles Rapoport, President of Demos, a national public policy center that has studied and advocated for Same Day Registration for nearly a decade.
"Election Day registration is a prime example of sensible modernization of our voter registration system," said Rob Richie, a Nation contributor and Executive Director of FairVote. "Voter registration should be about running efficient and secure elections and never a barrier to fair access to participation. With today's statewide voter registration databases and modern technology, we can make election day registration work as a complement to steps to establish full and accurate voter rolls."
Senator Feingold and Congressman Ellison both pointed to SDR's success in their states and the logic of making it standard practice for federal elections.
"Helping more Americans exercise their right to vote is in the best interests of our democracy," Senator Feingold said. "The system in Wisconsin, which allows for same day registration, has worked well for more than 30 years and is a major reason why Wisconsin is a national leader in voter turnout....We should take action to get more people involved in the political process and same day registration is a proven way to do it."
"Minnesota routinely leads the nation in voter turnout-usually over 70 percent," Congressman Ellison said. "We do so because in Minnesota our right to vote is a sacred right and a moral obligation.... Enacting a National Election Day Registration law would do for the nation what same day registration has done for our state-give a voice to all who want to vote."
The bills currently have four cosponsors in the Senate, and five in the House. This is an important step to help put our nation on the path to a more perfect union. Tell your legislators to support this legislation.
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Katrina vanden Heuvel
Thoughts on politics, current affairs, riffs and reflections on what’s in the news and what’s not--but should be.
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Katrina,
I happened to catch you on C-Span this morning. As usual, you did a very graceful job and you even managed a potent and effective and jab at the Republican Party in response to the final caller's suggestion that Glenn Beck would have fun with your defense of Gorbachev's statements in your recent interview with him that you and your husband, Steve Cohen, conducted. Great line about the Republicans enlisting "liars and lunatics" to their cause.
It was also notable that the callers to C-Span were so much more well mannered than many of the posters who commonly litter the Nation's own blog spaces. But I do have one point that I believe is screaming for attention at the moment.
While I think you did a marvelous job of spelling out some of the critically important initiatives that Barack Obama needs to focus on, and bring new and refreshing approaches to --i.e. an Afghan troop drawdown, the critical need for a powerful jobs creation initiative, and (in reference to Gorbachev) the need to address human caused global warming-- there is a danger here that hasn't gotten nearly enough attention presently.
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:02pm
Barack Obama, as you pointed out, has not done himself any favors by providing trillions of dollars in taxpayer money (OUR money), and guarantees to the mega financial institutions that created the current economic morrass while refusing to take them to task and reduce their power by forcing a badly called for restructuring. In reference to that the grave danger now building is the threat posed to Obama's presidential effectiveness as he finds himself crushed between the Skylla of right wing mouth foamers, and the Charybdis of a left wing that has abandoned Obama as a phoney who has reneged on his mandate for change that he ran on as his primary campaign message.
In short, Obama must wake up and rediscover his "fierce urgency of now", or find himself completely politically hamstrung, and essentially a prisoner of angry mobs in every direction.
There's only one way to turn, Obama, and it isn't rightward. I sincerely hope that The Nation and others can make that point abundantly clear, and quickly.
Thanks again for your voice Katrina,
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:02pm
Of some interest today to Nation readers as well...
Here's our fearless Congress cowing to the Israel lobby:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23849.htm
Here's a brief but potent Haaretz piece showing up our Congressional lackeys:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23857.htm
And last but not least, here is Goldstone himself on Moyers:
www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10232009/profile.html
~After you watch how cool and level Goldstone is, it is readily apparent how absurd the first link I posted is.
Peace out, ~B
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:09pm
Katrina,
Let's implement same day registration for everyone who has passed a basic civics test.
For too long we have put the future of our nation in the hands of people who couldn't describe the first amendment or even what type of government we have if their lives depended on it.
Posted by antisocialist at 11/02/2009 @ 1:24pm
"For too long we have put the future of our nation in the hands of people who couldn't describe the first amendment or even what type of government we have if their lives depended on it"
(see: george w. bush)
Posted by darladoon at 11/02/2009 @ 1:34pm
btw, great post, katrina! and nice thoughts from b_kool_66
Posted by darladoon at 11/02/2009 @ 1:36pm
How about the day off work, with pay, for anyone who votes (in addition to same day registration). Why should X-convicts be disenfranchised when they've already done their time and paid their dues.
Some of these laws were designed to diminish probable votes for democratic candidates; I.D. laws - same thing.
By the way, Ms Katrina, you were great on C-span this a.m. Especially on Russia. Gorbachev should get much more credit than he does for bringing Russia into the fold of democratic nations. He has to be one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century.
Peace Out
Posted by Buddy33 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:48pm
Saw you on cspan today Ms Vanden Huevel, right after catching Kristol, what a dweeb, anyhoo, you were great, thanks for all you do.
Posted by Denise29 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:54pm
Anyone of maturity, esp. having had children, should be well aware of all the various deadlines we deal with. Be it to sign up for schools, youth soccer, returning library books, and on and on....
So, please, spare us the arguments for SDR.....folks that can't find the time to meet registration deadlines in their state, are hardly the type of folks we want to make decisions on who should be in the Gubberment!
All that SDR shows, is one more symptom of the Mommy State.....who will make up any excuses for their slacker kids.
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 1:56pm
Your daughter must be an idiot if she thinks it "too complicated" to register. C'mon same day registration opens it up way too much for fraud.
Posted by abell12ct at 11/02/2009 @ 1:59pm
Happy and abell12ct, wouldn't want "those people" to register to vote on the same day because it would help the dems, at least be homest about it.
Posted by Denise29 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:08pm
At least be "honest" about it. Hurumph!
Posted by Denise29 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:10pm
Posted by antisocialist at 11/02/2009 @ 1:24pm
Agreed.
And same for pregnancy. Parents to be need to be drug free and know up from down, back from front when holding a plastic baby-sized baby.
Posted by winyahn at 11/02/2009 @ 2:27pm
As much as I want to think of myself as a good, liberal populist, I have to agree with our con friends on this one.
Registering to vote is like falling off a log; do it absentee and you can even avoid the lines.
If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 1:56pm
A valuable lesson for the tenants of your slums. No more same day rental payments. Wait six months to begin payment cycle, thus showing pragmatic, Ayn Randish, selfish, enfranchising motivation.
Thanks hippy, I'll pass that along next time I'm in town.
Posted by Sorelish at 11/02/2009 @ 2:35pm
True u can't legislate some things, can't coach some things, can't make some of this snap up, but u can incentivize better pregnancy, neonate care, parenting.
For ex "cash for clunkers," the sort could pay $500 each Thanksgiving and Easter for every over 18 loser nonpregnant female. Loser status could be decided at the state level. For example any one with more width than height who can't say the Pledge.
Posted by winyahn at 11/02/2009 @ 2:36pm
A valuable lesson for the tenants of your slums. No more same day rental payments. Wait six months to begin payment cycle, thus showing pragmatic, Ayn Randish, selfish, enfranchising motivation.
Thanks hippy, I'll pass that along next time I'm in town.
Posted by Sorelish at 11/02/2009 @ 2:35pm
Incoherent.....are you going the way of SRJ?
My tenants know the deadlines for rent payments....just as assuredly you know when YOU are supposed to be paid your salary, no?
BTW, I've looked in slum areas to buy, but no, not one of my properties are slum-like. I do, however, sometimes have slum-like tenants who look fine and upstanding when I qualified them, slick applicants they were....bait-and-switchers, sort of like their Messiah living in the Black House!
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 2:45pm
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 2:45pm
Well Happy, back to the voting issue, why wouldn't it make sense to "git er done" all at once, on the same day. Register, get a free ride to the polling place, maybe enjoy some pizza while waiting in line & cast your ballot? Saves time & effort for everyone.
Is it really any different than throwing a thousand dollar a plate dinner for special interests prior to election day? That's kind of like knowing you've got a winning lottery ticket from the git go.
Posted by Sorelish at 11/02/2009 @ 3:03pm
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/02/2009 @ 1:09pm | ignore this person | warn this person
Never ceases to amaze me. You want a balanced point of view on Israel, read the Israeli press. Haaretz is dead on.
Obama and Clinton are making complete fools of themselves. Clinton should have been muzzled and just listened on her latest trip. Today, she is backpeddling (again) and assuring those in Morocco that she is just using "nuanced" politic to get peace talks going.
JUST completely pathetic.
Haaretz acknowledges the significant leverage US has over Israel via economic and military aid. The aid keeps flowing, despite Israel's bad behavior. Even a child understands this is contrary to principal.
Stew Nozette in court today facing charges of spying for Israel.
G-d help us. If we had little "d" democracy, we would have had peace long ago.
Posted by OneVote at 11/02/2009 @ 3:04pm
", to requiring voting machines that produce a voter-verified paper trail,"
what's wrong with a pencil and a piece of paper?
the german supreme court banned voting machines because of the many dangers inherent.
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 3:10pm
"what's wrong with a pencil and a piece of paper?"
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 3:10pm
Apparently too complicated.
First ya gotta sharpen the pencil, then ya gotta write with the pencil.....those x's are tricky....
man, I'm gettin tired just talkin about it.
Posted by Benchrest at 11/02/2009 @ 3:32pm
Benchrest, and theres no erasors allowed on the pencils, and no erasing allowed, phew, that was a lot of work, sarcasm off.
Posted by Denise29 at 11/02/2009 @ 4:11pm
the Black House!
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 2:45pm
everybody knows them niggrahs should be kept in cages.
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 4:18pm
When are we going to have Saturday registration and/or voting, so that workers can get to the registrar's office or polling place without jeopardizing our employment?
When I resided in Phoenix, our Repub county registrar put the kibosh on a voter registration drive on the grounds that making it possible for folks to register in front of the Safeway during their leisure time would make it too easy for workers to vote - for Dems.
He did very graciously open the registrar's office on one evening - the evening of the registration deadline - and was featured on the evening news that night, so unprecedented was this accommodation for working Arizonans.
Posted by samcrossett at 11/02/2009 @ 4:35pm
here in my backwards country you check a box on your tax return and then you are registered.
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 5:14pm
Your kid is 18 years old, in college and can't figure out how to register to vote? Give me a break.
I'm from a foreign country and had been a US citizen less than a week when I did it - and I managed to figure out all on my own. It took me less than 5 minutes to fill the form and lick the stamp.
You should probably just send her to trade school or something and get a tuition refund, because she's clearly not college material if she can't do something that simple.
Posted by The_Swami at 11/02/2009 @ 5:37pm
Well there are some twists to US voting as I recall (I don't vote or read the papers) that makes it hard on a stressed out, kid-burdened, semi-working, junk food inhaling, fructose fatigue feelin' fool who didn't pay the light bill, and just realized the one and only day to vote is now almost over, only a couple hours left and then he can vote only at this one school that was on the piece of paper which he left home, or was it a church and oops forgot his ID also, realizing he may have time to go get ID but not to cross town to get to last location attached to his old apartment after getting TJ from afterschool and why not these countless other locations he's driving by - his last lame thought before not voting again.
Posted by winyahn at 11/02/2009 @ 5:47pm
Why didn't I vote? I was hangin' with Chad. Playin' the slots. Just trying to line some things up. Must've pulled my shoulder or twisted my wrist or something. Can't recall. Woke up next morning with a huge headache. Doctor said I was "disenfranchised". Sure, blame the Franch all over again.
Posted by winyahn at 11/02/2009 @ 5:52pm
"Minnesota routinely leads the nation in voter turnout-usually over 70 percent," Congressman Ellison said. "We do so because in Minnesota our right to vote is a sacred right and a moral obligation.... Enacting a National Election Day Registration law would do for the nation what same day registration has done for our state-give a voice to all who want to vote."
Bull shit. I lived there for 20 years.
They show up with anyone who says,"yup, he lives here", and presto!!!!!!!! ......A new liberal dem voter signed up!!!
A picture id to vote should not be too difficult to require or comply...after all, many people who don't want to be id 'ed to vote sure can find welfare offices when checks are late...in multiple states!!!
How about this...to vote and have a say so in the countrys actions, you must be a tax payer?....
Posted by YourJomamma at 11/02/2009 @ 6:05pm
"what's wrong with a pencil and a piece of paper?"
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 3:10pm
Apparently too complicated.
First ya gotta sharpen the pencil, then ya gotta write with the pencil.....those x's are tricky....
man, I'm gettin tired just talkin about it.
Posted by Benchrest at 11/02/2009 @ 3:32pm | ignore this person | warn this person
Diebold will have none of it.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 11/02/2009 @ 6:21pm
Anti-democracy forces have been trying to subvert polling for hundreds of years, they aren't about to stop now. The biggest problem to contend with is back house corruption in the form of voter caging, under-staffing/equipping inner-city polling places, ID laws, intimidation and all of the other nasty tricks carried out in the 2000 and 2004 elections. SDR is an obvious counter balance to corruption, but the corruption itself has to be dealt with. I have a special hatred for those apathetic about American voters, as well. Especially the racism, elitism, and education excuses to put down people who have a hard time maintaining their voting. Liberal racists are you listening? You might not understand or care, but every time you say that people don't vote because of their education level it does a few things. Among them is that it exposes your own ignorance of the facts and circumstances of people who didn't have college educations and middle class upbringings handed to them on a silver platter, and also makes them feel like outsiders. Why would an outsider care about a system shits on them, and even by the people who claim to be their advocates. People don't want help from anyone that they believe looks down on them, you are not helping.
Posted by Milhaus at 11/02/2009 @ 6:35pm
Good thoughts! SDR has given Minnesota the highest voter turnouts in the county. Minneapolis will now have another form of democratic voting in Instant Runoff Voting. Maybe someday we might even have Sunday elections. In the same notion, let's stay away from computer voting and make it easier for candidates to get on the ballot.
Posted by Dave Simpkins at 11/02/2009 @ 8:04pm
also,
having each county determine how a FEDERAL vote is conducted is extra stupid.
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 8:56pm
.....having each county determine how a FEDERAL vote is conducted is extra stupid.
Posted by frosty zoom at 11/02/2009 @ 8:56pm
This was a "Special Election" and can give rise to Special Fuckups, committed by 11 county GOP Chairmen....who knows, maybe they all got some Special Favors from Scozzafava one at a time?
Posted by Happy at 11/02/2009 @ 10:39pm
Just this past week, when my 18 year old daughter was back from college for fall break and told me it was too complicated to go register this Tuesday
Words just fail to describe the state of mental development required for registaring to vote! Warm and breathing do come to mind as a start, unless one is a registared Demoncrat then multiplicity defines the process.
Posted by BigPasture at 11/02/2009 @ 11:18pm
With SDR, a citizen who misses a voter registration deadline can register at the polls on Election Day or the period leading up to it, and then cast a valid ballot.
What a wonderful idea! Question is how many times can an unlimited number of Demoncrat voters vote under a different name in one day to throw an election?
Of course after its all over NO ONE could ever recall a national candidate based on the number of votes fraud could produce in key electoral college states!
These Demoncrats are always thinking ahead!
Posted by BigPasture at 11/02/2009 @ 11:27pm
Great Job KvH this AM on CSPAN!
As usual, from what I've gathered from the local postings of the day, is that many of these same people who complain, quite simply, don't vote. I can't count the times I've asked about voting on election days, and got everything from a bottle across the noggin to a "lecture" by some cretin who "knowed his democracry".
No kidding here, I took an American Government class while passing time in college, 27 students, 3 of us passed. Myself, a young lady from Somalia and a young Guatemalan aced the 25 questions, the same one's used randomly on a Citizenship Test administered by the INS. People born in this nation haven't the foggiest idea of how it is supposed to work. 90% of the people I talk to have never read either the Constitution, nor the Declaration of Independence, (much less the first 10 Amendments!) They sure do know how to "quote" them though!
Alas, I shall continue to fight the good fight and try to get at least a 70% voting rate, but odds are, I'll fall short.
Posted by rasputin195 at 11/02/2009 @ 11:35pm
All this lame chatter about registering to vote, who to vote for, how to perceive and mitigate fraud... Are you people serious? You, the citizen, are a mindless spectator. Pay attention to football, watch the World Series, play the lottery, crack open a beer... anything but play Democracy. No ballot will ever be more powerful than a bullet. That's why the US teaches democracy with its finger on the trigger of a gun.
Fraud is the name of the game, SUCKERS.
http://www.amconmag.com/article/2009/nov/01/00006/
Posted by chimichenga at 11/03/2009 @ 02:59am
Katrina,
Let's implement same day registration for everyone who has passed a basic civics test.
For too long we have put the future of our nation in the hands of people who couldn't describe the first amendment or even what type of government we have if their lives depended on it.
Posted by antisocialist at 11/02/2009 @ 1:24pm
Larry forgot to mention that he's only OK with this so long as he or Clarence Thomas get to pick the questions. Anyone but a Constitutional originalist need not apply...
And until we got the 24th Amendment, poll taxes were perfectly acceptable too, right Reverend?
Posted by Mariner84 at 11/03/2009 @ 07:23am
The Republican mantra for years has been the smaller the number of voters the greater their chances of winning. We live in a far different type of society than we did as kids. If a person votes in just one of the elections on the ballot it is great. Let's participate in any way ,shape ,or form. Santi,the Constitutionalist,what did the founding fathers say about passing a test to vote? Did people have to pay a tax?You are the champion of "We the People",supposedly or is it "We the smarter people". You are an elitist snob. To the DuNcE, your daughter does things much different than you or I. What we consider efficient is inefficient in her generations eyes. You two should work for health insurance companies. You are both for "vote rationing".
Posted by whatozz at 11/03/2009 @ 08:06am
Posted by Mariner84 at 11/03/2009 @ 07:23am
First question on Larry's test would be -
"Do you believe it's Constitutional to impose Federal child labor and safety laws on law-abiding coal mine owners?"
Say "Yes"....and you don't get to vote.
LOL
Posted by Mask at 11/03/2009 @ 08:07am
As much as I want to think of myself as a good, liberal populist, I have to agree with our con friends on this one. Registering to vote is like falling off a log; do it absentee and you can even avoid the lines. If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway. Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
--I concur. And if the argument is someone just moved to a certain district recently--well, they don't know the candidates or the district all that well--so they shouldn't be voting in that district.
Posted by urmygyro at 11/03/2009 @ 09:02am
And until we got the 24th Amendment, poll taxes were perfectly acceptable too, right Reverend? Posted by Mariner84 at 11/03/2009 @ 07:23am |
Larry's copy doesn't have those pesky amendments attached to it...it's an 'original' (even has a couple of federalist's tobacco stains in the margin).
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 09:33am
As much as I want to think of myself as a good, liberal populist, I have to agree with our con friends on this one. Registering to vote is like falling off a log; do it absentee and you can even avoid the lines. If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway. Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
--I concur. And if the argument is someone just moved to a certain district recently--well, they don't know the candidates or the district all that well--so they shouldn't be voting in that district.
Posted by urmygyro at 11/03/2009 @ 09:02am
In honor of Election Day, and I'll be voting shortly, for Morales as Houston Mayor, not that he has much of a chance going against any of the 3 Dem candidates when a runoff comes next, and the two comments above........I'm setting felon snowball free today in the hope he will not fall apart as the Left becomes more and more disoriented with Hopey and Changey overdosing ....LOL!
Posted by Happy at 11/03/2009 @ 09:42am
"for Morales as Houston Mayor, not that he has much of a chance going against any of the 3 Dem candidates when a runoff comes next"----Posted by Happy at 11/03/2009 @ 09:42am
Why doesn't he have much of a chance, Happ?
Posted by Mask at 11/03/2009 @ 10:29am
Posted by antisocialist at 11/02/2009 @ 1:24pm
Larry forgot to mention that he's only OK with this so long as he or Clarence Thomas get to pick the questions. Anyone but a Constitutional originalist need not apply...
And until we got the 24th Amendment, poll taxes were perfectly acceptable too, right Reverend?
Posted by Mariner84 at 11/03/2009 @ 07:23am
Since they no longer teach civics in most public schools, it appears you also know nothing about basic govt issues.
Here is the list (with answers) of possible US citizenship civics test questions-applicants are required to get 6 of 10 possible questions correct.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/100q.pdf
Here are the 10 questions posed this year to Arizona students (only 3.5% passed), all are from the citizenship test.
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
3. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?
5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
6. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
7. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
8. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?
9. Who was the first president?
10. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Do you think that is too much to ask of voters?
Posted by antisocialist at 11/03/2009 @ 10:40am
Small d-democracy is gone for the US. Once a democracy fails - ours has - it is never restored from within. If someone can offer a counter-example, I would appreciate learning about it.
In our case, we have had not just the rise of an imperial plutocracy through two-party control but the destruction of our vaunted 18th century relic, the Constitution. The fear of terrorism since 9/11 has enabled the self-elevation of the executive branch from one of three supposedly equal branches to domination of the government. Civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, the 4th and 6th amendments, have been abrogated. The law-making process has been transformed increasingly into government by presidential decree by means of signing statements. The first amendment has been chilled by the so-called "Patriot Act". American citizens may be disappeared - no habeus corpus. Posse comitatus is gone. The US military command stands ready to take over the domestic policing functions at the president's discretion. Laws and treaties are not honored, and congressional subpoenas are ignored by the White House.
Democracy? In the US, it is gone and will never return. We have a rotating tyrant called a president and a supine and compliant Congress. Our Supreme Court disgraced itself and, like the Pope, it has no armies.
Posted by goedel at 11/03/2009 @ 10:45am
Posted by goedel at 11/03/2009 @ 10:45am
I got a good laugh thinking you were trying to be funny and then I realized that you are a liberal and you were serious.
Still, it's quite funny that you actually believe what you wrote. Sad, but funny.
Posted by antisocialist at 11/03/2009 @ 11:10am
Posted by antisocialist at 11/03/2009 @ 11:10am
Given if health care reform with a public option passes into law and especially if Obama is re-elected and Dems hold Congress....
YOU'll say roughly the same thing....odd attack, Larry.
Posted by Mask at 11/03/2009 @ 11:44am
>>>The needs are many--from creating an Election Day holiday, to requiring voting machines that produce a voter-verified paper trail, to re-enfranchising former felons who have served their sentences, to public campaign financing. <<<
These are ALL badly needed reforms, including Same Day Registration.
Obama should have started with these small-d democratic reforms first, and it would have made healthcare and a number of other reforms to come much easier.
Obama promised Ted Kennedy he would "start" with healthcare reform, but after that is done, he really needs to move quickly on election and campaign-finance reform (publicly funded elections, and "reasonable" limits on free speech of moneyed interest groups) so that any other progressive reform has a real chance.
Posted by Metteyya at 11/03/2009 @ 12:37pm
"You, the citizen, are a mindless spectator. Pay attention to football, watch the World Series, play the lottery, crack open a beer... No ballot will ever be more powerful than a bullet. That's why the US teaches democracy with its finger on the trigger of a gun. Fraud is the name of the game, SUCKERS. "
~Chimichenga at 02:59am
Heylah...heyloh...Chimi's back!
You're exactly right, Chimi Hendrix, but the haze you so fondly and entertainingly point out is not unique to the Estados Unidos, of course --it's just more glaring here (and galling, I might add) 'cuz so many of our so-called leaders prattle on and on incessantly about what a great democracy we have.
But I'm particularly thrilled that you pointed out the American Conservative article, "Who's afraid of Sibel Edmonds":
www.amconmag.com/article/2009/nov/01/00006/
The interview provides a devastating indictment of the DC beltway and its rampant corruption --we might just as well rename it "Ubercorruption"-- but the fact that this piece has yet to even surface in the so-called mainstream media, is an equal indictment of a much larger human sphere here in L'America.
In this light, perhaps Jim Morrison had it more succinctly than Jimi did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yku4O_GxLKc
Good stuff, man.
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/03/2009 @ 12:52pm
Here's one more 'fore I exit the door, a little less astringent than L'America, and one of my personal favs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwvon-YQtBk&feature=related
Enjoy.
:D
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/03/2009 @ 12:59pm
If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
Come on snowball. You think the people who can vote the way their pastors tell them to vote are "informed" voters? And you know their churches see to it that they are registered and also see to to it that they vote. Why, they'll even arrange to have the church bus to bring everyone there together. The rethugs have organized religion on their side and it's tax free at that.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/03/2009 @ 3:30pm
The question I will ask is this ,Who decided to dumb down the curriculum? We are in the great computer age where information is at your fingertips. This isn't a political question but a societal one. How did we as a nation allow "our" citizens to know so little? Isn't it interesting as newspapers are losing their spot in American life that the population seems to know less than they did before. The ten point test is today's answer to the poll tax. I will use Arizona's results provided by Santi as the litmus test. Is that why Kyl and Mccain aree the Senators from Arizona?
Posted by whatozz at 11/03/2009 @ 3:37pm
Yes whatozz, that is why kyle & mccaine are our senators, I would love to see someone beat the pants off them especially kyle, he is such a rube. Can you believe it, Arizona used to be a demo state, no really.
Posted by Denise29 at 11/03/2009 @ 3:44pm
Here on the Lower East Side of New York City, as I was walking to go vote today, I saw signs on the fence around the government-subsidized housing complex that said: No Electioneering.
Meaning you can't stand around on the sidewalk outside this complex, a public sidewalk, with a sign for a candidate. (Not sure if that rule applies to political discussions on the sidewalk.)
Posted by Citizen54 at 11/03/2009 @ 5:06pm
I didn't realize that allowing the vote for those who are either convicted felons or too stupid or too lazy to register to vote was such a pressing issue.
But, then again, that group would probably be a pretty solid liberal constituency so I guess your concern makes sense after all.
Stop felon/moron oppression!
Posted by vertigoskippy at 11/03/2009 @ 5:45pm
Come on snowball. You think the people who can vote the way their pastors tell them to vote are "informed" voters? And you know their churches see to it that they are registered and also see to to it that they vote. Why, they'll even arrange to have the church bus to bring everyone there together. The rethugs have organized religion on their side and it's tax free at that.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/03/2009 @ 3:30pm
You're confusing the liberal democrat churches with conservative. Where do Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Al Gore, Obama, Hillary, Bill Clinton, and the like go? It's not into conservative Republican dominated churches.
Posted by antisocialist at 11/03/2009 @ 5:59pm
If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
Thank you for making my point for me, I hope you can read this from your lofty perch. I'd like to know what burden of responsibility you carry in life. Most people are totally exhausted most of the time and have big fish to fry between work and family, and all the other things we are expected to take care of. It's not your place to decide who is informed or why, or who should vote or not. The simple fact is that SDR improves our democracy by increasing the number of people involved in democracy.
Posted by Milhaus at 11/03/2009 @ 6:20pm
If you can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion, you probably aren't informed enough to be voting that day anyway.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/02/2009 @ 2:28pm
At every registration table, have a radio tuned into the Rush Limbaugh Show.
When the registrant exclaims, "Who the hell is that?" simply say.." that's a Republican."
Next watch registrant place an X next to one of the remaining choices. Instant education. Informed on the spot.
Posted by Sorelish at 11/03/2009 @ 9:53pm
The coyotes and the ravens will be heard for you Claude Levi-Strauss. Goodbye.
Posted by Sorelish at 11/03/2009 @ 10:09pm
Posted by Milhaus at 11/03/2009 @ 6:20pm
I agree. Messy reality is not reducible to this one inference (some can't be bothered to register in a timely fashion). Your eyes would have to be half-shut to insist on this oversimplification. For ex if previous experience was that between your low-wage, non-employee "job" and kids and transportation and stress and life problems you did not make if to vote on a Tues early evening, you might give up. Such people could be brought back in with some of the obvious things, SDR and more importantly much more flexible time and place alternatives.
Posted by winyahn at 11/03/2009 @ 10:51pm
Posted by Milhaus at 11/03/2009 @ 6:20pm |
"Thank you for making my point for me, I hope you can read this from your lofty perch."
Not just lofty...there's a little handle on the side that makes the seat go up and down and another to adjust the lumbar support.
"I'd like to know what burden of responsibility you carry in life."
I'm an independent software contractor for 70-80 hours a week, a new dad (4 months old Sunday), and I volunteer on many weekends.
"Most people are totally exhausted most of the time and have big fish to fry between work and family, and all the other things we are expected to take care of."
You download the form, fill it out, and mail it in before the deadline...it's not the trials of Hercules. Stop acting like we're demanding a poll tax or written tests in a foreign language.
"It's not your place to decide who is informed or why, or who should vote or not."
I didn't say they shouldn't get to vote because they aren't informed (heck, we're lucky to get 40% of the people out to do their civic duty...that bar would cut those numbers in half).
I never said they shouldn't vote...only that they should shuffle off their buttcheeks and register according to the election laws of their state (they *do* get to decide who should vote or not).
"The simple fact is that SDR improves our democracy by increasing the number of people involved in democracy."
So would taking the 10 minutes to register.
If someone is denied suffrage (Kathleen Harris...we're looking at you), I'm the first one to defend them.
I support letting felons vote from jail as well as restoring their voting rights on parole, but they should have to register too.
Stop being lazy. Fight for your rights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAe3NxFx44E
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 11:03pm
Next watch registrant place an X next to one of the remaining choices. Instant education. Informed on the spot. Posted by Sorelish at 11/03/2009 @ 9:53pm |
A dangerous leap, Sore...I've worked polling places...your mileage may vary.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 11:07pm
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/03/2009 @ 3:30pm
"Come on snowball. You think the people who can vote the way their pastors tell them to vote are "informed" voters?"
I never said that being informed was a qualification...just ruminated upon the likelihood.
"And you know their churches see to it that they are registered and also see to to it that they vote."
And us Dems can't do that with ACORN and legion liberally-minded teens? C'mon....
"Why, they'll even arrange to have the church bus to bring everyone there together. The rethugs have organized religion on their side and it's tax free at that."
Time to step up our game then...or to start a church.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 11:16pm
Time to step up our game then...or to start a church.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 11:16pm
I wonder if a person could start a church for athiests and or agnostics. It's kind of funny if you think about it. People go to church and listen to some guy in the front of the church talk about what is written in the Bible and it's the same stories over and over and over and over again. Most people are nodding off in the half of the way into the sermons.
An agnostic or athiest church would be a different slant. People could go up and say, ya know what, I don't know if there is a God and the people in the pews could shout out Amen. And then another guy could go up to the front and say, well, don't believe in God at all and think religion is a hoax pulling the wool over our eyes and the congregation could yell out Amen to that too. And after that, everyone could meet for coffee and donuts and then go our and drive around their neighborhoods to recruit athiests and agnostics for their church.
The church could have a band, basketball team, soup kitchen, and the works. It could even hold Sunday school classes that taught things like natural science, math, music etc. and people could donate their time and money to their neighborhood without having the Christian guilt trip thrown at them if they choose not to come.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/04/2009 @ 07:06am
Happy and abell12ct, wouldn't want "those people" to register to vote on the same day because it would help the dems, at least be homest about it. Posted by Denise29
Why is that? Is it because the dems are so good at voter fraud?
Posted by abell12ct at 11/04/2009 @ 07:40am
Posted by snowball777 at 11/03/2009 @ 11:03pm
If you, 21, lived in our little dictatorship you would be enrolled at 18 years of age on pain of a fine. And would stay on the electoral rolls (federal, state and municipal) until the day you cark it or spend a bit of time in the clink.
Compulsory voting (really compulsory voting booth attendance) became law here in 1924 after only about 45% of the citizens ever rolled up to vote in a federal election. It has been in the mid nineties ever since with between 3 to 4 percent informal vote.
Apart from those who write vulgar things on the ballot slip, given to them when their name with their current address on the roll is ruled through by a booth attendant, our proportional representation system, which in the case of a senate vote may have dozens of names to preferentially place a series of numbers beside (no crosses or ticks for we numerically literate Aussies), helps add to the informal vote.
The dopes, mostly Labor Party voters (the equivalent of Democrats, I'm guessing), generally get informalised just trying to pencil in all the candidates, 1....n. That along with other subtle IQ tests helps make up the informal vote and ensures only the intelligent ever get to help shape our (dictatorial) democracy. We (the intelligent) have worked out it is easier to vote the Party line so one doesn't have to fill in every number in order of preference. That is where real IQ comes into the picture.
Posted by lrjones4 at 11/04/2009 @ 07:50am
Posted by lrjones4 at 11/04/2009 @ 07:50am |
Rote behavior rarely qualifies as a mark of intelligence, but compulsory voting sounds like a good idea.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/04/2009 @ 09:05am
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/04/2009 @ 07:06am |
"I wonder if a person could start a church for athiests and or agnostics."
http://firstchurchofatheism.com/
<As a legally ordained minister, you will be able to perform weddings, funerals, commitment ceremonies, and other functions that are reserved for members of clergy.
Since its inception, the First Church of Atheism has amassed quite a following around the world. FCA ministers come from all walks of life. They are every race, ethnicity, age, and creed. The one thing binding every FCA minister is his or her belief in science, reason, and reality.
The First Church of Atheism wants you to pursue and cherish your realistic beliefs without interference from any outside agency, including government or church authority. We provide our service for free, as we believe it is every atheists right to perform these clergy functions.
You may become a legally ordained minister for life, without cost, and without question.>
Rev. Wolfie!
Posted by snowball777 at 11/04/2009 @ 09:29am
Rev. Wolfie!
Posted by snowball777 at 11/04/2009 @ 09:29am
Now that's a scary thought! LOL In my church there would have to be a BYOB and party like a rock star day.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 11/04/2009 @ 11:34am
Evening... Is this on?
ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION
Tough crowd!
CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?
Posted by winyahn at 11/04/2009 @ 4:21pm
CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD? Posted by winyahn at 11/04/2009 @ 4:21pm |
Yes, but the atheist must buy it from Larry...he writes all the lord's business.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/04/2009 @ 10:43pm
To avoid confusion, it may be necessary to refer to small-d democrats, but why is it necessary to refer to small-d democracy? I agree with Gore Vidal that democracy is "the great American nonsense word," but no one confuses it with membership in a political party.
Posted by MarkOller at 11/05/2009 @ 12:31am
Who cares if the votes are counted honestly? The only choice is between Democrats, Republicans and minor party candidates with no more chance of winning than the proverbial monkey has of typing Hamlet. The Democrats and Republicans are both Israeli puppets chosen by AIPAC, and any ideological difference is purely for show.
Besides, why should I care about democracy if the majority elects a candidate I despise? To the best of my recollection, William Raspberry once wrote: I don't like being lied to, so I don't like people telling me that they care deeply about who is elected, but they don't care who I vote for as long as I vote.
Posted by MarkOller at 11/05/2009 @ 12:47am
Posted by MarkOller at 11/05/2009 @ 12:47am
So basically, all we're EVER going to hear from you is complaints...not solutions.
Right?
Posted by Mask at 11/05/2009 @ 07:36am
CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?
Posted by winyahn at 11/04/2009 @ 4:21pm | ignore this person | warn this person
Sure but in order to file a claim they MUST admit that there IS a GOD who is responsible for the loss! Gotcha!
Posted by BigPasture at 11/05/2009 @ 07:46am
ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION Posted by winyahn at 11/04/2009 @ 4:21pm | ignore this person | warn this person
No, their false prophets spend inordinate amounts of time attempting to prove that for which there is NO evidence, no historical record, and which requires oblivious self denial!
Posted by BigPasture at 11/05/2009 @ 07:54am
Atheism is probably the hardest working religious endeaver requiring the greatest degree of unsubstantiated FAITH and blind ignorance ever designed by man alone!
Posted by BigPasture at 11/05/2009 @ 08:05am
Rio.....please cite some Scripture for me
Titus 3:2
Posted by Mask at 11/05/2009 @ 08:46am
Maskot,
You must certainly realize by now that the Oozer will not lift a finger to look up the bible passage you posted.
Here it is, Out to Pasture:
"to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."
I essentially hold no hope of its efficacy for the current case. A sad state of affairs.
Peace out, ~B
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/05/2009 @ 11:56am
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/05/2009 @ 11:56am
It's one of the verses Rio would NEVER be able to cite, KOOL.
He can't. 1. Because he knows I'll SAVE it and throw it back in his face and he'd look like an even bigger hypocrite.
2. To actually type the words...would cause him an embolism when he realized that St. Paul meant it applied to "Demoncrats" as well as "normal people"!
heheh
Posted by Mask at 11/05/2009 @ 12:24pm
So basically, all we're EVER going to hear from you is complaints...not solutions.
Right?
Posted by Mask at 11/05/2009 @ 07:36am
At least I use my real name. If you have a solution I would like to hear it. Since our nation is totalitarian AND weak, a Krushchev thaw is unthinkable, much less a Gorbachev thaw. Nor reform is possible without a coup d'etat and martial law, and that is not going to happen. Eventually times will change, but it will probably take the better part of 100 years.
Posted by MarkOller at 11/05/2009 @ 3:40pm
Posted by BigPasture at 11/05/2009 @ 07:46am |
Besides....I thought all insurance companies have moved to more modern language: "Acts of Nature".
"...specifically excludes any and all losses resulting from the actions of 900 foot tall Jesus..."
Posted by snowball777 at 11/06/2009 @ 10:55am
I believe SDR is a good thing and it's supported by the evidence as an effective way to increase voter turnout. However, I believe there is an even better way: compulsory voting.
It's a strategy really. You see, when voter turnout is high the majority of those voters vote democratic. Imagine if voting were mandatory, conservatives would be almost voted out of existence if not remain in the minority for the life of the republic.
Of course the ballot would include a "present, not voting" option for those not interested; otherwise, a nominal fine would be levied.
They do this in Australia where last I heard they had a 96% voter turnout.
Posted by j.webb at 11/06/2009 @ 12:19pm
It's a strategy really. You see, when voter turnout is high the majority of those voters vote democratic. Imagine if voting were mandatory, conservatives would be almost voted out of existence if not remain in the minority for the life of the republic.
Of course the ballot would include a "present, not voting" option for those not interested; otherwise, a nominal fine would be levied.
They do this in Australia where last I heard they had a 96% voter turnout.
Posted by j.webb at 11/06/2009 @ 12:19pm
I call Australia home. We had a federal conservative government for just on 12 years from 1996 up until Dec 2007. The PM for all those years was John Howard aka GW Bush's "Man Of Steel", to give you an idea where he stood on most issues, including Iraq.
The nominal period between elections is 3 years but the PM, given certain qualifications, can call an election any time he pleases (which generally means the polls are in his favour or he wants a simultaneous double dissolution (House of Reps plus Senate) so he can get control of the Senate at the one election. Senators serve 6 year terms.
Howard is the second longest serving PM. The longest serving PM was R.G Menzies, another conservative from the same party, who served 22 years continuously.
Menzies said you can only win at the federal level in Australia if you have a majority of blue collar workers voting for you. My guess is that you may find the majority of American blue collar workers also vote conservative more often than they vote Democratic, as they have in Australia since compulsory booth attendance (you don't have to vote or put the slip in the ballot box once you get your name marked off the roll) was introduced in 1924. Informal votes run at 3 to 4 percent so the formal vote is closer to 90%.
Posted by lrjones4 at 11/07/2009 @ 07:07am
Jonesy,
It's interesting that you'd surmise that the unwashed, blue collar masses would vote conservative while you simultaneously maintain that the more educated and illuminated will generally choose to vote conservative as well. I believe I hear the crisp ripping sound of overstretched crotch fabric.
In any case, the fact remains that the more well educated you are, the more likely one is to vote along social democratic (i.e. "liberal") lines. Facts a fact from Nome to Rome, Jack.....er.....Jonsey.
Tally ho, old boy,
~B
;-)
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/07/2009 @ 11:09am
Brief note of clarification:
It is not, of course, theoretically a stretch at all that blue collar workers and college profs should vote along similar ideological lines, but I think it's also virtually self evident that those two groups will inevitably have differences --perhaps significant ones.
What I allude to in my post is the definite air of snobbery that so often permeates the posts of Jonesy, an educated man who would have us believe that he is in league with academics, and the good old fashioned callous-handed tough guy as well.
It's all a bit of bravado and balderdash methinks.
Come to think of it, the essence of the worst of conservatism is certainly fueled by the need to appear tough. It's incredibly tiresome of course. In all of the great stories, the hero is the one who is "tough enough" to stand up for fairness, justice and mercy even as the mob screams for blood.
Now that takes some great balls of fire.
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/07/2009 @ 11:29am
Posted by b_kool_66 at 11/07/2009 @ 11:09am |
You underestimate the number of 'blue collar' folks working at Wal-Mart in KY who vote solely on issues like gays, abortion, and taxes (that don't affect them).
I highly recommend "Democrats and Republicans - Rhetoric and Reality: Comparing the Voters in Statistics and Anecdotes" by Joseph Fried.
It'll open your eyes a bit, B.
Posted by snowball777 at 11/08/2009 @ 10:14am