Coming to terms with my feelings. Long, sorry.

[Tony Stark]

My God U.S. history classes must have sucked when some of you were in school....

I went to grade school in the south.We were taught The Founders,The Confederacy and Christopher Columbus were Gods.They didn't teach us that Columbus rewarded his workers by giving them Indigenous women to rape when he thought they did good work or that Thomas Jefferson regularly raped his slaves.

 

[Cuddles]

I think fighting for the south is enough, it was a rebellion and the underlying cause was the south was upset at being told to stop buying and selling people. There is not one single admirable justificaton for a general who fought to lead an insurrection against the U.S. government to have the honor of a statue dedicated in a space.

It is not washing history because those people are still a part of history and in civil war museums and school history classes. But having the leader of the rebellion with a sqaure in downtown New Orleans?

The South was against north opinions on slavery, westward expansion (which states could be slavery) and state's rights. All of it centered on the South's economy built up on slave labor.

I still find it surprising people want to take the side of the Confederacy in keeping their statues in places of honor and respect like they earned something fighting against the U.S. government to keep slaves.

General Lee quit the U.S. army to go lead the South against the Union army.....it is basically treason.

Southern history revisionists have been trying to sell the story of "Lee didn't really like slavery you see" and "the rebels were fighting for state rights" in an effort to whitewash, protect, and make palatable the atrocious history of the confederacy. Don't ever buy into their bullshit.

 

[Cuddles]

If I can interject... I'm an avowed social and business liberal, that is I believe in global trade and don't support unions. I vote Democratic but would prefer to be defined as a liberal republican but, unfortunately, American politics is stifling.
I believe that democracy involves rights and responsibilities, the first of which is to gather the necessary documents to vote. Obtaining a government ID should be free to those who can't afford to pay for one, but it is the individual's responsibility to present one at the voting booth to prove who you are. There are plenty of non profits to go around to help those too whatever to get their ID, but removing that requirement is wrong.

This opinion completely dismisses the weaponization of "requirements" by the ruling class (we'll just call it GOP), not to mention there is no "requirement" to remove. The amount of voting fraud is miniscule, infinitely insignificant to the total vote count and the mechanisms to spot it make anyone who dared an easy target for heavy punishment. Quite simply, voting is an imposition for everyone and no one goes out of their way to vote if not allowed. I advise you look at how polling places have been targeted for removal, overcrowding, odd hours, understaffing etc... before you want to throw an additional wrench on how poors now have to take a bus for hours to go get an ID in a city outside their county.

 

[VicBee]

This opinion completely dismisses the weaponization of "requirements" by the ruling class (we'll just call it GOP), not to mention there is no "requirement" to remove. The amount of voting fraud is miniscule, infinitely insignificant to the total vote count and the mechanisms to spot it make anyone who dared an easy target for heavy punishment. Quite simply, voting is an imposition for everyone and no one goes out of their way to vote if not allowed. I advise you look at how polling places have been targeted for removal, overcrowding, odd hours, understaffing etc... before you want to throw an additional wrench on how poors now have to take a bus for hours to go get an ID in a city outside their county.

I don't disagree with you at all. The election process in the US is a remnant of history, incoherent with modern America. The process should be nationally standardized, based on 1 person 1 vote. Across the country voters should be able to vote between 6 am and 8 pm on the day of the election, with gag order on media release until all votes are in. All voters should present a valid ID to verify their identity and those unable to go to a voting location should be able to vote by mail or, better yet, online. In this day and age the inability of voting securely online is a deliberate effort to make it hard for people to vote. If we can pay our taxes online, we should be able to vote online.

 

[Cuddles]

I don't disagree with you at all. The election process in the US is a remnant of history, incoherent with modern America. The process should be nationally standardized, based on 1 person 1 vote. Across the country voters should be able to vote between 6 am and 8 pm on the day of the election, with gag order on media release until all votes are in. All voters should present a valid ID to verify their identity and those unable to go to a voting location should be able to vote by mail or, better yet, online. In this day and age the inability of voting securely online is a deliberate effort to make it hard for people to vote. If we can pay our taxes online, we should be able to vote online.

at face value, a voter ID make sense...."why wouldn't you want to identify those who participate in something so important?". However, looking at the numbers (fraud vs disenfranchisement by instituting it), it's a solution in search of a problem. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to vote, regardless of whether they can afford to get an ID or not.

 

[VicBee]

at face value, a voter ID make sense...."why wouldn't you want to identify those who participate in something so important?". However, looking at the numbers (fraud vs disenfranchisement by instituting it), it's a solution in search of a problem. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to vote, regardless of whether they can afford to get an ID or not.

There's no disenfranchisement requiring an ID to vote, especially if cost is removed from the issue. There are enough built it scams used by both parties to screw with each other and in the process disenfranchise voters, but it's nonsense to simply be able to walk to a voting booth and vote without proof of ID. I would even make it mandatory to vote or pay a fine, like it is in Australia.

 

[El OchoCinco]

Every where I have ever votged in my life which covers 3 states (NY, NJ, D.C., Virginia - not in that order) I always had to show ID... I dont understand this issue. Are their places where you can walk in and vote just by saying your name?

Honest question...

 

[Cuddles]

There's no disenfranchisement requiring an ID to vote, especially if cost is removed from the issue. There are enough built it scams used by both parties to screw with each other and in the process disenfranchise voters, but it's nonsense to simply be able to walk to a voting booth and vote without proof of ID. I would even make it mandatory to vote or pay a fine, like it is in Australia.

How is it nonesense if there's a verification process for your eligibility that will get your vote tossed and your ass sent to prison if ineligible? Tell you what, pass an amendment making a paid voting holiday w/broad hours, polling locations, and fed funded issued IDs by virtue of not lifting a finger (maybe through SS office) and then we can talk about mandating voter IDs. Be aware it has to cover the homeless, the elder w/o driving privileges, and the reservations folks.

Every where I have ever votged in my life which covers 3 states (NY, NJ, D.C., Virginia - not in that order) I always had to show ID... I dont understand this issue. Are their places where you can walk in and vote just by saying your name?

Honest question...

Most places will take a number of gov issued IDs (stateID, driv lic, etc...) as opposed to a "voter ID".
https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_identification_laws_by_state

 

[Overnight]

You have a nuanced opinion on the subject.

Remembering our history is important, where is the line between celebrating the best or worst parts of our past?

You have no right to an opinion on USA history, if you cannot get a REAL I.D. It is really quite simple. Get your birth certificate that shows you are a USA citizen, or have been nationalized. You are complaining about the "costs" of obtaining said documents.

How much money did you spend on booze and cigarettes this week? That is such a lame cop-out.

If you cannot get a real ID, you are not a citizen of the USA.

 

[VicBee]

How is it nonesense if there's a verification process for your eligibility that will get your vote tossed and your ass sent to prison if ineligible? Tell you what, pass an amendment making a paid voting holiday w/broad hours, polling locations, and fed funded issued IDs by virtue of not lifting a finger (maybe through SS office) and then we can talk about mandating voter IDs. Be aware it has to cover the homeless, the elder w/o driving privileges, and the reservations folks.



Most places will take a number of gov issued IDs (stateID, driv lic, etc...) as opposed to a "voter ID".
https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_identification_laws_by_state

California doesn't require an ID. You can show up at a voting booth, glance at the names in a list and tell them that's you, and vote. I think one should have to show a proof of identity, be it a military ID, a driver's license, a passport... Whatever official gov form of ID