Do you think citizenship / suffrage should be more restrictive? (Poll)

[Brigandier]

I think that a person should have a GED or a high school diploma and pass a citizenship test to be granted full voting rights, if they fail their vote is 3/5 of a vote.

I suppose if you fail the test you can join the military to get full voting power. I don't want to be discriminatory.

 

[Brainonska511]

I think that a person should have a GED or a high school diploma and pass a citizenship test to be granted full voting rights, if they fail their vote is 3/5 of a vote.

I suppose if you fail the test you can join the military to get full voting power. I don't want to be discriminatory.

You don't want to be discriminatory, yet you outline a proposal that does precisely that.

The basic level requires citizenship status ....... It would confer ALL basic rights and protections.

The Constitution does not grant rights. It merely outlines rights that you already have and are explicitly protected from being taken away by the government.

 

[PrinceofWands]

The Constitution does not grant rights. It merely outlines rights that you already have and are explicitly protected from being taken away by the government.

Yes, fine...AFFIRM, not confer.

 

[Brigandier]

You don't want to be discriminatory, yet you outline a proposal that does precisely that.



The Constitution does not grant rights. It merely outlines rights that you already have and are explicitly protected from being taken away by the government.

America is the greatest country on earth, time to start weeding out the dead-weight.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Maybe not citizenship. it's now how the world works; you kind of need a citizenship if only for travel purposes. For actual direction, i.e. voting I do truly believe there should be a requirement beyond basic citizenship. Too many voters are frankly and demonstrably so ignorant they do not understand anything beyond their emotional response to issues and they should not be voting.

Naturalized citizens should not have access to any federal, state or local services, other than the right to proper fire and law enforcement. They should not have the right to vote because they were not born here and have already shown by changing citizenship that they can't be trusted. Furthermore, any person who desires to attain U.S. citizenship should serve in the armed forces of this country for a time not less than eight years of active duty.

Yes, Skoorb, I am aiming this at you. I don't believe for one moment that you wouldn't tuck your tail between your legs and run back to Canada if the draft was reimposed and you got your induction notice.

I am all for America (the U.S.) being for Americans and anyone who was born here should have the right to vote irregardless of their educational status.

Fuck all of you people in the ass who say that there should be a double standard or that anyone born in this country should not have the right to vote. If you don't like it then have The Constitution changed through a convention.

Good luck with that.

 

[cwjerome]

[...] Fuck all of you people in the ass [...]

Has a poetic ring to it...

 

[HappyPuppy]

Has a poetic ring to it...

I will put my money on natural born citizens any day since they can't pack up and go back to the motherland.

 

[werepossum]

Those are two pretty different things. I would very much like to see a SCOTUS ruling that the 14th Amendment does not apply to those born here of illegal parents - illegals not being subject to the laws of the land. I don't expect to see that because it opens up other problems such as citizenship for a baby born to fugitives.

As for voting it might be a good thing in principle if requirements were tighter but consider the problems. How long before voting rights were not based on knowledge of our system of government but on adherence to a particular political ideology? I do agree though that voting should be tightened up as pertains to fraud especially for voter identification.

 

[shortylickens]

It's a misguided notion that only those who join the military can vote. Bad right-wing ideology.

Unfortunately for you, its not right-wing and its not idealogy. You need to learn about Robert Heinlein.
It was government service, not exclusively the military. Read the book, newb.

 

[Craig234]

Unfortunately for you, its not right-wing and its not idealogy. You need to learn about Robert Heinlein.
It was government service, not exclusively the military. Read the book, newb.

I was more than likely reading him before you were born. 'Newb'. If I misremember that detal, it doesn't change your idiocy. And Heinlein was a spreader of right-wing (basically libertarian) ideology.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Yes, Skoorb, I am aiming this at you. I don't believe for one moment that you wouldn't tuck your tail between your legs and run back to Canada if the draft was reimposed and you got your induction notice.

Right along with 90% of this board.
Hell, I have no doubt that if some HORRIFIC disaster happened like the internet went down for a couple of days or a loss of cable TV, most would be ready to vote in Sharia law or the like

 

[blackangst1]

Having been through the imigration process directly once, and indirectly 7 or 8 times, I can say Im OK with current naturalization law. USCIS *does* need help though. People talk about "streamlining" the process which, in my mind, means cutting steps, which is a TERRIBLE idea. What we need is more people to process applications. The process itself is fine. What Im NOT OK with is people who are granted citizenship or residential status without going through those same processes. But thats another thread.

 

[BeauJangles]

I think that a person should have a GED or a high school diploma and pass a citizenship test to be granted full voting rights, if they fail their vote is 3/5 of a vote.

I suppose if you fail the test you can join the military to get full voting power. I don't want to be discriminatory.

Whatever happened to that whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" thing?

I find it disgusting that you (among many others) would impose restrictions on immigrants when you are (a) probably the son of immigrants and (b) I doubt your parents could have passed such a test when they landed here.

 

[Jaskalas]

Whatever happened to that whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" thing?

I find it disgusting that you (among many others) would impose restrictions on immigrants when you are (a) probably the son of immigrants and (b) I doubt your parents could have passed such a test when they landed here.

And those of us whose grandfathers fought in WW2? We're not immigrants.

 

[Rainsford]

There is no practical way to enforce restrictions on citizenship the way the OP is talking about. Any test is going to be biased, because the intent is to restrict (ie, make sure people fail the test if they don't know what you think they should know). The problem is that what makes a good citizen isn't something that's carved into stone...it's all up to interpretation. So, for example, you'll have liberals wanting a test that requires you to acknowledge civic duty, while conservatives will have a test where you have to agree with traditional values. Who decides what group has the "right" idea about citizenship?

 

[Rainsford]

And those of us whose grandfathers fought in WW2? We're not immigrants.

Yes you are, just slightly less recently than other folks.

 

[blackangst1]

Whatever happened to that whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" thing?

I find it disgusting that you (among many others) would impose restrictions on immigrants when you are (a) probably the son of immigrants and (b) I doubt your parents could have passed such a test when they landed here.

Very, very few of the US's citizens are sons of immigrants.

 

[Brainonska511]

Very, very few of the US's citizens are sons of immigrants.

So?

People are the children of the children of immigrants. Or go back further. It's disgusting to see nativism constantly rear its head.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Do you really want Congress legislating on the requirements to be a citizen? Seriously? Do you not see a potential conflict on interest?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Very, very few of the US's citizens are sons of immigrants.

Fail.

More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island in the first half of the 20th century.





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[Siddhartha]

I am 100% against a test of any sort being forced on people in order to vote at the polls. We've been down this road before.

We should be expanding the right to vote and taking steps to eliminate fraud.

It is informative to see who is advocating making voting harder or keeping people from voting.

 

[Rainsford]

Very, very few of the US's citizens are sons of immigrants.

Does it really make a difference to the argument if we're grandsons or great grandsons of immigrants?

 

[Rainsford]

It is informative to see who is advocating making voting harder or keeping people from voting.

As usual, it's all about self interest. You can bet that the people suggesting voting should be more restrictive aren't envisioning a world where it's harder for them, their friends, or their political allies to vote.

 

[blackangst1]

Does it really make a difference to the argument if we're grandsons or great grandsons of immigrants?

Absolutely.

 

[blackangst1]

So?

People are the children of the children of immigrants. Or go back further. It's disgusting to see nativism constantly rear its head.

Not nearly as disgusting as it is to see people turn their nose up at patriotism and those who value sovereignty.