Consider this landmark piece of legislation, the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It outlawed the techniques used by whites (Democrats, BTW) to disenfranchise minorities, such as poll taxes and literacy tests. It wasn't titled the "Voting Priviledge Act" for a reason.
There is a legal distinction between rights and priviledges, as explained in this presentation:
A right is a legal or moral claim to some benefit. (Fair trial)
Privileges are benefits that can be given to some citizens for a limited time and is more easily taken away. (License to drive)
The source is the Constitution.
The people themselves sustain our rights.
With few exceptions, such as a felony conviction in most states, any living American citizen 18 years old or older has the right to vote in our elections. To call it a privilege means that government can decide who does and doesn't get to vote - not a good situation.
Current Events » in reply to "Voting is a right for U.S. citizens" - funny, I always thought it wa a privilege...
No, it is a civil right here in the US
The whole thread (34 posts)
- Liberals vs Democracy
- "But voting is so HARD!"
- Oh, from a discussion that calls McCain a "Republicrat" and the Democratic governor a socialist.
- Proposition 200
- Me and my birth certificate
- $20.00
- In California it is a headache to get a state ID card.
- "Voting is a right for U.S. citizens" - funny, I always thought it wa a privilege... (n/t)
- re: Proposition 200
- Proposition 200