Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to re: Oh that old thing

re: Oh that old thing
gbaikie — (archived)

Robert says:
"You have indeed conceded that there's no practical way to implement a filter for electoral competence, because whoever designs the filter essentially gets to design the electorate. Pretty good argument for near-universal suffrage--start on the assumption that everybody gets the vote, then rely on concrete negative markers like criminal activity or legal incompetency as grounds to take away the vote from individuals."

"One of the greatest achievements of the civil rights struggle was the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which removed most of the obstacles that kept African Americans away from the ballot box and enabled Americans who did not speak English to vote. But the voting rights movement never reached the last excluded segment of our democracy: our prisoners.

A legal action filed last month seeks to fill that gap in voting rights law. It argues that New York State's laws that take the right to vote away from many people convicted of felonies disproportionately harms black and Latino communities. As a result, these laws violate the Constitution, the Voting Rights Act and international law.
...
While laws vary from state to state, in New York only convicted felons who serve time in prison lose their right to participate in the democratic process."
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/feature-commentary/20030217/202/285

So, New York allows criminals to vote who are in jail. But if a person is serving felony conviction in jail, then New York doesn't allow that person to vote, unless that person is paroled.
But this isn't good enough, we are urged to change this overly unfair system in New York. The drug dealer, the rapist, and murderer should get to vote while serving in prison.
I think you right that Republicans might be against this, but apparently in this instance Robert is on the side of Republicans. But if he lived New York, he probably change his position on it.

"I think that even though you concluded that an electoral filter is impractical, you also confirm my observation about a bit of skepticism towards democracy among conservatives."

All I think all you are confirming is you have accepted truths which the Dems have fed you. A little skepticism of bullshit you being shovelled, might be a refreshing change.

Oh, also note this from the article above:
"Our three organizations seek to change this. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Community Service Society of New York and the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College have filed a class action lawsuit charging that New York State laws denying the vote to individuals who are incarcerated or on parole are unconstitutional and discriminatory. They argue that these laws were originally intended to deny full rights to African Americans, and their continued application today disproportionately harms black and Latino communities."

Did you notice that they are using the court system, instead of allowing the citizens of New York to vote on this matter? I thought not.

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