Voter ID Cards, or Poll Tax Redux - Fascism marches on in the Red States

Several states have begun passing laws that require an official Voter ID Card in order for Citizens to cast a ballot. 

This requirement is nothing more than the Poll Tax reborn within the current climate of xenophobia and neo-911 authoritarianism.

Those in favor of such ID requirements argue that this will eliminate rampant voter fraud. However, there is no current evidence of such rampant fraud.

The clear and negative impact that these restructive laws will have is that they further complicate the lives of and strike at the self-esteem of the poor, the illiterate, the disabled, the new citizens and those who live in remote areas. But mostly these laws are a slap in the face to the poor. What further burdens shall be places on those who live in grinding poverty, who have no access to healthcare, who live hand to mouth, who have the poorest schools and no access to better education, who have no one who really represents them?

Poverty is not a moral issue. But the Bush administration, his cadre of neo-cons and the many powerful business lobbies who direct policy have all joined forces to blame the individual for the sins of the society and to shout out to the citizenry, "If you are poor and underclass, you are morally bankrupt, and like your brethren in the penal system, you not deserve a vote."

We are moving ever closer to two classes of citizen - the Imperial and the Plebian. In a fair and reasonable society, where the common good is not sacrificed for the vulgar pursuit of ostentatious wealth, it is up to those who have to protect those who have not. It is time for all Americans to stand up and shout down this horrifying chipping-away at the Bill of RIghts.

Write letters now; join an organization; write a letter to the editor; do something, but for the love of Democracy, do not wait until it's too late!

Tags:   Bill of Rights, Bush, business lobbies, fascism, neo cons, red states, Viter ID cards, voter fraud, voter registration

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Posted on 7/12/2006 ( Permanent Link )
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