We are indeed a country of immigrants founded only by extermination of a native race numbering once in the hundreds of millions. If only ‘Native Americans’ would have enacted what I am about to propose for our immigration into their lands, perhaps we would be a much more informed and socially cohesive society as the Iroquois our forefathers tried to emulate.
I have proposed and will again propose a very short formula for immigration. It also impacts "so-called" non-immigrants or commonly referred to as US Citizens. Confused?
I mean to say that one of the variables I propose, Mandatory Voting, is universal and extends to all Americans. The other variable, Paying Taxes, already has seeped into our culture and is accepted alongside the many other mandatory governmental requirements such as car insurance, social security numbers, etc. Let us not forget taxes were originally a hard sell, I mean who the hell wants to pay taxes. Collectively it binds us and provides financial fortitude to our common land.
Mandatory Voting is the same. Collectively we must reengage each other through participating in local, state and federal elections. Like taxes we are collectively ensuring representative fortitude. After all a government founded upon the concept of representation is hardly served by complete disdain for voting or complete disconnect from the impact of voting.
Mandatory voting could swing two ways. We could make it incentive based or penalty based. I prefer a tax incentive for those who rack up local, state and federal voting points. I also prefer no penalty for those who just refuse to participate by choice or otherwise, again this is the American way...we must remain free to make our own decisions in the broadest feasible construct.
So, here it is....
Voter + Taxpayer = US Citizen
If you come to the US (i.e. not born here) you MUST vote and you MUST register to pay all taxes through your employer. If you are born in the US you MUST pay taxes (duh?) and you are eligible, NOT REQUIRED, to receive tax breaks for voting participation.
I say this to you today, Daily Kos Reader, chances are you are not a Native American, thus you are a generational immigrant. I say come one come all to our great country, our diversity is both our strength and increasingly our weakness. By strengthening the public voice, welcoming willing labor and knowing who everyone is by requiring they pay taxes and participate in their community then we hedge our worst fears that emanate from our diversity.
I also suggest this weakness is doused by eliminating US military posture in Arab lands. We can’t even take care of ourselves, look around, homelessness, immigrants doing our dirty work and gluttony and convenience drive our culture. We must reassert our collective intellect in recapturing the essence of the American construct. That is an open society that seeks to include citizens from around the world.
Vote and pay taxes. Easy! Come one come all. Vote out the dirty war dogs that stain our American trajectory with their blood lust and alienation of the American public by electronic rigging of voting and the elitist Electoral College.