Hi Readers,
Most immigrants, when they come to the USA want a better life then they had. They come to have better paying jobs then in the old country. They want to taste the delicious freedom that we, Americans take for granted. They also want to have a safe place to raise their children. They also have to have more knowledge of this country in order to become citizens of The USA! Many natural citizens of this country couldn't pass the test that is administered to prospective citizens in order to become citizens. We are a complacent people too involved with The Kardashians, Lady Ga Ga and other unimportant "knowledge" to pick up a newspaper to find out what various polititions are stating about bread and butter issues that affect everyone in this country! Many people don't even know who their mayor is and other city officials! This is beyond sad it's frightening! How can we elect candidates for public office that will have our backs when we don't even pay attention to who's running?
But the biggest shocker is that the people that are most affected by draconian budget cuts that pull out the rug for the poor and remove their safety net don't vote and don't inform themselves of the issues that affect them the MOST! Being poor is NO EXCUSE for being ignorant! I have been poor most of my life but since I turned 21 in 1965 I have never missed voting in a Presidential Election to this day! I also vote in all Congressional Elections too. I take my obligations as an American citizen very seriously! Maybe it's the Ojibiway blood coursing through my veins that drives me to the polls to vote at every election(even when one year I had pneumonia!) The Native Americans greeted all the immigrants on shore.
This begs the question, why don't all citizens of The United States inform them selves about the issues and the candidate's stance on each issue and VOTE? The only answer I can come up with is that we live in a SLACKER SOCIETY! Too lazy to pick up a book at the "free" libraries across this land and learn more about the history of The USA. I have on occasion been forced because my computer wasn't working to rent the use of a computer at the Downtown Minneapolis Public Library. We were all sitting close together so I could see what others were using the computer for. Of course there was Facebook, but many people had their earphones on some even moving to the music they were listening to. They were wasting the precious 60 minutes they had listening to popular music when they could be researching about various subjects and becoming an informed citizen.
I blame the system too because public schools should be the market place of great ideas instead of a place that hands out photocopied worksheets to students to fill out for home work instead of stocking the schools with great works of art, literature, and philosophy that could peak the student's interest in the arts, history, and stimulate their minds to the max! Why don't we have this? Because of budget cuts in education (mostly from Republicans) that impede student growth. How did these Republicans get elected? By voter apathy, lack of voting by the poor(who pay the biggest price) and the brainwashing of Conservative Christians(even though many are part of the 99%) That don't vote with their pocket books in mind!
What is the cure? The Democratic Party has to train people from all ethnic and religious communities to hang out where the poor hang out like food shelves, financial aid offices, clinics, and homeless shelters. They must sign them up to vote, sternly warn them about the consequences for them if they don't vote and pick them up to go to the polls. Schools that have mostly immigrant populations must have classrooms that get the parents up to speed on their English skills! On news programs I've seen parents that have been in the USA for 10+ years and still need interpreters! This is unacceptable! It's a no brainer, you come to this country, you should be able to speak standard English in less then two years! If you aren't making the effort your a slacker!
This is the most important election in modern times so belly up to the voting booth and vote Democratic across the board they will help the 99%. The 1% don't need help, they can take care of themselves royally!