We all know how infuriating it is when people with right wing agendas introduce their anti-democratic legislation with that schoolmarmish air of, “We’re just being reasonable.” Or, “We’re just trying to keep you and our American democracy safe.” They’re really good at this trick and, being a slimy trick, few on the principled side of American politics have tried to match them. However, this latter example, of “keeping American democracy safe” has been the excuse for one of the Right’s most cynical attacks on those they see as enemies: voting rights restrictions.
There’s a kind of genius in its bald-facedness — make it harder for poor people, students and other likely Democrats to vote and you’ll get fewer non-Rs in office. And nobody likes cheats, right (never mind that there aren’t any)?
At the same time I want to protect the rights of all citizens to vote, I also want to give the Right a taste of their own toxic medicine. Yesterday I realized a way to do that.
Now, before I expand I have to first say that this is not my belief — it is merely an exercise. In fact, I am very much against infringing people’s rights as I describe below. However, if someone else were to run with this idea I bet we’d see pretty quickly how much the Right actually wants to protect democracy versus protecting their constituents.
It’s very simple — Alzheimer’s and dementia are a modern scourge that hasn’t skipped any family. We all know families who have suffered horribly from watching an aged loved one slip away behind a veil from whence they don’t return. It is a terrible agony, watching a respected and loved parent or sibling gradually lose their independence as first their keys, then their stoves and finally their homes are taken away in order to keep them and those around them safe. But what about our elections? Who is keeping them safe from the growing, greying cloud of confused Boomers? A simple and effective safeguard against our elections being skewed by confused and easily manipulated elders would be a two question test, put to each voter before they are allowed to cast a ballot: What is today’s date? (and) Name two opposing candidates in any race on today’s ballot. While any person of sound mind can easily answer these two questions, most people with dementia would not be able to do so. This is not race-based, class-based or age-based discrimination, but just an honest attempt to keep our elections as fair and true as possible.
Then sit back and watch the right wing pundits scream about elder abuse and illegal poll tests, when it’s THEIR demographic being faced with a potential obstacle to casting a vote.