Recently, the conservative talk hounds have taken on different groups, working around the country, trying to preserve the right for everyone to vote. One of them is ACORN, which stands for "Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now". The mission of this group is to register low to middle level income folks, to get them to the polls and vote. Apparently, their offices were "raided" in Las Vegas for alleged voter fraud. That is NOT what this post is about. What it is about is a fundamental right of Americans: voting.
Voting. What can be a more American principal than voting? Our Founders, those astounding visionaries, recognized early on the need for a democracy to vote, so that the government represents the will of the people. At first, the Founders only recognized white, male property owners as being responsible enough to vote. But through the dynamism of our Constitution, and the brave actions of patriots determined to secure the phrase "We the People" to have true meaning, voting was expanded. First to African-American males, then to women, then to people as young as eighteen. With this expansion, our republic became stronger as more people were allowed to add their voice to politics!
Now, conservatives are demanding that this drive to register low and middle income voters has to stop. Stop! Are they really openly advocating removing the right to vote from people? Are they really suggesting that some people in our society simply shouldn't have a voice because they are so concerned about working one, sometimes two minimum wages jobs to put food on their tables? Which citizens, in their opinion, should be registered to vote, and which shouldn't be? Are they proposing a "test" to determine worthiness to vote?
I understand the conservatives fear at registering low to middle income voters. Clearly, people without seven houses, thirteen cars, and millions of dollars in the bank aren't Republicans. Low and middle income people understand what's it like to struggle endlessly under the guise of "individual responsibility", trying to save a few dollars, only to be wiped out the next week because of an outrageous medical bill. They are NOT Republicans. And that is what's scaring the hell out of the conservative blabberers. For once, people are on to their anti-American game, and won't be distracted this time from the reality of the situation.
So, my conservative friends that actually have the audacity to claim that some people should vote and some people shouldn't vote go against the grain of the foundation of our country. Our Founders would be outraged, as should ALL AMERICANS. The right to vote is fundamental. We need to work to get as many people to the polls as possible on Election Day. We need to make sure people are registered and ready to vote. It's EVERYONE'S right -- what is more American than that?