The United States in part was founded on principles of freedom - freedom of speech, assembly, and representation. We know that the Constitution includes references to voting rights, such as disallowing poll taxes. Yet we also know, that states have abridged the voting rights of the 'mentally incompetent' and convicted felons.
Shockingly, many of us lack the ability to look inside the hearts of our fellow citizens. Some, undoubtedly purer of heart and conscience than I, wish to restrict voting to those with state-sponsored identification. Others, with no assurance more mean-spirited, feel these closely held beliefs are intended to suppress voting of the poor, minorities, or anyone else with certain specific politics, and coincidently less likely to have said ID.
Find out what's happening in Melrosewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Studies of voter fraud seem to show this to be less a public nuisance, than for example, fatal shark attacks.
If a self-proclaimed democracy lacks the ability and humility to assure fair representation, then surely the future challenges of governing, nation-building, and spreading democracy to galaxies far away are beyond us. We have become victims of winning at any cost with 'democracy' sacrificed on the altar of expediency.
