I want to propose that in order to receive any government assistance whatsoever...

[jorno67]

You are required to fulfil your civic duty and VOTE.

[Lex]

1. Heh.

[tkmorris]

2. No

[mimi85]

14. Double No

[winter is coming]

3. And how many living on government assistance don't have the proper ID?

Frankly, if someone doesn't want to go to the polls, it's probably better for all concerned that they not be there.

[Demonaut]

4. they didnt need to identify themselves to receive gov benefits?

[winter is coming]

10. The new voter ID laws tend to be more stringent.

We have retired citizens who receive Medicare and Social Security but might not be able to vote because they no longer drive and never had birth certificates. People on Medicaid or unemployment... you're living on a small fixed income, yet you're supposed to keep your ID completely current if you want to vote.

[Downwinder]

16. +1000

I know most all of the poll workers, why do I need an ID?

[leftstreet]

5. No n/t

[NuclearDem]

6. Sorry, but no.

The right to not vote is just as important as the right to do so.

I'm all in favor of tax credits or incentives for civic education courses and other forms of participatory democracy (attending local government meetings and functions, for example), but not holding people in desperate need to that sort of obligation.

[Glassunion]

7. Exactly!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. No. Not voting can be, and sometimes is, an act of protest against the system.

[gulliver]

9. Good idea. K&R

[dembotoz]

11. no for reasons listed above

[Glassunion]

12. It is just as much a civic duty to vote as it is not to vote.

That's part of the problem with our current system today.

Gee... With a two party system of special interest funded elections, your only options at times are to vote for one of two assholes. Never confuse voting for the lesser of two evils as being good vote.

[MotherPetrie]

13. I don't like when Repugs put conditions on receiving public assistance and I don't like when Dems do

either.

[steve2470]

15. Voting is a good thing but ignorant voting is not

Not in favor of this, sorry. Other posters make good points too.

[niyad]

17. absolutely NOT, for all the reasons listed in various posts above.

[noamnety]

18. I have a counter proposal.

How about if you're on government assistance of any sort, the costs for getting the ID you need for voting are waived? That way it's not a requirement to vote, but at least one of the obstacles is removed.

[Yo_Mama]

19. There's a minor matter of the Constitution.

To be considered. You cannot force political speech like that.

Also, please consider the impact on the children of those thus punished. The children cannot vote, but you want to deprive their guardians of welfare benefits?

If it were not for my respect for the Constitution and for basic human rights, I'd propose that people who want to deprive other people (and their children) of welfare benefits because they did or said something that was not a crime but that displeased the speaker should automatically lose their SS benefits.