Dukakis88
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:24 AM
Original message |
Long Lines = De Facto Voter Intimidation Favoring the Rich |
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If you don't have to work for a living, own your own business, or can set your own hours, then waiting in huge multi-hour lines is no problem, just an inconvenience. Lower-paid workers in lousy service jobs like Wal-Mart, single parents, etc. are actively discouraged from voting by the current state of affairs.
This is unacceptable. I'm not talking about voter suppression, challenging voters, felon voter roll cleansing, or any of the other obvious dirty tricks. The basic voting system needs to be changed if people have to wait multiple hours to vote in a nation with poor childcare and jobs with unflexible hours. This system is geared towards partisan fanatics and those in higher income brackets with flexible hours. It's a disgrace. It makes me sick to hear about people having to wait that long. I'm deeply thankful to everyone who is putting up with it, but fundamentally angry about how obviously biased this system is from the ground up.
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Doctor_J
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:25 AM
Response to Original message |
1. step 1 in voting reform |
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is to have a national holiday for the national elections.
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nadinbrzezinski
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
4. Move it to Sunday like most countries |
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Edited on Tue Nov-02-04 09:28 AM by nadinbrzezinski
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ClintonTyree
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:33 AM
Response to Reply #4 |
5. The Fundies................... |
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wouldn't go for that. That's the "Lords Day". Well, according to them Bush* and "The Lord" are synonymous, so I guess it shouldn't make any difference to them. Good idea though, I'd go for it.
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Weembo
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:34 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
6. Combine it with Veterans Day |
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Isn't that what the veterans fought for?
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Doctor_J
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:42 AM
Response to Reply #6 |
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though i would prefer i thikn to move it up a month when the weather is a little better.
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henslee
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:40 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
7. So true. And while states should be able to design their own ballots, |
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there should be non partisan nat'l. commision that approves them for accuracy and clarity. We should eliminate all electronic voting. And we should be in no rush to count the votes. If Gore would have just relaxed and demaned a recount of every FLA county instead of caving into pressure not to slow things down, we'd be a different country.
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bowens43
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:27 AM
Response to Original message |
2. many states (not sure of the number) have laws |
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prohibiting employers from penalizing people for taking time off to vote.
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rkc3
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:27 AM
Response to Original message |
3. Then tell anyone who says the line is too long they need to stick it out. |
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This election is more important than waiting in line for more than an hour - remind them they've stood in longer lines for roller coasters. And this ride lasts four years and may not have brakes at the end if Incurious George wins again.
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henslee
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:41 AM
Response to Original message |
8. Dig that mr. natural avatar! |
Dukakis88
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:43 AM
Response to Reply #8 |
11. I'm definitely a Crumb fan. The guy is massively talented. |
grace0418
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:42 AM
Response to Original message |
9. Most Kerry supporters would crawl through broken |
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glass to vote. It is disgraceful that they have to wait this long but I don't think that's going to stop us.
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Dukakis88
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:45 AM
Response to Reply #9 |
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I wasn't worried about hardcore Kerry supporters, more along the lines of the working people who have two jobs or other responsibilities who have been beaten down by the system all their lives and may be looking for an excuse to shrug their shoulders and go home, buying the conventional wisdom that "they're all crooks."
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novadem
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:43 AM
Response to Original message |
12. The early voting helped |
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but we need to have it available in every state.
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RhodaGrits
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:46 AM
Response to Original message |
14. Actually, most of the wealthy i know would not dream of standing in |
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ANY line for several hours. I'm not sure this hurts us. If they could send their admin asst, yeah - but not if they have to stand there with other people on the street and shuffle along with no extra accomodations made for them. There are exceptions - but they are not voting for Bush anyway!
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Roland99
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:47 AM
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People have been in line for hours for days now.
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mikehiggins
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:48 AM
Response to Original message |
16. Someday that may matter but that day is not this day |
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This day America is going to vote, whether its raining or cold or sunny, whether there's a line or they are the only people voting at all. They are coming out to take part in democracy, and if they're late for work, they'll still be on time for the future.
The future of this nation and the world depend on them punching that button, pulling down that lever, marking that X or whatever.
Some other time, when so much isn't riding on their vote, then the people can bitch about long lines.
Today? That long line is our own Band of Brothers and everyone will be happy to tell their friends and family that they were there, standing up for America.
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SammyWinstonJack
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Tue Nov-02-04 09:51 AM
Response to Reply #16 |
Dem_Loyalist
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Tue Nov-02-04 10:04 AM
Response to Original message |
18. Just as a good faith gesture |
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I think it would be nice if they moved minorities to go to the head of the line when they showed up to vote. I don't think it should be required but it would be a very compassionate way to show that they value our vote. Or am I way off base here?
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