Posted by
King Vinyl on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 11:03:16 AM
I like the idea that "if you didn't vote don't complain" as a general theory but it only goes so far in constituting a solution to the cop out mentality of what I call 'the back seat voter'.
This country needs to create an effective mechanism of accurately and transparently collecting secret ballots from it's people who are eligible to cast a vote. With that said and there are many reasons why (so feel free to expand on what I may have missed) as I attempt to propose 'The Solution'.
Citizenship comes with rights, ones given to us through a lineage of stewardship on the foundations of liberty and of freedom born in our founding in the name of the individual American.
Voting should not only be considered a right of citizenship, but also a responsibility even though neither is currently the case. I would argue that the right exists in our constitution, that the responsibility to control our government lies with the people and constitutes an implied voting right.
Representation of every American as the authority by which our government operates would create the most transparent and just enterprise for an honest debate model. Without active stewardship in America these rights would exist as a reflection of the rest of the world.
If voting is to be defined as a right it must also be an accepted responsibility not only in words but also by the actions of its’ people. Make every first Tuesday in November of every year the designated national day of voting when we as a nation require all citizens to cast a ballot. Privileges such as drivers license, government services, employment and school eligibility would only be available to active stewards to the Constitution of the United States of America.
A national standard must be set forth to protect all peoples from the fraudulent votes of those who do not qualify for this process. Just as states all recognize the national standard of DUI law so should a voting standard be established enforced though federal funding restrictions for non-compliant states. Those individuals who choose not to participate in our governments electoral processes should not be eligible to benefit from our governments services until the following year. The process of voting by absentee would only be available to those planning to be outside the US or the physically disabled.
Every voting machine would be a standard unit and every American would be able to vote in any state district or precinct by linking ID cards information to this national standard.
This national ID card would become free of charge once a year to all citizens and would never be available to a non-citizen under any circumstances. Standard criteria would be proof of an original notarized copy of a birth certificate, and an original social security card. All citizens would be required to obtain this card for purposes of exercising any of the defined stewardship/ privilege services provided by citizenship without exception.
Freedom isn't free it's a reward in reciprocate stewardship on the foundation of principles established by Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.