On August 6, 2005, The Voting Rights Act of 1965 will have its fortieth anniversary. This legislation was key to changing the political balance of power in the South. Large amounts of blacks were effectively denied the right to vote because of literacy tests. The Act changed that.
Georgia recently passed state legislation that requires it's voters to have a government-issued photo ID. Sounds reasonable. With 9/11 and illegal immigration having grown to such a destabilizing and costly problem, ID s would be of some help. The federal government has to approve Georgia's legislation before it can take effect ( provision of Voting Act 1965). Civil rights activists are concerned that Georgia's requirement will hurt minorities more than majority voters. What's the logic? This is about an ID. The feds should approve Georgia's initiative and it should be a model for the rest of the states. This is a small step in getting control of the heart of a democracy-a legitimate voting process.
There has to be some responsibilities of the American citizen. A photo ID is a minimum requirement. While we are there, the decoupling of literacy from the right to vote was a mistake. If one did not have the interest to learn how to read or write then it would be only a short step to not even learning the common language. And that's where we are today-multiple language ballots. And from there America has experienced illegal votes being cast . What's an American citizenship worth ? If illegals can vote, attend school, receive healthcare and get legal assistance, why bother to be legit?
The real error in America's democracy was allowing non-property owners to vote ( original Constitution had property owners as only voters). This was the classic error that the Greeks and the Romans also made. When that dynamic is unleashed it is only a matter of time before a democracy becomes a kleptocracy. More states rights and less federal power is somewhat of a foil against that threat.
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