US govt sues Texas

[Ping]

http://news.yahoo.com/justice-department-says-sue-texas-over-voter-id-163556129.html

I didn't know the government could even sue other states. Still, I think this is going to be sending a message. Thoughts?

 

[Lavi]

I don't know much about voter fraud, so I can't give a really educated response to this, especially since the article goes into no depth on the kind of language the Texas law used. However, it is appalling that the Texan government is attempting to bring back that law when it was blocked on the federal level before.

 

[Livgardist]

Doesn't it make sense to ensure the identity of your voters? What if fifty percent of your voters work for the KGB?

Admittedly, though, I'm not very informed of the matter and may not see the whole picture. Feel free to correct me with a blunt object.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Oh my god. Someone has to prove that they're eligible to vote before they're allowed to? What a gross travesty of justice! I mean, it's not like you're required to be a citizen or anything before you cast a ballot. I mean, how would all the illegals vote if they were required to show some sort of paperwork?

Jesus Christ.

 

[Blaxican]

I would point out why what you just said is silly, but five people are going to climb up your asshole in about 30 seconds so I shan't bother.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I don't mind if people need to produce an ID to vote. I mind it when states make it a burden to get that ID. If the states want to provide them for free and make it as easy as humanly, I don't have a problem with it. The problem is that states are a) making it burdensome and b) doing it to specifically suppress Democratic votes. There is no proof of widespread voter fraud to necessitate an ID system.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Just cause I believe that the right to vote in this country should be reserved for citizens, doesn't make me silly. I'm from Texas, worked in a law firm, in Texas, worked for the Census, in Texas. I've seen how it works down there, especially in areas that are incredibly illegal heavy, and I applaud it. You ever seen a bus full of people pull up to a voting center, and everyone that climbs off is illegal, given 10 dollars to cast a vote a certain way, and then loaded up again after they'be done what the powers that be asked? I have, and its ridiculous.

Edit: @Brandon- the news has sensationalized it, as always. It's not like they require a certified birth certificate or anything. When I got my Texas ID, I called my dad in OK, had him pull my copy, and fax it over. They took that just fine.

And I don't think I've ever met someone thst was legal who couldn't provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, social security card, passport, etc.

 

[Blaxican]

I didn't say that believing in the right to vote being reserved for citizens is silly. I said, what you said is silly.

 

[BLADE]

Oh my god. Someone has to prove that they're eligible to vote before they're allowed to? What a gross travesty of justice! I mean, it's not like you're required to be a citizen or anything before you cast a ballot. I mean, how would all the illegals vote if they were required to show some sort of paperwork?

Jesus Christ.

I agree. Mexicans are tainting our votes with all of their weird foreign condiments. I mean, what exactly is Salsa? Is it a coincidence that it sounds like Satan? I ask you, what is the matter with ketchup? Why can't we keep our ballots American, and not infuse some dubious frijoles, which will make our stomachs and our voting system rumble gassily?

And I love Mexicans. I think they do great work on my yard. I mean, seriously. Mis topiarios!

And sure, we can't prove evidence of fraud, but Mexicans are well-known masters of stealth. Look at Zorro!

Granted, there might be the poor, or elderly or whatever who are caught up in this dragnet, but the old can't handle the thrill of voting. All those levers, and those weird names. And what if they're claustrophobic? Or afraid of stickers? Black people have better stuff to do. Like teaching white people how to dance/not be a jive turkey. And the poor should not be voting in the first place, because they don't have stuff. And you need stuff to vote.

In essence, I believe this is part of Obama's inefficient government plan to Socialize America. As a conservative, I am against it, particularly because a Black Panther Beret does not properly fit my head.

 

[Icaro]

Oh my god. Someone has to prove that they're eligible to vote before they're allowed to? What a gross travesty of justice! I mean, it's not like you're required to be a citizen or anything before you cast a ballot. I mean, how would all the illegals vote if they were required to show some sort of paperwork?

Jesus Christ.

come with me, friend.

i will show you the world!

 

[Crosby]

That doesn't matter at all.

 

[Blaxican]

wut

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

The texas law is really quite bad. It requires folks, normal people who don't want to spend money on a voter id, to travel a long way just to fill out an application for one, some up to 250 miles round trip if some websites are to be believed. Than there's what happens if you want to get an id another way, mainly having to pay a fee to get some form of ID, a birth certificate according to the article, and present it to an office. And those offices for everyone whose ever been in such a one, take a long, long, time to finally just get through the lines and get whatever you need done or helped with.

It takes up too much time for people who may be working long hours, two jobs or more, and especially the people with multiple jobs and barely any money to show for it or make by with bills or rent. Haven't really seen any measures to limit the time it would take, or the fees involved, in getting people their id's, so the goverment should take action.

 

[Mistress]

They should live here first.

Illegal aliens know how to get everything for free. If they wanted citizenship, they'd have it by now. Fact is, they don't want it. I've seen people with pockets full of IDs, babies having babies, shared medical IDs, people walk away from car accidents...

 

[Livgardist]

I can see the benefits of making it easier to get an ID.

But the fact is, in every country in the world (I'm maaking statements I can't back up here, but you know what I mean) except for the United States, you have to identify yourself before voting. Especially after I've heard stuff from the Texans here, I gotta say, it's about damn time. If you want a fair, democratic process in a country, the first step is making sure only people who are eligible to vote can vote.

For example - I live in Sweden. I don't want a bunch of Russians to come over and vote on how to run my country.

Only Americans should be able to vote in American elections, and if the price of that is having to go out of your way to get an ID, well, then that sucks, but it's a better starting point than having illegal aliens vote on how to run your country. You can always push the government of Texas or any other state you are in, to make it more readily accessible, but at least then you've taken a step towards ensuring the integrity of your elections.

Spoiler: Btw

As a sidenote; As a want-to-become-an-American-immigrant, I have zero sympathy for illegal aliens who choose to cross the border in the cover of darkness rather than go the legal way. It's an insult to me and everyone else who is struggling to make it through the paperwork and red tape to be allowed to stay in the United States.

 

[Lan]

I don't mind if people need to produce an ID to vote. I mind it when states make it a burden to get that ID. If the states want to provide them for free and make it as easy as humanly, I don't have a problem with it. The problem is that states are a) making it burdensome and b) doing it to specifically suppress Democratic votes. There is no proof of widespread voter fraud to necessitate an ID system.

I can't even go and get a new ID with my married name on it because our DMV is opened two times a week. I'm either working, in class or sleeping when it's opened. I can only imagine it's worse in big cities.

Spoiler: Btw

As a sidenote; As a want-to-become-an-American-immigrant, I have zero sympathy for illegal aliens who choose to cross the border in the cover of darkness rather than go the legal way. It's an insult to me and everyone else who is struggling to make it through the paperwork and red tape to be allowed to stay in the United States.

[/QUOTE]

I grew up in Florida. We have a lot of illegal aliens. One of my friend's parents were illegal. They fled Mexico because they had no other options. Things SUCK down there and places with the drug cartels are even worse. Some come over here just to work to send money BACK to their families because there is no work for them in Mexico. Desperate times, you know?

Since you're wanting to become an American Citizen, you should know how utterly hard it is to become a citizen. For one, it costs nearly 700 bucks just to apply. If you're having to work for nothing in orange fields just to have some kind of money to send home to family, then I doubt you have 700 bucks laying around. Hell, I don't have 100 bucks laying around.

http://www.cuny.edu/about/resources/citizenship/faqs/citizen.html is where I'm getting this information from.

If citizenship was less time consuming and costly, I am sure a lot more people would be applying for citizenship. It's all just a suck system and doesn't help the people who America was founded to help. You know, bring me your poor etc etc.

 

[Ush]

I hear the American immigration system is downright sadistic. One story I heard was about a man who couldn't present a full set of fingerprints because he'd lost the tips of three of his fingers, and he eventually got deported. Another reason for me to lose faith in 'the land of the free'.

Also, did you know that in Washington D.C you weren't allowed to vote? I know this was the case about ten years ago, has it changed?

 

[Livgardist]

I grew up in Florida. We have a lot of illegal aliens. One of my friend's parents were illegal. They fled Mexico because they had no other options. Things SUCK down there and places with the drug cartels are even worse. Some come over here just to work to send money BACK to their families because there is no work for them in Mexico. Desperate times, you know?

Since you're wanting to become an American Citizen, you should know how utterly hard it is to become a citizen. For one, it costs nearly 700 bucks just to apply. If you're having to work for nothing in orange fields just to have some kind of money to send home to family, then I doubt you have 700 bucks laying around. Hell, I don't have 100 bucks laying around.

http://www.cuny.edu/about/resources/citizenship/faqs/citizen.html is where I'm getting this information from.

If citizenship was less time consuming and costly, I am sure a lot more people would be applying for citizenship. It's all just a suck system and doesn't help the people who America was founded to help. You know, bring me your poor etc etc.

I hear what you're saying. I don't want to derail the thread too much about immigration, but, yeah, the US immigration laws suck - both for me and for Mexicans. (More so for Mexicans it seems...) But I would like to point out, there is no need for illegal immigrants to become citizens - getting a proper greencard would be enough, and cheaper.

That said, I sincerely hope they change the immigration laws one day to make it easier for people to move to the US - I think the US would benefit from this too - but I still cannot endorse what illegal immigrants do. I understand why they do it - but they're still breaking the law, and finance organized crime while doing it (coyotes), so I can't sympathize too much with them. It's a tough spot they're in, but they're not making the best of it by sneaking into the US.

 

[Mistress]

If you can think of it, Immigrants in Texas get it for free. They send the money they make to Mexico. And they are working in many jobs. Not all workers are unskilled laborers. They are also being hired under the table as skilled technicians. Not paying taxes on income. Citizenship is not impossible. The price is not outrageous. Texas gives them free college, free food, free healthcare, housing stipend, SSI, pay for your electric bills, gasoline stipend... And you can't get $700? The point is, they don't want to pay it.

 

[Lavi]

Also, did you know that in Washington D.C you weren't allowed to vote? I know this was the case about ten years ago, has it changed?

You got it wrong. D.C. residents have been able to vote since 1961. Granted, they still do not have Congressional representation.