Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!exodus!mhtsa!mh3bs!eagle!harpo!decvax!yale-com!scott
From: scott@yale-com.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: voting (semi-FLAME)
Message-ID: <2951@yale-com.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Feb-84 01:24:22 EST
Article-I.D.: yale-com.2951
Posted: Thu Feb 16 01:24:22 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Feb-84 03:06:13 EST
References: uiucdcs.5620
Lines: 22


Has it occured to anybody that there would be *huge* practical problems in
changing the voting laws from the way they are now? Has it occured to
anybody that such changes would violate the basic principles of democracy
which are embodied in our constitution, and undoubtedly lead to the denial
of the right to vote to the poor, minority groups, etc.?

All this talk about requiring voters to demonstrate some knowledge of their
government sounds *extremely* familiar... Does anybody remember the LITERACY
TESTS?! The POLL TAXES!? All of which were used exclusively in the South to
DENY BLACKS THE RIGHT TO VOTE!!

That anyone could propose that rich people get proportionally more votes than
poor people (!!!) because, having earned a certain amount of money (who ever
said they earned it?!?!), they have proved themselves more capable and there-
fore deserving of more votes (!!!!!) makes me VIOLENTLY ILL.

Hmm, looks like this ended up being more of a flame than I thought it would.
Anyone wishing to respond in kind is welcome, for these are...

...the asbestos-gloved fingers of...			Walter Scott
						     ...decvax!yale-com!scott