Mr. Daystar
In a bell tower, watching you through cross hairs.
One of the main arguments against voter ID laws in question is the fear that such laws would prevent a large number of poor and minority citizens from being able to vote. Opponents of the laws claim that the laws would disenfranchise the poorest of Americans, because they are unable to afford the time to vote, or pay the fees required to acquire the needed identification. The secondary argument against voter identification laws is that they are racist, as they discriminate against minorities.
One must only think about how often an ID is required in modern life, to realize the first argument does not have a strong basis.
Listed below are the functions of modern life that require photo identification:
You must have I.D. to:
Operate a vehicle
Purchase alcohol (weed, too. In WA and CO)
Get on a commercial flight
gain admittance to an R rated movie (to be honest, this has never happened to me)
Purchase a handgun
Properly file a w-9 form
collect social security
vote in UNION ELECTIONS
purchase items with a credit card (sometimes)
Cash a check
Gamble
Pick up certain prescriptions
sell anything at a pawn shop
take the SATs and the AP tests
rent an apartment
purchase tobacco (again, never happened to me, even when I was 16)
Rent a car
apply for a permit to hold or attend a protest or rally
visit any k-12 school
enter any government building (even the dept of justice)
Are these everyday requirements for a photo ID racist or prejudiced against the poor? It is difficult to justify any claims of a racist basis for ID laws, as race does not figure in the ability to obtain an ID. Even using the weak argument of cost, there are far fewer minorities below the poverty level than there are among the Caucasian majority.
The only thing racist about voter ID laws are the progressive asshats who believe minority people are too lazy/poor/stupid to obtain proper identification.
Very good post. Perhaps the Government should require all citizens to get an photo ID, and rate the cost on income levels, just like health care. The amount you pay, is based on how much you make.