I have thought long and hard about this issue of voter identification laws. Both sides have legitimate arguments, so making a decision on whether they are the "right" thing to do or the "wrong" thing to do is quite difficult, but something that must be done in order that every American has the opportunity and the right to vote.
On the CON side of the ledger, mostly liberal politicians are screaming that this is only an attempt by the Republicans to dis-enfranchise traditionally non-Republican voters. Well, let's examine that. The laws generally are requiring voters to show a photo ID in order to cast their vote. Liberals are saying that there are many older, poorer voters that have never had a photo ID made, and that to require them to get one made before the November election would be an extreme hardship on them. That argument sounds logical and reasonable at first glance, but let us take a closer look at ways this law could be made easier.
Most elderly people who vote are going to have to be mobile enough to go to their voting place to cast their vote, are they not? If they are mobile and can cast their vote, why can't they go by the state driver's license bureau and get a photo ID made? Most governmental institutions require individuals to provide proof of citizenship or residency to draw any form of government assistance, let that suffice. Besides that, if they speak English without a foreign accent, then that really should suffice. If they speak with a foreign accent, then I think that it should be mandatory for them to provide some proof of being a US Citizen to vote; that is not too much to ask.
On the PRO side, the argument is very simple (at least to me, that is!)...literally millions of Americans of all races and creeds have fought and died in wars for over two hundred years to protect American Citizen's rights to decide who will lead us and represent us at all levels of Government. Until the last sixty or seventy years, trying to determine whether someone was a citizen or not was not a real issue; we enforced our immigration policy fairly and strictly. Now, in America, our borders are like a sieve; literally millions of illegal immigrants are sneaking into America chasing their dreams for a better life, and trying to escape the poverty and lack of opportunities in other places, and, sadly, trying to find ways to disrupt and destroy American's freedoms. I was one of those soldiers who served in both Vietnam and in Operation Desert Storm. I fought for my fellow soldiers, my family, and my fellow American Citizens rights; not to allow some illegal to sneak into this country and cast illegal votes which can strip American Citizens of their protections, benefits, and rights. If it is the will of this country to allow immigrants to come into this country legally and eventually gain U.S. Citizenship, then so-be-it, and I applaud that policy. But I do NOT support, nor do I believe most Americans support allowing non US Citizens casting votes in US elections, and potentially doing so in such numbers that they could defeat the will of the majority of U.S. Citizens. That is not right, and it is not legal, and I think it dishonors those who fought and died to protect the rights of U.S. Citizens.
I am insulted, and I am indignant at the suggestion that Republicans are trying to disenfranchise any American Citizen from voting by requiring some form of proof of citizenship before allowing someone to cast a vote. It is NOT my desire, nor do I believe it is the desire of of any honorable U.S. Citizen to try to keep any U.S. Citizen from casting a vote. As a retired U.S. Army MAJOR, I fought and was willing to die to protect that right, and I feel it is the DUTY of every American Citizen to do so. In my opinion, to sit idly by and not vote dishonors the memory of every soldier who fought and died in every war that we have participated in over the last two hundred thirty-six years.
It is the duty of this society to protect the rights of every citizen of the USA to vote, but just as important, it is also the duty of this society to protect this nation from being illegally governed by representatives elected by voter fraud from non-US Citizens. Both responsibilities are sacred, and both must be equally and forcefully enforced. To do otherwise is morally, ethically, and legally wrong!
Frankly, instead of spending so much money and time trying to stop people from being required to show some proof of citizenship before being able to vote, why not spend that effort helping those American Citizens that do not have that proof get it! That could be something that both political parties could probably benefit from!
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