Posted on Oct 15, 2016
Should we, as a nation, amend voting laws to only allow "citizens," who pay taxes, be allowed to vote in federal elections?
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Responses: 16
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You mean income taxes or any tax? Sales tax, gas tax, cigarette tax, social security tax, do they count? Most my years in the Army I didn't actually pay any federal income tax. If you're talking income tax then your taking 40% of all Americans off the voting rolls. If that is your question then no, it is an awful idea. Really even taking people off that pay no tax is an awful idea. Sort of takes us back to the time of landowning makes were the only ones who could vote.
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SFC Joseph Weber
SSG Steven Mangus - I think you're giving the USG too much credit. If it's only people employed how do you deal with stay at home partners or old folk or dummies like me that plan on spending years on the porch yelling at kids to get off my lawn? I have often thought that only people who have done some sort of service to country should vote. Military, drive an ambulance in Baltimore, Americorps. Being productive isn't in the Constitution. All people including limp, lame, and lazy should be able to vote. We're all Americans. Maybe being lazy is my personal persuit of happiness?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SSG Steven Mangus - The Constitution. Specifically:
Art1, Section 2:
"The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature."
Amendment 17:
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof...
The usage of the word "The people" has specific legal context when it comes to Federal Elections. That word has been modified with other Amendments to offer specific Protections like Race, Gender, & Age, but The People means Citizenry, while Persons (14a) means those who are living in the US and subject to its authority.
Art1, Section 2:
"The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature."
Amendment 17:
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof...
The usage of the word "The people" has specific legal context when it comes to Federal Elections. That word has been modified with other Amendments to offer specific Protections like Race, Gender, & Age, but The People means Citizenry, while Persons (14a) means those who are living in the US and subject to its authority.
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SSG Steven Mangus
Voting is not a right, but a privilege granted or withheld at the discretion of local and state governments. True, our Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination in granting the franchise based on a person's race, sex, or (adult) age via the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments.
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one of the original conditions to be a citizen voter was suggested to be you have to be a land owner, it was rejected, as this one would be. I understand the logic behind the wish for this, but the Constitution does not have such a provision and never will have. It places the conservative movement with a handicap, because someone that lives off the dole, will vote for the liberal because they have no "skin" in the game and will vote for whomever passes out the most in cash and benefits.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Since the only language in the Constitution of the United States only relates who may not be denied suffrage, this implies the several states are to set the requirements for who may vote. The Framer's never intended for the central government to rule from the top down. The States were to retain power and the central government was provided specific and enumerated powers.
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Yes, yes, yes!!!!
And then we'll only allow people to utilize their 1st amendment right if they wear an American Flag shirt while doing it.
Also I think we should really get rid of this whole religious freedom concept. It's Scientology or nothing.
And why do people need weapons?
I honestly don't know why this is even a question.
And then we'll only allow people to utilize their 1st amendment right if they wear an American Flag shirt while doing it.
Also I think we should really get rid of this whole religious freedom concept. It's Scientology or nothing.
And why do people need weapons?
I honestly don't know why this is even a question.
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