HispanicVista Columnists
Voter ID Is Government Intrusion
By Robert Miranda
The congressional committee that met last week in Milwaukee to discuss voter ID managed to achieve one thing, and that was to agree to disagree.
Meanwhile, thousands of citizens on the verge of potentially losing their fundamental right to vote wait for the final decision on the matter which appears to be heading to the public in the form of a referendum.
While there is need to correct the ills that hurt the system, the debate and attention given to voter ID is goofy when you consider the other issues which impact our lives.
Indeed, why are the Republicans so engrossed in continuing this campaign?
Is it because they want the public to stay focused on this issue rather than focusing its attention on the damage they’ve caused the system because of their continued anti-tax politics?
Recent news articles and studies indicate no massive voter fraud has taken place in Wisconsin the last election cycle. Yet the GOP ignores this fact and presses ahead with voter ID knowing that this could disenfranchise thousands of Americans from voting for failing to produce an ID to vote on Election Day.
The GOP and conservative activists want us to focus our attention on voter ID, why?
Is it because they do not want the public to begin scrutinizing their destructive anti-tax campaigns which have over the years hurt the most needy, our children's education and elderly?
Could voter ID be nothing more than another WMD (weapon of mass distraction) issue which takes the public’s focus away from real serious matters—such as poverty, the environment, and out-of-control spending in our penal system?
Voter ID is an issue that continues to divide the public. Why not address issues that would unite us, such as building economically strong, stable and safe communities?
The arguments for having voter ID are simplistic and born out of political chatter.
The committee that met last week to discuss this matter achieved nothing.
Why are we so quick to surrender our rights whenever the GOP starts to beat the drums of fear?
The GOP voter ID campaign is Un-American because it threatens the right of an American to engage in voting.
Our democracy should steer away from reactionary actions which threaten any citizen’s right to participate in this democracy. This radical action by GOP extremists needs to be defeated, and the people of this great state should continue to back the Governor’s example.
For decades our nation has stood against the enemies of our democracy without having to resort to implement long-term requirements that restrict our freedoms, or infringe upon our rights and liberties.
Voter ID is nothing more than a political action campaign against the people’s ability to do the right thing. The GOP does not trust us. They do not believe that more Americans than not are willing and ready to abide by the law. Is it right to implement laws that punish the many for the actions of the few?
- It seems to me that Governor Doyle believes that we can do the right thing without having government forcing us to do so, and that is the American way.
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- Robert Miranda, a frequent contributing columnist to HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) is a national award winning columnist, Latino community activist and Editor-in-Chief of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. Email at: rmiranda@wi.rr.com