More Great Ideas for Eliminating the Right To Vote

Racine mayoral candidate Jody Harding wrote last year, complaining that people who do not pay taxes should not have the right to vote Henny Penny and the Right to Vote

The large (and growing) segment of our society that is living off government handouts is voting to decide how that government is run.  They are voting to decide how tax dollars - dollars to which they do not contribute - are spent...

... I believe that any individual who is receiving a government subsidy should lose his/her right to vote for as long as s/he receives that subsidy.

Not much doubt about this one. We can return to 1790's when only white male property owners would have the right to vote.

But imagine all of the glorious groups of Americans that will be disenfranchised:

• All of the executives and of the banks and insurance companies that were part of the first $800 million bailout will lose the right to vote.
• They will be joined by all of the automobile manufacturers and capitalists who benefited form the second bailout.
• Anyone who has unpaid parking tickets, since that debt to the government is really a free loan so long as it is unpaid.
• Of course, any property owner who owes real estate taxes loses the right to vote along with those who fail to pay their income taxes - another form of government subsidization.
• Recipients  of tax incremental financing (TIF) along with any form of development tax break clearly qualifies as  a subsidy and would lead to disenfranchisement.
• I suppose Jody might argue about this next one, but anyone who gets a bloated, fat, government contract without a bidding process like Blackwater should also lose the right to vote.

 

 

Comments

[Jon]

Paul, you indicate that under Jody's logic, "All of the executives of the banks and insurance companies that were part of the first $800 million bailout will lose the right to vote."

Actually, those banks and insurance companies are owned by their shareholders, and since those shareholders are benefiting, they should lose their right to vote. Pretty much anyone with a 401(k) or IRA has some money invested in those industries if they're properly diversified. All of those people should lose their right to vote.

Jody's proposal would end up with America's working poor being the only people left with the right to vote. Not a bad idea come to think of it...

[John]

Jody took down the above mentioned story, claiming bloggers have changed her mind on the issue, and that she was wrong.

Which is why I've always judged a person by their original intent, the process of their own logic, than believing in their "change of heart" story enlightenment. It's really about damage control.

[Scott]

Don't forget about most of America's farmers that would lose their right to vote. Oh, I forgot..it's called a "safety net"

[Raelian]

The world needs geniocracy.

[Steve Vokers]

Let's not forget the 66% of corporations that paid no state tax in Wisconsin over the last few years.

[mandrake]

Let the corporations vote, they have legal personhood; as long as they pay their taxes. One corporation, one vote.