Can't Vote Here
The right to vote. Though not enumerated in the constitution it is one that we the people have come to accept as a right that all citizens deserve. When the country was founded it was only white males in possession of land or wealth who could vote in elections. This changed over time with gradual additions and inclusions through the 14th, 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th and 26th amendments outlawing any denial of this right based on birth status, sex, race, financial status and age. Each of these situations has resulted in increased rights for the people and the country as a whole, allowing all our citizens to have a voice in the democratic process. It is in the interest of all that we have a fair representation of what the people want, otherwise there will be a small amount of power concentrated in a small group because the majority is a false one. Accounting for the of the individual states attitudes towards voting and their history of infringing upon minority rights, this institution should be regulated and monitored by the federal government.
This country has been full of instances of a group stubbornly dragging its feet against a growing movement that has majority support. The contemporary examples are obvious, background checks for gun buyers (92%), marriage equality (61%), legalization (51%), and immigration reform (51%). This is the cycle of all broad changes in progressive countries, the older, more conservative generations are threatened because they are comfortable with what they have. If new laws pass that means things are going to change for worse. This coupled with conservative lawmakers shouting dramatically makes it easy to see how someone could be hypnotized into fearing change. At the tipping point of this clash, in should step the federal government. With an assessment of the situation they decide to accept and force this change on the whole country because it is how society moves forward. There are probably lots of old people who still believe African Americans should not be able to vote because, although the law has changed, their medieval opinions have not. But this is how a society moves forward, people embrace change and understand that the world moves no matter what they do. This may sound harsh but these crotchety contemporaries can either keep up or get out of the way.
It is within the best interests of the federal government to abide by the will of the population. While some might disagree, it makes sense that a federally appointed commission would have a broader base and expectation than 50 separate and isolated groups with their individual beliefs based on their own communal conventions. This is because the people whom they serve are widespread and diverse, in order to stay in power these politicians need to do the best they can for the greatest number of people. On a wide spread issues like voting it just makes sense that a national body should oversee the process. The Federal Election Commission can only do so much because the limiting laws based on the constitution omitting specified powers to the federal government, sometimes outweigh the powers of the FEC. A group’s ability to regulate is only as strong as the penalties they can impose. Yet in the 2012 elections there were massive election donations that were not protected under the Citizen’s United ruling of 2010.
It is the job of the federal government to do for the people cannot do for themselves. Change can be scary, unpredictable and challenging but that is no reason not to try. Life is a challenge and the United States has proven over and over again that there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Unfortunately it seems that inaction has become the new way to deal with problems. If lawmakers simply wait, the people will eventually forget about that problem and move on to the next. Remember Afghanistan? How about higher taxes for the rich or the congressional report entitled “U.S. practiced torture after 9/11”. These are real problems that do not fade away even if you cannot see them. It may be complicated but these problems must be faced, as always. The national government is best equipped to check the states and make sure that each of us has the same rights throughout our land.
It is within the best interests of the federal government to abide by the will of the population. While some might disagree, it makes sense that a federally appointed commission would have a broader base and expectation than 50 separate and isolated groups with their individual beliefs based on their own communal conventions. This is because the people whom they serve are widespread and diverse, in order to stay in power these politicians need to do the best they can for the greatest number of people. On a wide spread issues like voting it just makes sense that a national body should oversee the process. The Federal Election Commission can only do so much because the limiting laws based on the constitution omitting specified powers to the federal government, sometimes outweigh the powers of the FEC. A group’s ability to regulate is only as strong as the penalties they can impose. Yet in the 2012 elections there were massive election donations that were not protected under the Citizen’s United ruling of 2010.
It is the job of the federal government to do for the people cannot do for themselves. Change can be scary, unpredictable and challenging but that is no reason not to try. Life is a challenge and the United States has proven over and over again that there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Unfortunately it seems that inaction has become the new way to deal with problems. If lawmakers simply wait, the people will eventually forget about that problem and move on to the next. Remember Afghanistan? How about higher taxes for the rich or the congressional report entitled “U.S. practiced torture after 9/11”. These are real problems that do not fade away even if you cannot see them. It may be complicated but these problems must be faced, as always. The national government is best equipped to check the states and make sure that each of us has the same rights throughout our land.
@FitzFile
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