I wrote a while back about the law in Indiana requiring government-issued ID in order to vote, and I am shocked to say that the Supreme Court upheld it.
From an editorial Tuesday in the New York Times:
"Democracy was the big loser in the Supreme Court on Monday. The court upheld Indiana's voter identification law, which solves a nearly nonexistent problem by putting major barriers between voters -- particularly minorities -- and the ballot box. Worse, the court set out a standard that clears the way for other states to adopt rules that discourage disadvantaged groups from voting. It is a sad reversal for a court that once saw itself as a champion of voting rights."
There is still no evidence that there has ever been voter fraud at the polls in Indiana - so this "solves" an imaginary problem. But it creates an important new one: preventing the poor from voting. Getting a government-issued ID is not free or easy; even when the fees are waived, it takes money to get required documents like birth certificates, and it also takes time and energy and knowledge about where to go and what to do. Not so simple.
A related milestone: I paid $41.53 to fill my gas tank today. I know folks with larger gas tanks passed that mark a while back, but it's a first for me. $3.52/gal.
I really think this is all part of the same system that caused Antoine's death... (see below). Things are going VERY well for a small group of the wealthy powerful, and not so hot for other folks.
Democracy could fix this - on all three counts - but the slow destruction of the public schools means average folks no longer understand their power.
What's the solution to THAT???
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