We have a number of decisions by our Supreme Court to
discuss; they released a bunch of them right before heading on vacation
(recess).
The easiest for me to understand is the VOTING RIGHTS ACT
which in 1965 (graduated from high school) made states (southern) that have had
a history of racism which included racism in the form of obstructing voting
rights for blacks, get permission from the federal government anytime these
states wanted to somehow alter their state voting regulations.
This was a very good law and a very needed law and it
absolutely guaranteed the right to vote for African-Americans that lived in
those states with a history of racism; but that was 48 years ago.
Southern states now have many black politicians and any
attempt to somehow tamper with voting rights for any individual would be met
with swift judicial action.
Even so, as evidenced by the opposition to somehow
dismantling this law, many still feel it is too early to drop the requirement
that any changes to voting regulations (in those southern states) must be
approved by the federal government.
I think it is time to drop that requirement since even on
the surface; the law is unconstitutional since it only compels select southern
states to be governed by the law even though other states (northern, etc.)
could impose draconian voting restrictions targeting African-Americans.
Why would a state even take the time to challenge this law?
It all stems from the trend in many states, to require VOTER ID.
Southern states who want to impose VOTER ID Regulations, are
always shot down by the federal government while northern states can pass Voter
ID legislation…get the picture?
The argument against voter ID requirements is that many poor
blacks do not own cars and therefore do not have driver’s licenses which are
commonly used as a piece of acceptable ID…therefore their right to vote is
impeded.
My mother who is 91 and has never driven a car in her life
has had a Michigan ID card all her life. It is not hard to get and you just
need to expend the effort to get one; all you usually need is a birth
certificate.
So in this case which went 5-4 to overturn or end the law
(conservative vs. liberal); I agree with for the stated reasons and I really
cannot even see or comprehend the argument of the opposition; it no longer
makes sense so end it!
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