The Race Thread

So @RaceBannon, you wanted me to do the critical thinking?

Follow my logic for voter fraud.

Who is less likely to have a photo ID? Minorities and the poor. What group then, do these laws disproportionately effect? Minorities and the poor. Who is more likely to vote for democrats based on recent election results? Minorities and the poor.

Who is passing these laws? Republican legislatures in closely contested states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia. These laws are often accompanied by other voting restrictions such as shortening weekend polling, closing DMVs in cities, narrowly defining what type of photo ID is acceptable.

Here are a couple examples I dug up, copied and pasted:

"I met Sam Bulmer (pictured above) in Milwaukee at VETS Place Central, a shelter which provides transitional housing to homeless veterans. Sam spent 13 of his 63 years in the U.S. Air Force, serving some of that time with the Air Force Training Command. In Iceland, he served as an instructor during preparations for the Iran hostage crisis mission. Sam has no accepted photo ID card for voting in Wisconsin, but he has his VA ID card hanging around his neck. And he can't get a state ID card for free? Actually, no. The Division of Motor Vehicles won't believe Sam is a U.S. citizen until he shows them a certified copy of his birth certificate from Kansas, a document he can't obtain because Kansas wants him to show ID to get it. Sam isn't living off the grid or on the margins — he's worked for General Electric as a trainer on nuclear power plant control room simulation and is currently interviewing for jobs."

"The impact of ID requirements is even greater for the elderly, students, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, and people of color. Thirty-six percent of Georgians over 75 do not have a driver’s license. Fewer than 3 percent of Wisconsin students have driver’s licenses listing their current address. The same study found that African Americans have driver’s licenses at half the rate of whites, and the disparity increases among younger voters; only 22% of black men aged 18-24 had a valid driver’s license. Not only are minority voters less likely to possess photo ID, but they are also more likely than white voters to be selectively asked for ID at the polls. For example, in New York City, which has no ID requirement, a study showed that poll workers illegally asked one in six Asian Americans for ID at the polls, while white voters were permitted to vote without showing ID."

So in the face of all this damning evidence, what are the actual benefits of a voter ID law? Limiting in person fraud? Ok. But in person fraud is nearly non-existent and not significant enough to have any real impact. The number of people effected by voter ID laws greatly outnumber the number of people who would now not be able to commit voter fraud. It may just be enough to tip the margin in favor of Republicans.

So, can you call it like it is? These voter ID laws are calculated. The Republican party admitted to having a demographics problem. But instead of changing their message they're trying to suppress the demographics that likely won't vote for them.

Don't plead ignorance, the cynical intentions aren't hard to see. Don't give me a loaded question like: "so you don't think blacks are capable of getting a photo ID? You must be the racist." Don't give false equivalencies with buying alcohol, flying; it grossly misrepresents the actual problem.

Lastly, are these photo ID requirements not a big government intrusion? Frankly, I think these laws are an affront to any freedom loving American.

I'm looking forward to your responses.

I'm not here to play checkers.