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But isn't it the responsibility of the US government to ensure that every citizen is able to vote if willing? Doesn't that mean EVERY citizen, and not just those who speak the language spoken by a majority of the country?
The thing is, some of those who don't speak fluent English still live in the same country as us, and, thus, are protected by the same rights as everyone else.
I strongly doubt it----------if such were the case; voting ballots would theoretically have to be printed in every known language of the world.
But isn't it the responsibility of the US government to ensure that every citizen is able to vote if willing? Doesn't that mean EVERY citizen, and not just those who speak the language spoken by a majority of the country?same rights as everyone else.
I'm not so sure this isn't just a 'stretch' anyway---a very 'liberal' take on the issue. I'm not convinced that it's "responsibility" of the government to "ensure" any such thing. All citizens should be ALLOWED to vote, if willing. But to ENSURE this? I'm not so sure. Does the government HAVE to come to your house and pick you up? Remind you, the morning of election day? I'm not at ALL sure this just isn't an 'interpretation'. I'm not sure ALLOWING us all to vote equates with "ensuring" anything beyond an 'equal opportunity' to vote. To take the STEPS necessary to do this, it seems to me., is YOUR responsibility, not the goverrnment's.
The government isn't responsible if you can't get a ride to the polls...OR if you simply forget to go....OR if you choose NOT to go because you don't FEEL well...or because it's too hot outside--or too cold, or too rainy.....OR if you choose not to vote, because you haven't studied the LANGUAGE. Everyone "can" vote, in theory...but I'm not sure the governmemt is required to 'coax' anyone....
It would be interesting to hear a legal argument on this. I can picture rulings going BOTH ways, 'depending'....
So we are supposed to go round up everyone and escort them to the voting booth as well? Where does the government's responsibility end and the citizen's begin? They have citizenship, they have two legs, they know where the voting places are. Again, nobody is denying them the right to vote. You just can't seem to get past the fact that you want everyone else in this country to bend over backwards when those very people you are the flagbearer for are not taking responsibility upon themselves to learn the language. The only time we should be required to do something as you say is if people can see. Then, the government should be required to print the ballots in brail.
ENGLISH brail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by King of Kweens
But isn't it the responsibility of the US government to ensure that every citizen is able to vote if willing? Doesn't that mean EVERY citizen, and not just those who speak the language spoken by a majority of the country?
The thing is, some of those who don't speak fluent English still live in the same country as us, and, thus, are protected by the same rights as everyone else.
The Government "OWNS" the National Parks--they belong to ALL of us, and NO ONE can legally be excluded from them.
HOWEVER, does that mean that a person in a wheelchair---or who is morbidly obese---or has emphysema---has an absolute "RIGHT" to climb to the top of Yosemite Falls..or to the bottom of the Grand Canyon? I don't think that's what it means. These places are open to ALL of us, equally. But that doesn't mean we can DEMAND to be 'taken' there.
Similar rules apply, IMHO, in "voting". We ALL have the right to vote. Whether or not we are personally ABLE to, depends at least somewhat, upon our personal efforts to do so...Some of us may require a little more effort than others--that's the human condition.
I'm not so sure this isn't just a 'stretch' anyway---a very 'liberal' take on the issue. I'm not convinced that it's "responsibility" of the government to "ensure" any such thing. All citizens should be ALLOWED to vote, if willing. But to ENSURE this? I'm not so sure. Does the government HAVE to come to your house and pick you up? Remind you, the morning of election day? I'm not at ALL sure this just isn't an 'interpretation'. I'm not sure ALLOWING us all to vote equates with "ensuring" anything beyond an 'equal opportunity' to vote. To take the STEPS necessary to do this, it seems to me., is YOUR responsibility, not the goverrnment's.
The government isn't responsible if you can't get a ride to the polls...OR if you simply forget to go....OR if you choose NOT to go because you don't FEEL well...or because it's too hot outside--or too cold, or too rainy.....OR if you choose not to vote, because you haven't studied the LANGUAGE. Everyone "can" vote, in theory...but I'm not sure the governmemt is required to 'coax' anyone....
It would be interesting to hear a legal argument on this. I can picture rulings going BOTH ways, 'depending'....
Notice I said "if willing," in other words, everyone who wants to vote should be able to do so, provided they are citizens of this country. I'm not forcing anyone to vote, but the government should be able to assist anyone who wants to do so. If they do not, who do you suppose will? Unless you are content with a 54% voter turnout, while the EU countries get turnouts in the 80 and 90 percentile. Voter turnout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Notice I said "if willing," in other words, everyone who wants to vote should be able to do so, provided they are citizens of this country. I'm not forcing anyone to vote, but the government should be able to assist anyone who wants to do so. If they do not, who do you suppose will? Unless you are content with a 54% voter turnout, while the EU countries get turnouts in the 80 and 90 percentile. Voter turnout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The main reason that Americans do not get off their duffs and vote is called laziness IMHO.
It doesnt make any sense, if you are illegal, you get away with all kind of services for free. If you are legal, because of your looks people assumes you are illegal (mostly for hispanics though) and you have hard times trying to access to services you will pay for like everybody else.
The funny thing is, if you are a naturalized American, why in the world you dont speak English? It makes no sense AT ALL!!! Why do foreigners want to become US citizens if they cant speak English at least? We are causing more trouble to ourselves by allowing them to become something that they are not willing to practice.... The ballots issue is just another consequence of the same mistake. They dont speak english, they dont know the national anthem, they just hold US passports, thats all.
Can anybody explain this to me?
It doesnt make any sense, if you are illegal, you get away with all kind of services for free. If you are legal, because of your looks people assumes you are illegal (mostly for hispanics though) and you have hard times trying to access to services you will pay for like everybody else.
The funny thing is, if you are a naturalized American, why in the world you dont speak English? It makes no sense AT ALL!!! Why do foreigners want to become US citizens if they cant speak English at least? We are causing more trouble to ourselves by allowing them to become something that they are not willing to practice.... The ballots issue is just another consequence of the same mistake. They dont speak english, they dont know the national anthem, they just hold US passports, thats all.
Can anybody explain this to me?
You have to realize that the immigrants who pass a citizenship test know more about America than most of those living here; in fact, most Americans cannot pass a citizenship test.
Why should we discriminate against those who speak a language other that what the majority of Americans speak? It's not as though there's some secret conspiracy to take over the country, nor is it going to do you much harm. Besides, people are people, regardless of the language they speak, and the issues facing the English-speaking population affect the non-English speaking citizens just as much.
And what does knowing the national anthem have anything to do with this??? The national anthem is just a song, it doesn't harbor any ideologies other than patriotism, nor does it have an affect on the main issues in the country.
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