Both political parties are quite fickle when it comes to the voters and whether or not fraud exists during elections. In 2000 the Democrats swore there were many problems with voting, especially in Florida where a lot of people learned a new word; disenfranchised. Many Democrats still view George Bush as an illegitimate president because, according to them, many blacks and other minorities were not allowed to vote due t Republican dirty tricks. Republicans played this down and said there were no problems but Democrats pushed for voter reform. Despite research that showed Democrats engaged in more dirty tricks than Republicans, the Dems nonetheless pushed for reform.
This prattle continued in 2004. During that election cycle people like Michael Moore had folks with video cameras recording voter fraud. Armies of lawyers were on stand by and a hot line was established so people could report how terribly they were being treated by Republicans. Ohio was the hot spot and Democrats alleged fraud again. They claimed that blacks were disenfranchised despite the fact that millions more blacks voted than did in prior elections. Republicans said it was on the up and up.
In 2006 the Democrats won and all of the sudden there were no allegations of fraud. The Dems were happy with the results and since they won everything must have been done correctly. Now we have Democrats saying that allegations of fraud are overblown and the Republicans pushing for voter reform. Democrats say that reform will disenfranchise minorities but don’t indicate how that squares with their allegations of disenfranchisement in 2000 when there were no tough voter rules.
Both parties are fickle and believe that there is no fraud when they win and lots of fraud when they lose. Sure, fraud exists but it is not as terrible as either party makes it out to be. Any fraud is wrong and if we would actually put people in jail it might stop. Regardless, there needs to be some voter reform. It is not too much to ask for a photo ID in order to vote. We require ID to buy alcohol, tobacco, and to board an airplane but we will not require it in order to protect one of the fundamental freedoms we enjoy and a process that selects who will lead us.
It does not make sense to leave this process open to fraud. People vote more than once, they vote under different names and they vote absentee and then show up on election day. This needs to stop because it hurts everyone, regardless of party. I am not happy with the results of the last election but I accept that as what the majority of those who voted wanted and I move on. I believe in the process when it runs right and as long as it is done fairly we can accept what happens and live with it. The appearance of impropriety leaves a bitter taste in people’s mouths and gives them reason to question the results of an election.
Let’s demand that voter reform include a requirement for each voter to show an ID and stiff penalties for those caught cheating. Our fundamental freedoms only have value if we protect them.
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