Friday, January 23, 2009

Photo ID: What's the Problem?

Recently the Texas Legislature discussed the idea of requiring a photo ID for voting. This makes perfect sense to me especially after this last presidential election when the group ACORN submitted thousands of fake voter registrations including Mickey Mouse and the starting line-up of the Dallas Cowboys. (Source) Yet last session the Democrats fought such legislation, arguing that it unfairly burdens the poor, minorities and older Texans. (Source) To which I reply, "wha??"

A photo ID in Texas cost $24 and does not expire for 6 years. That comes out to roughly 33 cents per month. Are you telling me that a voting adult cannot save $0.33 per month to obtain and maintain a valid ID? Just walking around in a parking lot, you could probably find 33 cents in one day! And when your ID does expire, you can renew it by mail.

Let's assume, for a moment, there are people that cannot afford the $0.33 per month. Then why doesn't the government subsidize them? There is a government subsidy for everything else. There is even a government subsidy so that you can switch your TV from analog to digital.

Furthermore, how does requiring a photo ID burden minorities? Is there a different process for obtaining an ID if you are a minority? Do you have to solve a Rubik's Cube or run a Survivor-like gauntlet while Jeff Probst tells you how bad you are doing?

It is obvious that the Democrats opposing this legislation are not concerned with voter fraud. In fact, they are counting on it. They are assuming that they "poor, minorities, and [elderly]" will vote for them and if they have to bend the rules to do it, so be it. This why Americans have such a disgust for politicians today. What they are doing is just shameful.

First Post

A few years ago after hearing the same 3 songs being played over and over on the radio, I flipped to the AM dial. Since then I have become a bit of a talk radio junkie. My wife hates it because I will get all riled up about something I heard on the radio and the bore her to tears with the details. So I figured instead of boring her anymore, I'd bore you my faithful readers.