Amazon 7 #1 October 1, 2015 So all the compassionate conservatives want everyone to get voter ID.... http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/voter_id_and_drivers_license_o.html I guess that is easier for some folks than others. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeorgiaDon 379 #2 October 1, 2015 Just some background for all the people who don't know Alabama geography: the "black belt" referred to in the article has nothing to do with race. It is an area where the underlying bedrock erodes to give a fertile dark colored soil. Because of the geology of the state this "black belt" appears as a large crescent across the state, and is especially wide in the western part. This is a heavily agricultural area with large farms but the population is fairly spread out. For those who don't want to click on Amazon's link, the article concerns the closure of DMV offices to save money, leaving 29 rural Alabama counties without any place for people to obtain driver's licenses. Black belt counties are especially affected. This means people have to travel long distances (I'd estimate 40-50 miles from my knowledge of Alabama geography) to obtain a driver's license. Alabama requires ID to vote, there aren't many forms of ID that are acceptable and most of them are issued by the state at DMV offices. So, the combination of the voter ID law with closure of DMV offices creates a significant barrier for people in rural counties, a large proportion of whom are black, preventing them from voting. Don_____________________________________ Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996) “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driver1 0 #3 October 1, 2015 Part of the problem that brought this on is a serious budget deficit, and the inability of state congress to come up with tax increases that they all agree with, so they're shutting down several state parks in addition to these license satellite offices. Nobody likes paying taxes, but they're a necessary evil. Alabama has some of the lowest property tax rates, thanks to the agriculture industry lobbyists.There will be no addressing the customers as "Bitches", "Morons" or "Retards"! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anvilbrother 0 #4 October 1, 2015 Pretty good TLDR nice work. Postes r made from an iPad or iPhone. Spelling and gramhair mistakes guaranteed move along, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,058 #5 October 1, 2015 >Pretty good TLDR nice work. Bumper sticker summary: Alabama passes laws that keep blacks from voting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #6 October 1, 2015 billvon >Pretty good TLDR nice work. Bumper sticker summary: Alabama passes laws that keep blacks from voting. Hey if that is the only way the good ole white boys can stay in power.. its all good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeorgiaDon 379 #7 October 1, 2015 billvon>Pretty good TLDR nice work. Bumper sticker summary: Alabama passes laws that keep blacks from voting.Alternative interpretation: somebody didn't think through the implications of closing DMV offices. When there is a choice between thoughtlessness and malignancy and both account for the action, I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt and assume thoughtlessness. re "Bumper sticker summary", I initially thought Anvil was saying my post was TLDR but then I realized the situation was ambiguous, he could have been referring to Amazon's link. If he meant to insult me, I'm sure he'll be along to make that clear. Don_____________________________________ Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996) “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeorgiaDon 379 #8 October 1, 2015 As Driver1 said, Alabama state finances are a mess. Unfortunately it is a solidly red state where anti-tax sentiment has been milked for years by politicians running for office, so there is essentially no prospect of anyone taking the role of the adult in the room and pointing out that taxes have been cut to the point where revenues are insufficient to support even essential services. Also, I often hear people say government should be run like a business. This story is an example of how that notion doesn't stand up to scrutiny. It's easy to justify closing a store if there isn't enough business to make a profit. It's harder to justify closing a government office, even if that office is "losing money" (not generating sufficient fees to cover costs), if doing so cuts people off from essential services. Don_____________________________________ Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996) “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #9 October 1, 2015 QuotePart of the problem that brought this on is a serious budget deficit That's impossible. When you lower taxes, revenues go up. Republicans have been saying that for decades. How come this didn't hapen in a Republican state? You guys all closet socialists or something? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,380 #10 October 1, 2015 Well, I sure hope they fix it soon with a Mobile Voter Registration Vehicle or sumpin.. Wouldn't want a red state to lose voters next year!! http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/president/alabama/Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,058 #11 October 1, 2015 >Alternative interpretation . . . . TL;DR. . . . Yes, there may have been more than one cause; effect is the same. I agree that Hanlon's Razor usually applies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
