Gee...what a shock-more Socialist...voters

[SNAFU]

If you haven't served in the Armed Forces,,then you shouldn't be allowed to vote. Hows that?

Going to let them buy firearms,legally?
How about a rapist/child molester,let them live next door?

Once a machinegun,,always a machinegun
Once a felon always a felon

[Troublco]

Ah, the socialist plan for taking over the country's next step...allowing felons to vote. Why, this makes so much sense, we should just count Registered Democrat's votes three times, and disallow any Registered Republicans or Independents votes. This sounds fair, don't you think, comrade?

[Irving]

Going to let them buy firearms,legally?
How about a rapist/child molester,let them live next door?

Once a machinegun,,always a machinegun
Once a felon always a felon

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

You have to look into what I said deeper than just the surface. If someone can't be trusted to live in society without all their rights, then they shouldn't be in society, period. If you are child molester and no one trusts you to be around children, then it's life or the noose for you.



Also, I fail to see how this ruling has anything to do with socialism.

[GreenScoutII]

Well Stu and Sniper, I guess I'm somewhere between you two.

Depends on what a guy was incarcerated for whether or not he should be able to vote again and have his other rights restored. Needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis. For example, I don't think a guy who had a felony marijuana conviction at 18 or 19 should be barred from voting and owning guns for the rest of his life, but child molesters, well, why would we ever let a child molester out of prison?

As far as who should be allowed to vote in the first place, it is my understanding that some of our founding fathers intended only white, land owning males to be able to vote. I don't think that is fair at all, even though I am a white, land owning male..

[BigBear]

Double post.

[iamhunter]

You know before you commit a felony that if you get caught, you lose your right to vote.

So anyone who HAS lost their right to vote has willingly chose to give that up in the event they get caught for their crime.

That's the problem with today's world. No-one wants to deal with the consequences of their actions.

[BigBear]

That's the problem with today's world. No-one wants to deal with the consequences of their actions.

Bingo! That's what I was trying to say... Individual responsibility. We pander to the low side of the equation too much. It drags down the middle and good sides.

Man, I type too much. I do have a job to do. See y'all in a few, lol.

[mutt]

Criminalization of Marijuana - The greatest current waste of resources and human potential in our legal system.

It should be legalized, legally grown and regulated, taxed and sold right next to your smokes and booze. Prohibition does not work when a large chunk of a society sees no problems with a prohibited item. Did the criminal empires built and lives ruined over the legality of alcohol teach us nothing? Apparently not.

Legalizing weed would have 3 major effects:
1. The end of all drug wars where criminals attempt to control distribution and production of weed. Once corporations get involved in something, the downward spiral of profit margins chases criminals out.

2. Our prisons get a lot less crowed. Non-violent drug offenders make up a good chunk of our prison population. I for one don't like funding the food and sheltering of people who like to smoke weed unless they committed a real crime. You would think the world is seriously wrong if hundreds of thousands of people were locked up for drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes, yet imprisonment for weed is ok?

3. Massive increase in tax revenue. Right now govt gets nothing for the billions spent on weed. People are buying it anyway, might as well have some societal benefit to it. If you doubt it would help govt coffers, just look at the revenue generated from booze and smokes.

There's my rambling to the whole weed issue. And before you think I'm some hippie pothead, I'm not. I never smoked weed (but I would try it once if were legal), drink maybe once a year, and don't smoke. I just believe on common sense over ideology.

As for felons getting the right to vote, that's delegated to the states by The Constitution. Each state, hopefully according to the will of its residents, gets to decide this issue for themselves.

Individual responsibility - totally agree. People need to be held to account for their choices. If we enforced this more, the world would be a better place.

[BigBear]

Don't know... I'm a black or white type of guy. I do not like grey areas. If you did something where you landed in prison, then all rights should be stripped from you. Upon release, maybe some given back, but not all.

I think we can all agree upon the rapist or whatever losing all rights, forever, period.

I think about the 18 year old that got busted for drugs and sent to jail like this:

He's 18, should be held accountable for his actions. At 18, you are seen as a full adult. Depending on the amount of drugs (misdemeanor vs felony) several things can happen -
- A. Misdemeanor falls under probation, maybe one night in jail, etc.
- B. Felony is a several year prison stint.

Upon A. Sure, let teh kid keep his rights, we all make mistakes. But let the punishment be harsh and initmately understood that he is respsonisble for his own actions.

Upon B. Strip all rights, period. It was a conscious descison to sell, traffic, whatever the charge in a certain amount of illegal drugs.

Bottom line is that individuals are responsible for their own actions. Do I believe people can change? Sure. Do I believe some people get a raw deal in life (crappy home life, no father figure, etc)? Sure. Do I believe people are in charge of their own life and descisions no matter the circumstance? Hell yes. If we held people to a higher standard I bet things would turn around in a hurry. Instead our politicians and a lot of the voting constituency are themselves ex-cons, etc who want to "change" things to make what they illegally did, legal. Look at the marijuana wars currently taking place in our country.

Marijuana and such has been around for millenia. It is a naturally occuring plant. Native Americans used it in ceremonies. It is a mind altering drug, and it DOES lead to harder drug use. However, do I personally think it should be illegal? No, it is a naturally occuring substance. Do I partake in marijuana? No, I see no personal benefits in it for me. It is a mood changer, and I try to stay in control of my body/actions at all times. Do I believe it should be sold in stores or on street corners or in any way regulated? Definitely not. How would I vote for it? In the negative. I believe that is a personal descision that should be made. Should it be a crime to grow/possess? No. Should it be a crime to sell to minors, distribute, etc? Actually, I do. Hard to explain my feelings, but something along the lines of concrete and abstract emotional thought maturity occur at different times in childhood. Sometimes, depending on age, children do not have a solid connection on what something can do to them. Hence kids that stick their hands in electrical sockets when told not too, etc. Since the brain has not reached full maturity, smoking pot, etc can damage critical synapses that have yet to be formed and thus.... the dumbing down of our society... Kind of make sme want to go watch that movie "Idiocricy" again. HA.

Much the same thoughts on beer, cigarettes, etc. But I understand the gooberment needs some sort of tax income... lol.

Now I'm just rambling...Your thoughts?


In answer to Mutt's post... then the prosecuting attorney should be given the same fate! HAHAHA. j/k (Looks like the 80's was a busy decade for prosecutors!)

[theGinsue]

I personally think that once you are out of prison, and aren't on any type of probation, then you should no longer be considered a felon and should have your full rights restored, but this sounds like he wants people who are currently incarcerated to be able to vote. I disagree with that, as not being able to vote comes with being incarcerated.

I also tend to agree with Stuart's position on this (along with his further explanation). Either you've paid your price to society, or you haven't.