Monte wrote:
We should be working on expanding voting rights and opportunity, not contracting it, in my opinion. Any person living under the law of a nation has a right to an equal say in the who represents them via their vote. At least, that's how I see it.
Why should any living person have a say? Why should the people who live off the government and do not contribute to the system have a say?
Why should the person who does not own land have a say? Owning land gives you a vested interest in the country doing well. Owning a business gives you a vested interest in the countries economy doing well.
Hell for that matter, why should there be a popular vote at the federal level at all? The voices of the people mean nothing Federally.
We are supposed to vote for our local governments. Our local governments are supposed to be the voice of the people they represent. Those people are then supposed to choose the people who will best represent their constituents to the federal level. The local governments (state level) are then supposed to choose their electors, who will in turn choose a qualified candidate to be the president, who will best represent all of the constituents.
Hence Reprsentative Republic. And THAT would recognize the sovereignty of states, it would limit federal power mongering, and very likely keep the populace happy as well.
The federal government is supposed to be a congregation (pardon the use of this word, I do not know the more appropriate word) of the wills of the people, not a popularity contest.
Example: I vote directly for Bob the Iron Worker, and he becomes my state legislator, Bob gets to have a say in who he thinks would represent not only Darksiege's best interests, but those of Mus, Lenas, Shuyung and Monte (were we all land owning or business owning residents of the same state). He is supposed to be thinking directly of who voted for him. And then Bob sends Tommy the Politician out to play in Washington. Well Tommy is supposed to do a damned job and NOT play horse and pony show for all of us sheep. We do not give a **** about Tommy... We hold Bob accountable. If Bob screws us over... we vote Bob out and put John in, now... Tommy is back to running Pizza for a living and John has a chance to really carefully consider who is representing the best interests of his constituents.
And John gets to choose the electors who he feels will keep the president representing his constituents.
**EDIT**
I DO however think that the voting at the state level should be restricted to land owners and business owners, or those who have served in the military (race, creed and color not factored in). This would ensure that the people with a vested interest in a community succeeding and thriving, and prevent people from trying to drag down everything to the LCD.