Having just read a column by Burt Prelutsky, I find that I am in absolute agreement with him on at least a couple of things that he said. "I’d limit voting to those people who pay income or property taxes. It’s just absurd that millions of Americans who have never held down a job or served in the military and are still receiving an allowance from their folks can cancel out the votes of their parents. Two, I’d make term limits mandatory for every elected office in America, and I’m talking about single terms. No more lifetime careers in politics. If you want to get rich, back off from the public trough and get an honest job."

 

This is something I have believed for a long time - especially the part about limiting voting.  Historically, poll taxes were a common means of raising funds but were also used to help reduce the number of poor (predominantly black) Americans allowed to vote.  The 24th amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes - "The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax."

 

Arguably, this means that Burt's idea might be constitutionally disallowed.  However, constitutional amendments have been repealed and this might be one that needs to be repealed or, at least, modified.  Why should a person who is conspicuously not a contributor to our society be allowed to vote to change that society?  I don't pretend to have all the answers regarding how it should be written to protect those who are truly down on their luck through no fault of their own while disallowing the lazy and indolent to vote to give themselves handouts from the government.  The Bible says :"if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) .  I believe that one could logically extend that to "those who are not willing to work, then he is not to vote, either."  Now for those of you who are diehard liberals, this is not a racist rant; it is a rant regarding the people in this country who are too lazy or too ignorant to truly understand how and why they should vote.