Should we, as a nation, amend voting laws to only allow "citizens," who pay taxes, be allowed to vote in federal elections?

SSG Steven Mangus — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:25:50 -0400

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Oct 15 at 2016 11:39 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:39:05 -0400

You mean income taxes or any tax? Sales tax, gas tax, cigarette tax, social security tax, do they count? Most my years in the Army I didn't actually pay any federal income tax. If you're talking income tax then your taking 40% of all Americans off the voting rolls. If that is your question then no, it is an awful idea. Really even taking people off that pay no tax is an awful idea. Sort of takes us back to the time of landowning makes were the only ones who could vote.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 15 at 2016 11:40 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:40:22 -0400

one of the original conditions to be a citizen voter was suggested to be you have to be a land owner, it was rejected, as this one would be. I understand the logic behind the wish for this, but the Constitution does not have such a provision and never will have. It places the conservative movement with a handicap, because someone that lives off the dole, will vote for the liberal because they have no "skin" in the game and will vote for whomever passes out the most in cash and benefits.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Oct 15 at 2016 11:40 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:40:33 -0400

Why?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 15 at 2016 11:43 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:43:35 -0400

I think your going to run into issues there with religious ministers as well as poor people that fall beneath the min tax bracket.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 15 at 2016 11:51 AM

SFC George Smith — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:51:10 -0400

It's an Idea ... but will never hear the end of it...
Once upon a time they had to own Property and pay taxes in order to be eligible to Vote but that got Tossed out after the "War Of Northern Aggression"... Aka Civil war...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 11:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 11:55:35 -0400

Should we also limit who can buy guns and obey the 2nd amendment? ...or which religions are allowed to enter the country despite the 1st amendment?

We shouldn't be limiting constitutional goals. Hell, our next President may or may not have paid taxes (we'll never know because those won't be released).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 1:15 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 13:15:03 -0400

Plain and simple NO! If you're an American citizen you deserve the right to vote. Basically you would be taking the right away from the extremely rich and the very poor! Bad idea!

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Oct 15 at 2016 1:45 PM

SSG Jessica Bautista — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 13:45:48 -0400

What about legal residents?

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Oct 15 at 2016 2:48 PM

1stSgt Nelson Kerr — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 14:48:34 -0400

No.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 4:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 16:27:02 -0400

Yes, yes, yes!!!!

And then we'll only allow people to utilize their 1st amendment right if they wear an American Flag shirt while doing it.

Also I think we should really get rid of this whole religious freedom concept. It's Scientology or nothing.

And why do people need weapons?

I honestly don't know why this is even a question.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 15 at 2016 5:19 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 17:19:25 -0400

In the early days, voting was left up to the states with most going for white male landowners only. Freed male slaves who owned land could vote in a few states. I think New Jersey was the first to allow women to vote, but they had to own land too. Since the beginning, things changed over time to what it is today with 4 separate Constitutional Amendments dealing with different aspects. So from the get-go there's a logic problem. The number of people over 18 who pay taxes (or should) in the US exceeds the number of citizens alone, which is a smaller group, and eligible citizens a smaller group yet. A landowner restriction would cut deeply into the otherwise eligible demographic of renters, boomerang kids, you name it. It couldn't be done unless there is another Amendment, and that would have the proverbial snowball's chance.

I think what a number of people are struggling with is a lack of investigation, personal reflection, etc. on who/what to cast a ballot for. They get angry because stupid people, who are clueless, can affect the outcome and in their mind the percentage of the eligible voters who fit that category is increasing a lot. But as with other rights, how you exercise them or choose not to is a personal decision. Most of the media and campaigns realize that a great number of the voting public are more interested in their daily dose of reality gotcha TV with a bunch of talking heads coming in a distant second. It's a demographic segment that the advertisers want too, hence the focus. The 18-49 demographic is likely more persuadable vs. the older folk who are locked into their particular reality and what supports it.

I don't expect a sea state change anytime soon.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 15 at 2016 6:08 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 18:08:27 -0400

No as it infringes on voting rights. A legal citizen should be aplowed to vote regardless.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 8:59 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 20:59:18 -0400

The ultimate poll tax?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 10:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 22:19:10 -0400

It's a great question but it's really a complex problem. There is no simple answer/solution. Perhaps if there were a way to earn citizenship rather than being born with it? Would that level the playing field enough?

Response by SrA Mike VanDeMark made Oct 15 at 2016 10:45 PM

SrA Mike VanDeMark — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 22:45:35 -0400

The problem would be enforcing this. As a nation we cannot even agree on verifying ID to vote.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Oct 16 at 2016 9:44 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 09:44:17 -0400

Are we talking about paying income/poll, sale/poll, property/poll taxes or gas/poll taxes? And do we require proof of payment and citizenship prior to voting? Sounds like a jobs program for civil rights lawyers and state and federal judges to me.