Voting: Right, Privilege or Duty?

Readers have probably noticed that I strongly support the right of every citizen to vote.

It's not hard to take this position, since it is the law of the land - both Federal and State law protect this right.

Administering the right isn't necessarily simple in a country whose records are maintained in fifty different states in at least fifty different ways, as well as in thousands of counties and municipalities.

I believe that voting is not just a right - it is a civic duty.

In some European democracies, voting is a legal obligation. Even for deployed military servicemen. Once when I was serving on a NATO staff during an international military exercise, the Italian military withdrew their contingent and flew them home to vote in a national election.

Our history as a republic began with very restricted voting rights. Over the past two centuries, we have made great strides in expanding the electorate. You may find it interesting to review the progress we have made here.

We have an election coming up. In addition to a North Carolina seat in the US Senate and a seat in the US House of Representatives, seats are at stake for County Commissioners, Judges, and the County Board of Education. In fact, the May 4 election, which is a primary election for most seats, is the ONLY election for the Board of Education.

Please vote.

Using Time Well

When I was a young boy, my grandfather took me fishing.

I helped him catch the bait by turning over a big plank on the ground and picking out earthworms and grubs before they buried themselves in the moist earth. Sometimes we went to the creek behind the cow pasture and seined for minnows or crawdads.

Sometimes we fished in the creek, usually with a cane pole and bobber.

Sometimes Grandad took me to the Illinois River or Spavinaw Creek or other streams in northeastern Oklahoma.

The truth is, I had no interest at all in catching fish. I was happy to eat them, but catching them provided no particular thrill.

But I valued the time I spent outdoors with my grandfather. I always learned something from him.

It didn't matter that he had only a third grade education. He was able to show me how to do things no one else would. He taught me how to milk a cow, how to ride a horse, how to drive a tractor. I learned how to curry a calf and bait a hook.

People talk about wasting time.

A few days ago, Trent Hamm, a blogger known as The Simple Dollar, examined the issue of "wasted time" and "wasted money."

It is well to reflect on his thoughts.

On Courts

"An appeal is when you ask one court to show its contempt for another court."

Mr. Dooley (Finley Peter Dunne, 1867-1936)

Voter Registration

Fifty years ago, I tried to register to vote. I met an obstacle course.

When I turned 21 and became eligible to vote, I was at the University of Mississippi. I wasn't allowed to register in that County. At my home of record, Washington County, the Registrar's office was open every other Wednesday afternoon during working hours. I also had to pay a poll tax. So I never had the opportunity to register before going off to sea.

Two years later, 1960, I was the ship's voting officer (among other duties) and had access to all of the information about registering and voting in all fifty states. I knew how to do it and what the deadlines were. I submitted a Federal Postcard Voter Registration Application to Washington County, Mississippi in ample time.

Months later, I received a reply regretting that the county had received the application too late.

Balderdash! Even if the form had been received too late (which I never believed), registration in Mississippi was permanent. There was no reason not to have sent a registration form, even if it was too late for the 1960 election.

The next time I was home on leave, I registered. This time, the Registrar could verify my complexion.

The Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act fixed the problem.

On the Other Hand

A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.

Will Rogers

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

Democrats never agree on anything, that's why they're Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans.

Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

On Choices

Under circumstances where you are "damned if you do and damned if you don't," I'd rather be damned for doing something than for doing nothing.

It's March 23: Have You Been Counted Yet?

Yesterday the USPS brought me a post card addressed to "Resident."

The purpose was to remind me to complete and return the 2010 Census questionnaire. Thanking me if I have already responded, the notice says "if you have not responded, please provide your information as soon as possible."

Some of you may be uncertain where to claim you live. To help you address this question, here is a quote from a briefing on election law prepared by the North Carolina State Board of Elections:
"A person may have an actual abode (residence) in one place and his permanent established home (domicile) in another, domicile being the place to which the person intends to return."

I hope my readers intend to return to Oriental.