“I think we’ve just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come.”
President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act
In a lifetime of observing human nature and studying political ideologies, one thing I’ve discovered the one thing that conservatives seem to hate more than interracial marriage is expanding voting rights. From the founding of the United States, liberal ideology has struggled to grant the right to vote to as many people as possible. After all it’s in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and it’s one of the most sacred elements to any truly democratic society.
Since the 2008 election of Barack Obama, however, a number of states with Republican-majority legislatures have enacted statutes to impact voting rights. In Shelby vs. Holder, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court targeted Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which specifically banned “standard, practice, or procedure” that “results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen … to vote on account of race or color.” Traditionally states in the Southeastern U.S. had prevented non-White citizens from exercising their right to vote. The VRA eliminated the “grandfather” clause (if your grandfather could vote, then you can) and voter tolls (paying to vote), among other restrictions. Not surprisingly many conservative White voters still fighting the U.S. Civil War were horrified at these changes.
The 2013 Shelby decision suspended the demand that states seek federal approval before changing their voting laws. This was a gift to the ghosts of the Confederacy who continually rallied for “states’ rights”. But it’s almost no coincidence that the first two decades of the 21st century have produced some of the most controversial and contentious presidential elections in U.S. history.
Several years ago then-Texas Governor Rick Perry said he wanted all law-abiding gun owners to have the right to carry their firearms to every part of the state. I have to agree, but I also believe any law-abiding citizen should be able to vote in any precinct or district. For example, as a registered voter in my home state of Texas, I should be able to travel to Rhode Island and vote in a presidential election.
Recently a political activist named EJ Carrion was arrested for “tumultuous behavior” at a County Commissioners’ meeting in Fort Worth. He used foul language while discussing the possibility of the reduction of polling places in Tarrant County; the latest move by conservative politicians to hinder voting in the state of Texas. Police arrested him, after he’d failed to use a turn signal upon entering the cul-de-sac where he lives. The warrant had been issued because Carrion had uttered “bullshit” during the meeting. The horror!
It’s obvious Texas Republicans and other right-wing extremists have never heard of Cohen v. California, the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case that basically ruled foul language is covered by the First Amendment to the Constitution. They always skip to the Second Amendment regarding firearms. Texas residents are besieged every election year with TV ads by conservatives touting they’re “protectors of the Second Amendment”, complete with the requisite photos of them holding a gun.
Regardless, there’s a good chance Republicans will lose control of both Houses of Congress to Democrats after this November’s mid-term elections. I can only hope. But I’m much more concerned about the persistent threats to voting and free speech rights imposed by our current President and his minions in state and local offices. Despots always hate (fear) the vocal power of the masses. It’s the weakest point of their troubles personas. I believe the American masses will exploit that this year.
Chief Writing Wolf 