Speechless, again

VOTERS WHO'S HOMES HAVE BEEN FORECLOSED ON ARE LOSING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IN COUNTIES IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO!

THAT IS DISENFRANCHISEMENT, WHICH STANDS AGAINST ONE OF THE "INALIENABLE" RIGHTS GRANTED BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF THIS NATION. ENFRANCHISEMENT, OR THE RIGHT TO VOTE, EXTENDS TO EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN AND THIS EXTENSION WAS CREATED THROUGH LAWS AND LIBERAL MEASURES INTRODUCED AND SUPPORTED BY LIBERAL LEADERS THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

YES, disenfranchisement happened in the last two elections. However, the media did not catch on to it until after the President had "won." If you hear people talk about how Bush was never "really" elected in 2000, they point to voting fraud and "ballot issues" in states like Florida, Ohio, and throughout the south....

Here's the historian's perspective Cliff Notes:
1789--the Constitution supported that all men (of European descent) with PROPERTY would be the voters of the new Republic.

1820s--Jacksonian Democracy opened the vote for non-property owners. You still had to be a white male however.

1865--end of Civil War. Reconstruction (1865-1877) produces three Civil Rights amendments to the Constitution (13-15th). The 15th Amendment stated that ALL male citizens, regardless of race, would be allowed to vote.

1877-1965--the Jim Crow era in the South. This system of apartheid disenfranchised blacks from voting below the Mason-Dixon line. (YES, almost a century)

1920--the hard battled was won with the passing of the 19th Amendment, which enfranchised ALL WOMEN (yes, ladies it'll be a century soon)

1965--Voting Rights Act. Blood was shed and lives were lost over the passing of this historic measure that guaranteed all citizens, regardless of color or region, the right to vote.

1974--I was born (just to add perspective to the fact that all American citizens were not guaranteed a right to vote until 9 years before I was born)

34 years later, I often tell my students stories how common Americans fought diligently for the right to vote--I use it to point out how our history can be viewed as a process of inclusion.

Now, once again we have a new crisis on our hand (no, not only the economy)--the vote.

So far, this election shows how easy it is for America and Americans to regress and follow dated (and wrong) social and political habits--THE VOTE IS NOT SOMETHING TO MESS WITH!!!

We already see how old politics and old politicians can bring up cultural issues of the past. We've witnessed an attempt to re-launch the culture wars. The economy is in this shape because of old habits of deregulation and greed that dates back to the industrial revolution in the 19th century (Anyone ever play that game, um what's it called.....MONOPOLY). Remember, greed is good (right?). And to put what is probably not even the cherry on top, we are catching REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT TO VOTE FROM FOLKS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF A FAILED REPUBLICAN PARTY STANCE--laissez faire economics and market risks.

I CALL FOUL AND I ASK YOU TO CALL FOUL TOO!!! Make sure you are registered, your friends are registered, your neighborhood is registered, your class is registered, your office is registered:
http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php

for more on this current and blatant attempt at disenfranching:
http://www.michiganmessenger.com/4076/lose-your-house-lose-your-vote
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/senators_seek_doj_for_help_in.php

Voting Registration Deadlines:
http://www.rockthevote.com/voting-is-easy/important-dates/

If on Nov. 4th you plan to sleep in or you cannot fit "going to vote" into your schedule (or, of course if you live far away from home) find out more about ABSENTEE ballots here:
http://www.longdistancevoter.org/voter_guides

American pride glows with the vote and in this election YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT!!!