DEAR EDITOR:
This is in response to community columnist Dan Moadus' voting column. He doesn't understand "this incessant drive to get people to vote."
He has several questions which I will answer for him. Number one is, he states "Why would I want the strength of my vote diluted by more voters?" That statement shows that he wants more power for his own personal vote. A republic is not about making only a few votes count, it's about measuring the collective thought of the people being governed through the democratic process of voting. Is Mr. Maodus afraid that his views are not as well accepted among the general public, therefore he won't get the government he thinks we need and he wants? That sounds really Republican to me. A single vote really doesn't carry the same weight as a majority in numbers does and it's not supposed to.
He also goes on to question the intelligence of the voters and wants them to pass a test to prove they are intelligent enough for him to be able to vote. Well, he's not the only one who worries about having an informed voter but even these people have other areas that they are more concerned with than either Mr. Moadus or I may understand.
I am more concerned with a test for presidential candidates. If a person believes that middle income in the U.S. is $200,000 to $250,000 a year or that passengers on commercial jet airliners need to be able to open their windows at 40,000 feet to get some air in then maybe they should be forced to drop out of a race? I mean we are electing this person to oversee the departments of safety for airlines right? And as Mr. Romney said in the debate about his budget that if I say there is no $5 trillion deficit in my plan then there is no $5 trillion deficit in my plan. Would he say the same to change regulations for our airline passengers' safety regardless of the reality?
I can respond to all of his questions but there simply isn't enough space in this format to do it. As for the value of early voting, that is simple. It helps disperse the demand of voters lining up to vote on election day so the lines are not as long and it gives the electorate more flexibility in being able to cast their vote regardless of party. Republicans have no problem throwing some of their individual's right to vote out when they are getting 10 times as many democratic voters' rights thrown out to help concentrate the vote for their party goal. That is also a real socialistic and communistic way to achieve their goal. For a party that prides itself on liberty for the individual they all too often go out of the way to squelch the individuals from exercising those rights.
Leif Damstoft
Warren