Topics in Democracy 360: Should Neo-Cons Have the Right to Vote?

[gottaB]

Some Arguments for Denying the Franchise to Neo-Cons.

• NeoCons are irresponsible. Political freedom without responsibility is nonsensical. If we allow the Neocons to vote, we'll be making a mockery of our political freedoms.
  
  
• Neocons favor policies such as disenfranchisement of excons. Turn about is fair play, equality is the soul of our Republic, yada yada yada.
  
  
• Neocon rhetoric is, at one level, all about political and cultural alienation. They're also compulsive about staying on message. So, now that the wingnuts have full control of our federal government, shouldn't we do something to keep them honest?
  
  
• Preemption. We need to vigorously rethink "voting rights" in light of the confluence of anti-freedoms in the modern geopolitical system. It just might be that if we don't disenfranchise the neocons, our own disenfranchisement will come in the form of a mushroom cloud.
  
  
• Sometimes experiments fail, and while the neocons are content with tests that always produce positive results, reasonable people will take note of failed experiments, and consider altering some variables and performing the test again before reaching definitive conclusions. It's quite possible that this experiment we call Jeffersonian democracy will work like clockwork on a Swiss day once we deny the neocons the franchise. What do we have to lose? Let's give it a go!
  
  
• Wouldn't you just love to be able to ask a neocon, all deadpan like, Do you consider yourself to be a Suffragette or a Suffragist?
  
  
• Antonin Scalia. Denying the franchise to neocons is a more refined form of justice than, say, putting Scalia's head on a stick.
  
  

[Sanity]

1. Yes they should

n/t

[buddy22600]

2. Everyone should have the right to vote

[gottaB]

4. can that right be abused?

Is there anything absolute about it?

Inalienable?

[MadProphetMargin]

7. No, it cannot be abused.

[RainDog]

3. It depends. Do felons get their voting rights back

after they've served their sentences in the states where they live.

[DenverDem]

5. Do traitors have the right to vote?

They should be convicted for their treason and stripped of all rights including their freedom.

[gottaB]

9. We should draw a sharp distinction between these two things:

(a) Crimes against society, and (b) betrayals of the people.

A democracy should exclude traitors from its ranks, in my view. But I also advocate for human rights, and I think that no modern democratic government should allow non-citizens to be stripped of basic dignities.

Exactly how fundamental of a human right is voting?

Hmmm.

[camero]

6. Don't deny them that right.

Deport thier asses.

[forgethell]

8. Shouldn't members of DU be

denied the right to vote.

They are irresponsible, etc.

The same arguments could be made by them about us that you made about them. Especially about staying on message (ABB). Are these accusations true or not? that's what the voters have to decide.

And, for the record, I don't want decisions that affect me being made by people who cannot live with the responsibility to obey the law and stay out of prison.

[markus]

10. That's already happening

That's the problem.

It's a fair question: what do we do with the 20 million people who believe Rush Limbaugh is telling the truth, and who are prepared to act on it? Who watch only Fox News? Who get their truth from the Washington Times and N.Y. Post?

At some point, we have a huge and profoundly brainwashed group of politically active people who are--in my view--internal enemies of the United States?

At the end of the day, if they don't get their way, I believe a large number of them will disenfranchise themselves. The worst will turn violent, and we can deal with them then as lawbreakers.

[forgethell]

18. Political differences do not

make for internal enemies. Is the only way that progrressives can win to go outside the political processes, the democratic vote? If so, then we deserve to lose. If our ideas cannot convince people to vote for our side, then why should they?? It's no good whining about the 'conservative media monopoly'. In this day and age there are plenty of outlets for all sorts of views.

And while many are apathetic and distinterested, there are a lot fewer 'brainwashed' people out there than some people seem to think. For one reason, to be properly 'brainwashed', you practically need to be in a completely controlled environment, a prison. And, hey, the prisoners are the people that WE want to be enfranchised so they can vote our way.

Most of the conservatives that I know (and I know plenty of both liberals and conservatives) are bright, intelligent, and often, educated individuals. They are much more passionate about politics than most of those who plan to vote Democratic. Even the apathetic can apply their minds to their interests when the time comes.

That's one reason I read DU, and a lot of other liberal and conservative and foreign boards. I need facts and information to get my point across to those I think can be influenced. Some of the conservatives I've talked to know as much about the issues as anybody, well, me aat least.

But right, or wrong, they have a RIGHT to vote. When did progressives get in the business of denying RIGHTS??

[RandomKoolzip]

11. Yes, but not the power to rig elections.

Or the power to use their connections in the energy industries to buy members of he Senate and House, influence the outcome of elections and pay off the media to turn the other way. "Voting," i.e., one lone man going into a booth and pushing a few levers (or Jah forbid, pushing a button on a screen), has about as much to do with the NeoCon modus operandi as Batman has to do with kryptonite. Y'know, like it doesn't even enter into the picture.

And Leo Strauss ought to be synonymous with Beelzebub.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

12. Vote, yes.

Dictate America's foreign policy, NO.

[adjwilli]

13. Uhmmm?

"Neocons favor policies such as disenfranchisement of excons. Turn about is fair play, equality is the soul of our Republic, yada yada yada."

Does that mean they support the disenfranchisement of themselves?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

14. Neo-Cons need to be deported to Mars! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[gottaB]

15. uh, yeah

but they lack the self-discipline and in all likelihood impurities have seeped into their precious bodily fluids....

[booley]

16. I got a better idea...

how about a truth in advertising law for politicians?

[leftistagitator]

17. Thier right to vote must be upheld

They too are citizens, even if they are dangerously stupid or immoral. Only actual treason is deserving of having citizenship stripped away from someone, and as far as I can see, these guys are just seriously misguided, not treasonous.

[freeforall]

19. Of course they should...

after all, it is still (for the meantime) a free country.