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Quote by: leftcider For federal-level elections, poll taxes would be unconsitutional even without the Voting Rights Act: |
Sure, but how about at the state or local level?
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Quote by: leftcider Regardless of legality, poll taxes are an infringement on a fundamental right. A poll tax would condition a person's ability to vote on their ability to pay. Voting has long been considered a fundamental right and is the most basic right of the democratic citizen. The Supreme Court has ruled that voting is a fundamental right, a "preservative of other basic civil and political rights" (Reynolds v. Simms). A fundamental right is conditional on nothing --- it is automatically possesed. A poll tax is no better than making you pay for your "right" to freedom of speech, or protection against torture, or any other basic right. |
A fundamental right just like health care? I'm sure you know what I think of such "rights".
Voting is not a right, especially since voting allows you to deny other people
their rights.
Voting is merely a mechanism implemented in a particular yype of government. Are you going to tell me that democracy is a right? That I have a right to be ruled by a mob? That's the worst right I ever heard of.
This "right" to voting is NOT analagous to such rights as freedom of speech. My freedom to speak is merely dependent on other people not stopping me from speaking. Voting, however, is the means by which we exercise control over other people. Coercion is not a right.
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Quote by: leftcider The federal government is charged with enforcing federal level rights, and enforces basic bill of rights protections for citizens in states. |
Yes, as per the 14th Amendment, which I think should be repealed. It is completely contrary to the spirit of the original constitution.