Yeah I'd agree to that. Better that, push it (election day) a week ahead and combine it with 11/11 so you can observe two important American activities as a day off.
Believe me if Obama is given the boot in Nov. 2012 there will be nearly as much revelry whoopla in celebrations as New Years.
In my celebration I will be quoting a Republican activist: "Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we're free at last."
The cost in loss of production is too much and we have enough Holidays on the books.
Nsxt thing you know some idiot is going to want a Sharia Holiday.
HELL NO!
I support this. Working a job can make it hard for people to go and vote after work. It may also allow for polling places to run more smoothly versus having a boom of people coming in to vote after business hours. I don't see a downside to making election day a federal holiday.
More voters. That IS the downside. In a day and age when the educated and informed voter is largely a thing of the past, about the worst thing possible would be an INCREASE in the number of voters at the polls.
That's an illogical argument. Unless, are you implying that people who will go out to vote if they have no job barriers barring them from voting are somehow more uneducated and less informed by those who would not be barred from voting due to their job? Or even those that have no job?
Whether you like it or not Americans have the right to vote. We should not prevent jobs from keeping people from this privilege. I think it's very tyrannical to actively try and keep people from exercising their democratic rights because you believe they are all uneducated and ill-informed.
More voters. That IS the downside. In a day and age when the educated and informed voter is largely a thing of the past, about the worst thing possible would be an INCREASE in the number of voters at the polls.
I am of the opinion that we need a Constitutional Amendment requiring a Competency Exam for all voters, taken not more than 30 days before every election. This would be a 50 question, multiple choice exam based on the offices, candidates, and questions on the ballot. It would be created by each registrar of voters and be approved by both parties. Questions would be simple, straight-forward, and could not be based on OPINION.
For example, THIS question might appear on my Exam next year: "If Scott Brown wins his election on this ballot, when would he next be up for re-election to that office?" The answer to this question requires three very simple and what should be well-known bits of information.....
1. Scott Brown is a US Senator
2. US Senators are elected for a term of six(6) years
3. 2012 + 6 = 2018.
My guess is that probably a solid half of Massachusetts registered voters would not know the answer without the multiple-choice options, and that even with them about a third would still get it wrong. I will say that for Connecticut and Rhode Island, the other two places I've lived as well.
This is BASIC CIVICS. If people cannot answer a question like that, why the hell should we be allowing them to influence the system with their votes? Do you know why only "White, Land-Owning, Males" were allowed to vote at first?.... They were the only group that was likely to be EDUCATED and INFORMED enough to understand the issues of the day, the platforms of the candidates, and how those things went together.
As part of that same amendment, I would require ALL candidates in an area to provide FREE OF COST both their voting record and a platform/policy statement IN WRITING (fact checked by an independent company), available to all potential voters in their area through the Post Office, Library, City Hall, and Registrar of Voter's Office a MINIMUM of 90 days before the election. That information is what the examination questions would be based on.
More voters. That IS the downside. In a day and age when the educated and informed voter is largely a thing of the past, about the worst thing possible would be an INCREASE in the number of voters at the polls.
It should - it should be a "civics" holiday; similar to Memorial Day, or the 4th of July.
It should - it should be a "civics" holiday; similar to Memorial Day, or the 4th of July.
Wow im shocked CPwill...you advocating for another paid holiday for govt workers...:lamo:lamo
More voters. That IS the downside. In a day and age when the educated and informed voter is largely a thing of the past, about the worst thing possible would be an INCREASE in the number of voters at the polls.