Democracy Is the Problem

by Daniel D. New

Our problem in the United States of America is not that we need more citizens and residents participating in what is called the "democratic process," but that too many are already involved.

Alexander Tyler wrote in 1797, and I paraphrase, "America will continue to be strong only until the people discover that they can vote public monies into their own pockets."

That day has arrived, my friends, and we now enter the twilight of American power, glory and prosperity.

We could reverse this problem in four years, with a few simple solutions.  I'm not afraid to state them.

Why is everyone afraid to say this out loud?  People on welfare should not be allowed to vote.  Through whatever set of circumstances a person finds themselves "down and out," it is not mean to say that if they are not competent enough to care for themselves financially, they jolly sure have no business having a say in the running of the country.  When they pull themselves out of poverty, they will become excellent voters.

At the very least, those who are employed by a taxing agency should be barred from voting in any election having to do with taxes by that agency, and for candidates who govern that agency.

School district employees, for example ought to be barred from voting in any election where a school bond or tax issue is at hand.  Nor should they be allowed to vote for those who comprise the school board.  Why not?  Because the school district in many areas is the largest single employer around, and the employees constitute the largest bloc of voters, and it seems an irrestible temptation for school officials to refrain from the (often illegal) practice of using taxpayers money to promote the passage of a tax bond issue, to pressure the school district employees, to lobby the children themselves, in order to raise taxes.  The wonder is that any school district tax issue ever fails, given the stacked deck against the property owner, the taxpayer.

Same applies to county or state employees concerning county or state issues and races.  Let's level the playing field, and stop stacking the numbers in favor of Big Taxes.

Bring back the Literacy Test

When you consider that the average American voter knows 100 times as much about his favorite sport (pick one) than he does about the Constitution and the Republican (not Democratic) form of government we have, and 10 times more about his favorite 50 athletes than he does about even one of the candidates for whom he is voting, you should conclude that an ignorant vote is worse than no vote at all, and we should bring back the Literacy Test, and expand it to include knowledge of the Constitution, our system of local, state and federal governments, the candidates, and the leading issues of the day.

Frankly, I suspect that if you charge people $1 as a handling fee, it will eliminate 50% of the voters, maybe more.  Good.  Makes my vote double in value right there.

Bring back the Property Requirement

If only those who own property are allowed to vote, (as the Founding Fathers intended), this would be a better world.  Alright, that's probably a Pandora's Box that can't be closed.  But we could at least restrict all elections dealing with a property tax to the owners of the property, and no one else.  If you own property in a given school district, you should get a vote, even if you live in another state.

Increase the voting age

Frankly, I'm becoming more conservative as the years go by.  There was a time when I thought 21 was plenty old enough to vote.  Then I raised it to 30.  Then to 35.  Now I'm contemplating 50.  No, I'm just joking.  Twenty-five years is very reasonable, providing they own property, don't work for the government, and can pass the battery of tests that I'm going to help write.

A stupid statement

People who say, "It doesn't matter how you vote, just vote," should not be allowed to vote, if there are two or more witnesses to this, for idiots are generally not allowed to vote in any state.  Any radio personality who says it should be charged with malfeasance, and possibly treason, and should be institutionalized for five to ten years just as a warning.

Of course it matters how you vote!  An uninformed vote is far worse than no vote at all.  It's even worse than an informed vote for Socialist Party A.  (And there is such a thing.  Otherwise, university professors would be disenfranchised.) (Actually, most would be anyway, if we pass the property requirement.  But then, once they become property owners, many will become conservatives shortly thereafter.)  We don't want ignorami influencing the future of our Republic!  The ignorami are what have brought us to this fine mess we're into today.

Like I said above, we could reverse this situation.

But we won't.

Sayonora, America.

So long, Freedom.