What happens when there's a low voter turnout? People like Governor Bob McDonnell get voted into office and try to bring Virginia back to the civil rights era. I mean, that's what it seems like.
In the 90 days or so that the governor has been in office, he has brought forth one oppressive thing after another. First, the governor and the Attorney General eliminate benefits for homosexual state employees and ban anti-gay discrimination laws in in public colleges and universities. Why take away peoples' civil liberties?
Then, Governor McDonnell decided to name April Confederate History Month. The last time this was instituted was when Republicans governors held office eight years ago. Okay, fine. Let it be Confederate History Month. But having no mention of slavery and its role in the Civil War in his proclamation is troubling. Even the last governors that instituted this, made a mention of slavery. Yes, Gov. McDonnell issued an apology and made a change a few days later, but he had earlier told the Washington Post that slavery was not "significant" enough to be included in the proclamation. Hmmm. He also stated that the sole intention of the Confederate History Month proclamation was "to promote the study of our history, encourage tourism in our state,...and recognize Virginia's unique role in the story of America." Slavery played a HUGE role in the Civil War and Confederate history. How could you make this "mistake" and even state that it's not significant? Hmmm. And is this really supposed to encourage people to visit Virginia? A Democrat who was a supporter and major contributor to McDonnell during his gubernatorial campaign condemned the proclamation stating: "The complete omission of slavery from an official government document, which purports to be a call for Virginians to 'understand' and 'study' their history, is both academically flawed and personally offensive. If Virginians are to celebrate their 'shared history,' as this proclamation suggests, then the whole truth of this history must be recognized and not evaded." So true. No one is expecting Gov. McDonnell, or anyone else for that matter, to be held responsible for the crimes committed long before they were born, nor should they feel guilty, but it should be remembered as a major part of our history.
Now, what could be next you might ask. Well, a few days ago Gov. McDonnell told of his plans to add another step for nonviolent felons to have their voting rights restored. They will be required to submit an essay outlining their contributions to society since their release, "turning a nearly automatic process into a subjective one that some say may prevent poor, less-educated or minority residents from being allowed to vote."
Under Virginia's constitution, people convicted of a felony automatically lose the rights to vote, serve on a jury and own a gun. About 300,000 felons who have served their time do not have those rights. A governor can restore those rights to felons who appear to have redeemed themselves. Only Virginia and Kentucky require permission of the governor to restore voting rights to felons. Majority of states automatically restore voting rights after a sentence is completed. In Virginia, non-violent felons are able to apply to have their voting rights restored by filling out a one-page form with information about their arrest and conviction.
But now, the current governor wants to add another requirement. Soon, Gov. McDonnell will start requiring nonviolent offenders to write him a letter "explaining the circumstances of their arrest; their efforts to get a job, seek an education and participate in church and community activities; and why they believe their rights should be restored." And then the office of the governor's counsel will judge whether they are contributing members of society. If these non-violent felons ARE able to write a letter/essay, then who's to say that they won't cheat and lie in the letter just like they did to get themselves in jail? How could you know that someone has been rehabilitated enough from reading a letter? And apparently, if they can afford a lawyer, they could have the lawyer write it for them. How's that fair for those who can't afford the same? Some groups that work with felons have worries that applicants will be intimidated by the essay and will not bother to apply. It's already tough enough getting voters out to the polls, but this will not improve it any. What was wrong with the current form for voting rights renewal? The whole thing just smells a bit fishy. Hmmm.
All this while Bob McDonnell has been governor for about 3 months. I am not judging him, as I don't know him personally, but I do not like many of the things he stands for. I decided to learn more about his beliefs and learned a few startling things. First, he attended Regent University, a private university founded by the televangelist Pat Roberston, which was originally named Christian Broadcasting Network University. Hmmm. Then I read about his thesis he wrote in school, outlining a 15-point conservative agenda and the Republican Party's vision for families. This agenda includes opposition to abortion, support for covenant marriages and tax policies that favor heterosexual families. Hmmm. He also described "working women and feminists 'detrimental' to the family." Hmmm. He also criticized the legalization of the use of contraceptives. Hmmm.
I do not know all, nor am I claiming to know all or what is best, but this is sad. All this just saddens me because instead of thinking what would be for the good of the majority of people, this man is imposing his own beliefs on everyone. Yes, he did get voted into office, but why take away peoples' rights? Why bring light to a tainted history and 'honor' soldiers who fought to perpetuate a system that could never have functioned without constant and deliberate cruelty towards other humans? Instead of disenfranchising people, why not help uplift and better the society? Let's leave homosexuals alone and not ostracize them. Let's try and help people understand them better so that we can all get along. Let's try and implement better programs to rehabilitate felons, so that they become well-functioning members of society. And just as important, let's not impose religious beliefs on others.
I hope no more of this continues, from him or anyone else. We shall see, though.
In the 90 days or so that the governor has been in office, he has brought forth one oppressive thing after another. First, the governor and the Attorney General eliminate benefits for homosexual state employees and ban anti-gay discrimination laws in in public colleges and universities. Why take away peoples' civil liberties?
Then, Governor McDonnell decided to name April Confederate History Month. The last time this was instituted was when Republicans governors held office eight years ago. Okay, fine. Let it be Confederate History Month. But having no mention of slavery and its role in the Civil War in his proclamation is troubling. Even the last governors that instituted this, made a mention of slavery. Yes, Gov. McDonnell issued an apology and made a change a few days later, but he had earlier told the Washington Post that slavery was not "significant" enough to be included in the proclamation. Hmmm. He also stated that the sole intention of the Confederate History Month proclamation was "to promote the study of our history, encourage tourism in our state,...and recognize Virginia's unique role in the story of America." Slavery played a HUGE role in the Civil War and Confederate history. How could you make this "mistake" and even state that it's not significant? Hmmm. And is this really supposed to encourage people to visit Virginia? A Democrat who was a supporter and major contributor to McDonnell during his gubernatorial campaign condemned the proclamation stating: "The complete omission of slavery from an official government document, which purports to be a call for Virginians to 'understand' and 'study' their history, is both academically flawed and personally offensive. If Virginians are to celebrate their 'shared history,' as this proclamation suggests, then the whole truth of this history must be recognized and not evaded." So true. No one is expecting Gov. McDonnell, or anyone else for that matter, to be held responsible for the crimes committed long before they were born, nor should they feel guilty, but it should be remembered as a major part of our history.
Now, what could be next you might ask. Well, a few days ago Gov. McDonnell told of his plans to add another step for nonviolent felons to have their voting rights restored. They will be required to submit an essay outlining their contributions to society since their release, "turning a nearly automatic process into a subjective one that some say may prevent poor, less-educated or minority residents from being allowed to vote."
Under Virginia's constitution, people convicted of a felony automatically lose the rights to vote, serve on a jury and own a gun. About 300,000 felons who have served their time do not have those rights. A governor can restore those rights to felons who appear to have redeemed themselves. Only Virginia and Kentucky require permission of the governor to restore voting rights to felons. Majority of states automatically restore voting rights after a sentence is completed. In Virginia, non-violent felons are able to apply to have their voting rights restored by filling out a one-page form with information about their arrest and conviction.
But now, the current governor wants to add another requirement. Soon, Gov. McDonnell will start requiring nonviolent offenders to write him a letter "explaining the circumstances of their arrest; their efforts to get a job, seek an education and participate in church and community activities; and why they believe their rights should be restored." And then the office of the governor's counsel will judge whether they are contributing members of society. If these non-violent felons ARE able to write a letter/essay, then who's to say that they won't cheat and lie in the letter just like they did to get themselves in jail? How could you know that someone has been rehabilitated enough from reading a letter? And apparently, if they can afford a lawyer, they could have the lawyer write it for them. How's that fair for those who can't afford the same? Some groups that work with felons have worries that applicants will be intimidated by the essay and will not bother to apply. It's already tough enough getting voters out to the polls, but this will not improve it any. What was wrong with the current form for voting rights renewal? The whole thing just smells a bit fishy. Hmmm.
All this while Bob McDonnell has been governor for about 3 months. I am not judging him, as I don't know him personally, but I do not like many of the things he stands for. I decided to learn more about his beliefs and learned a few startling things. First, he attended Regent University, a private university founded by the televangelist Pat Roberston, which was originally named Christian Broadcasting Network University. Hmmm. Then I read about his thesis he wrote in school, outlining a 15-point conservative agenda and the Republican Party's vision for families. This agenda includes opposition to abortion, support for covenant marriages and tax policies that favor heterosexual families. Hmmm. He also described "working women and feminists 'detrimental' to the family." Hmmm. He also criticized the legalization of the use of contraceptives. Hmmm.
I do not know all, nor am I claiming to know all or what is best, but this is sad. All this just saddens me because instead of thinking what would be for the good of the majority of people, this man is imposing his own beliefs on everyone. Yes, he did get voted into office, but why take away peoples' rights? Why bring light to a tainted history and 'honor' soldiers who fought to perpetuate a system that could never have functioned without constant and deliberate cruelty towards other humans? Instead of disenfranchising people, why not help uplift and better the society? Let's leave homosexuals alone and not ostracize them. Let's try and help people understand them better so that we can all get along. Let's try and implement better programs to rehabilitate felons, so that they become well-functioning members of society. And just as important, let's not impose religious beliefs on others.
I hope no more of this continues, from him or anyone else. We shall see, though.
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