A license to vote? Why not?

Well, tomorrow is the big day. George W. Bush will be sworn in as President even though, as before, he apparently “won” only by extensive cheating. Even if he didn’t cheat (which is highly unlikely) he seems to have won mainly because he was going to push for a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage – an enterprise he has now abandoned because, of course, the election is over and that particular piece of nonsense is no longer required. True, the religious right is after him to continue to pursue it but it will never happen. Just as well, it was/is a complete waste of time and effort.

Is it just me or is it the case that Condi Rice is some kind of pre-programmed robot who, when once given the chance to speak, spiels out an almost endless litany of Administration lies, deceptions, contradictions, and obfuscations? It is almost like every answer is an already prepared filibuster. It is quite amazing. Thank heaven that Barbara Boxer held Condi’s feet to the fire, as did Kerry and a couple of others, but of course for no particular reason as she will be confirmed anyway, just as will our torture master Gonzales. Apparently both confirmations will be delayed for a while, but don’t look for anything substantial to happen (we can always wish).

I have a new idea. Why should people who want to vote not have to have a license to vote? I mean, after all, we have to have a license to drive, to hunt, to have a car, sometimes to own a gun, and so on. Isn’t voting more important than any of those things? If you want to vote, get a license. You could get a license by attending a few completely nonpartisan classes: on the Constitution, American History, Civil Rights, Democracy, and such. You have to study to become an American citizen so why not study to be a responsible voter? Surely this would eliminate people like my mother-in-law who votes Republican every time just because she and her husband always voted Republican. She knows absolutely nothing about issues, current events, differences of opinion, etc. She would have a choice, either don’t vote or at least get a minimal knowledge of what in the hell is going on. Remember, you cannot have a viable democracy without an informed public, and it is obviously true that we do not have an informed public, especially now with reality shows and television geared to the lowest common denominator. I wouldn’t care if large numbers of citizens didn’t vote. I’d rather they didn’t if they are totally uninformed about what’s at stake. Those who are so disinterested in the democratic process they can’t be bothered to vote wouldn’t have to, and those who are interested would at least be better prepared. You could have a photo identification proving that you had undergone the requisite training. I know, you’re supposed to get this kind of stuff in school, but somehow we don’t. You’re supposed to learn to read and write too, but often we don’t even learn that. Remember O.J.Simpson? He attended USC and couldn’t write a letter any better than your average five year old – not that the media paid much attention to his dismal attempt. What is happening to our democracy? Does anyone even care? We will soon go the way of the dinosaurs. Oh, I forgot, we have people who don’t believe dinosaurs even existed. They are right here in our High School. But then, on the other hand, we have people who believe humans existed at the same time as dinosaurs. What to believe? Never mind, just get out there and vote.