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A proposal by a Minnesota Legislator is on its face
not a Minneapolis Issue. Except when it proves the point of some
out-state politicians when they say Minneapolis Legislatures are a bunch of out
to lunch radicals. This is a "Minneapolis Issue". Such low
esteem for our legislative contingent is the basis for anti-Minneapolis bias at
the Legislature. This low-esteem causes very real "Issue" for Minneapolis. I
certainly wish we could show them this perception is incorrect for most "City"
democrats, but it is hard with such representation. I trust and hope my own
Democrat Legislators are a little bit wiser than this, they certainly have been
in the past.
I am always amazed at the low value some people
place on citizenship and the right to vote. The only explanation I can
find is that people holding such views have never "paid" anything for that right
to vote, and that citizenship, so it is a meaningless thing. At the same time I
seem to never hear such "ideas" coming from veterans who at least were willing
to pay the ultimate price for those rights and that citizenship. Perhaps
something is only as valuable as what you are willing to pay for it. For
some it is more valuable than life. For others it is a meaningless thing
attached to a country that has no value to them. After all, they are "World
Citizens.
If I remember correctly a great philosopher once
paid just such a price. Socrates when imprisoned was given the choice of
his life and loss of his citizenship, or death. Socrates chose the hemlock
drink. People have died to protect that right of "Citizenship", and continue to
be willing to risk just such a price. Native people are a good example,
the most discriminated against people in America are still more willing than any
other group to protect and honor that right. Native People give great honor
to those individual who have been willing to pay the price because perhaps they
value being an American more. We have done dishonor to our country by not
honoring such sacrifices. I am proud that my family has always been willing to
pay just such a price. It seems that poor people are always the ones who are
willing to pay for this right, perhaps because it is the most valuable thing in
their lives. Fortunately those poor who are willing to pay the price have
guaranteed those who haven't paid the opportunity to think of voting rights as
meaningless and the opportunity to freely advocate for removing some of the
privileges of citizenship. I wonder if next they will be just as willing to
remove their rights to free speech.
For any person who thinks that children should be
able to vote, I ask, are you also willing to allow them to drive, or drink, or
how about smoke cigarettes? Not very many years ago the legal age to vote and
consume alcohol was lowered to 18 at the same time . A few years later drinking
was moved back. So prohibition returned. Legal adult citizens were
not allowed to exercise the same privileges as other adult citizens. Kids just
have never had the resources to challenge that one at the Supreme Court. At
least they made it so that the people most likely to die fighting for the rights
of citizenship, (voting) could enjoy that same privilege. Eighteen to twenty
year old young men have always been the ones who really fight our wars, not fat
old officers. Now young women join those same ranks and show that they also know
the price of citizenship, and are willing to chance paying the price for all of
us.
Some have said their 12 year old children are just
as smart and well informed as they are. With this I must agree, for they
have certainly proven their point by its very utterance. Some of us, however,
think the privilege should remain at eighteen. I well remember my first
chance to vote, (after having served in the military for four years). It was a
very proud meaningful moment. I also remember when I have gone with each
of my children the first time they voted. Those were also proud moments.
On that day they became citizens, because on that day they exercised the
privilege of citizenship. I repeat - The Privilege of Citizenship.
No, I think Minneapolis should continue to
restrict voting to citizens, it is really the only privilege which we get for
that citizenship. It also allows us to un-elect any one seeking to diminish the
value of that citizenship. Of course citizens have the right to disagree with
this sentiment and politicians as citizens can attempt to change it.
Fortunately most Minnesotans feel changing it is just some harebrained
Minneapolis idea from a grandstanding couple of politicians and they will laugh
or get mad, but still not vote for it. Rep. Kahn sometimes has some great
ideas, such as "public" ownership of sporting teams, she also has some
clinkers. Having a scatterbrain works that way, some BB's hit the mark
dead on - while others fly off wherever. Her voting ideas are
"Flyers"
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village - Citizen, and very proud of it
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