>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 03/09/05 4:00 PM >>> One of the reasons that Florida and eight other states have laws fobidding convicted felons from voting is that old die-hard Confederates after the civil war set up structures, laws and processes designed to make the continual and ongoing disenfranchisement of Blacks possible--controlling the courts it is possible to make anyone a "convicted felon" and thus unable to vote. What if those ex-Confederate scum, operating as stooges for foreign powers bent on destroying the system of the U.S., had managed to set up their own government in Florida, and claim, on the one hand, not to be a part of the U.S. and yet also make the contradictory claim to be the sole and "legitimate" representatives of all of the U.S.? What does anyone think the U.S. government would do about that situation? Would the U.S. government allow secession and the fiction that Florida was somehow a separate--and sui generis--nation with fundamental rights to independence and sovereignty? Jim Craven <<<<<>>>>>
florida apparently leads u.s. in felon disenfranchisement: 400,000 - 600,000 people depending upon which estimates one uses... believe state was first - in 1868 - to enact felon disenfranchisement following civil war, was included as part of state constitution that year, 'policy' has been sustained through 2 subsequent state constitutions - 1885, 1968... lawsuit has been in court for several years to have felon disenfranchisement thrown out on 14th amendment 'equal protection' grounds, delegate at state's 1868 constitutional convention stated that it was intended to prevent newly freed blacks from voting, thus, denial of voting rights was intended to be discriminatory and it remains so... interestingly (i guess), 2 republican state legislators are pushing bill to have voting rights automatically restored upon completion of sentence, gov. jeb bush opposes (surprise, surprise), just one more example of stupidity/lameness/even bigotry of white florida democratic 'leaders'... despite above, 'ban' is not quite accurate regrding felon disenfranchisement in state, in fact, there good bit of confusion about what exact practice is... here are 2 explanations, both of which are routinely cited... 1) people are supposed to be told when their sentence is completed that they must apply to clemency board comprised of governor and cabinet in order to have civil rights restored which then makes them eligible to register to vote, those who cite this process say that few - if any - are ever informed that it is available to them... 2) restoration for first-time felony offenders is supposed to be pretty much automatic, they're not even supposed to have to request a review of their situation, rather, state dept. of corrections is supposed to inform state parole commission that one's sentence has been completed, if individual qualifies - i do think that persons with more than one conviction are literally banned - then restoration is supposed to happen unless clemency board member objects... ultimately, doesn't matter which explanation is correct, neither is adhered to... moreoever, whether regulations require person to initiate process or it is 'automatic, clemency board is notorious for rejecting requests/petitions to have rights restored... as for florida - or any state - declaring independence and sovereignty for itself, matters was ostensibly settled by civil war and affirmed by 1869 u.s. supreme court decision in case of - _texas v white_ in majority if justices indicated that u.s is 'indivisble/indissolvable union' - in other words, once a state, always a state... michael hoover -------------------------------------------------------------- Please Note: Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees regarding College business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure.
