Once again the editorial writers at the Post- Gazette are lost in the weeds of non- thinking. This time they are lamenting Republican efforts to pass legislation requiring voters to produce a photo ID when they vote. The editorial writer claims it is all an attempt to depress Democrat voter turnout because the voters without ID are likely to be elderly, poor or a minority and that means they must be Democrat. When did it become a law that elderly or minority folks cannot be Republicans?
Two questions arise immediately. Where is most voter fraud taking place? No need to answer that when we have the sorry stories of ACORN’s machinations and a long history of funny vote totals and results across the country. Maybe the Black Panther voter intimidation case in Philadelphia has been forgotten.
Second, why is it assumed that elderly can get to the polls but cannot get a photo ID? Anyone who can apply for welfare, food stamps, public housing, etc. should be able to get a photo ID. Anyone with a driver’s license already has a photo ID. The people most likely to be unable to get a legitimate photo ID are probably ineligible to vote in the first place. If a person has the gumption to get out and vote and is willing to register to vote, that person should be willing and able to get a photo ID. Provisions can easily be made to have a photo center set up by the counties’ election bureaus to issue photo IDs when a voter registers if they do not have one.
Widespread and unchecked abuse of the sanctity of the voting booth and privilege of voting is a sure and certain way to undermine the electoral process and eventually a republic based on the consent of the governed. Condoning or refusing to condemn such abuse amount to aiding and abetting the practice.
It is a shame we cannot trust one another to behave honorably. But the answer is not to bury our heads in the sand and ignore a subversive practice by refusing to take reasonable steps to end it.