“… there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual assent and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.“
James Madison (1788)
The Supreme Court, long the last bastion in defense of the most fundamental rights of American citizens, really blew it! In its recent 6-3 decision the Court held states may ban write-in voting in elections. Byron White, writing for the majority, stated, although voting is fundamental to a democracy, “It does not follow that the right to vote in any manner and the right to associate for political purposes through the ballot are absolute.”
While Hawaii, whose write-in ban was at issue, provides for easy ballot access … such is not the case in most states where the nominees of the major parties have a virtual monopoly on ballot access.
Although many fundamental principals ingrained in our Constitution, as well as the most of today’s mainstream social and economic programs were hatched by citizens working for political parties and causes other than the Republicans or Democrats, those parties have systematically conspired, enacting legislation denying easy ballot access to minority candidates and parties. The Supreme Court has now institutionalized this national travesty.
With this ruling, candidates who emerge on the political scene after filing deadlines can be simply excluded … denying them ballot access and thus diminishing their credibility, their views and their contributions to the public debate.
Our political system was built on the concept of encouraging debate and dissent. Effectively quieting qualified candidates, their ideas and the ability for citizens to participate in electoral process as they see fit is a dangerous precedent!
Congress must act now, before the fall elections, and reverse this contemptible decision … restoring to each citizen his/her absolute right to vote for any candidate they wish, and have such votes count! Only in such a marketplace of fresh ideas and increased competition, will the American electorate again begin to believe it has a say in how it is governed.
Undeniably, America has prospered under the political stewardship of Republican and Democratic administrations. Today, our nation is strong both militarily and economically, and continues to provide the best model for freedom and the preservation of human rights in the history of mankind.
It is worth noting, however, that many fundamental principals ingrained in our Constitution, as well as the most of today’s mainstream social and economic programs were hatched by dedicated citizens working for political parties other than the Republicans or Democrats.
Yet, despite these recognized “third-party” contributions, the Republican and Democratic parties have systematically conspired to enact legislation effectively denying easy ballot access to minority parties. This chicanery has been actively and consciously abetted by both the electronic and print media which seems to hang on the simplistic political babble of Republican and Democratic candidates while generally ignoring new, substantive and often radical proposals of their “minority” party opponents, particularly when such ideas and programs are complex and take several minutes or more to parties have systematically conspired to enact legislation effectively denying easy ballot access to minority parties. This chicanery has been actively and consciously abetted by both the electronic and print media which seems to hang on the simplistic political babble of Republican and Democratic candidates while generally ignoring new, substantive and often radical proposals of their “minority” party opponents, particularly when such ideas and programs are com
