Juneteenth and Voter Suppression

Juneteenth and Voter Suppression

Last week President Biden signed into law a new national holiday: Juneteenth.  It commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Great idea. It has been a long time coming. But I’m confused. At the same time, we are making it harder for poor and people of color to vote. The For the People Act (HR 1) will likely not to get through the Senate. Meanwhile, more and more states are passing voter suppression laws.

So, while acknowledging our country’s “original sin” of slavery, we take away the essence of democracy – the right to vote – from millions of Americans. WTF ?

Maybe it is time to make voting a federal activity: universal voter qualifications, voting machines, vote counting technology, time off work to vote, etc. Love to know what you think.

6 thoughts on “Juneteenth and Voter Suppression

  1. David Binder says:

    I was in Brazil the day after a national election about 10 years ago. In Brazil, it’s mandatory by law to vote, and everyone has the day off. What a great idea. May seem counterproductive to freedom of choice to make it a law to vote, but sometimes common sense makes more sense.

  2. Mark Shaw says:

    Not only did the vote get through the Senate. It was unanimously approved! In fact, only 14 Republicans voted against it in the House. Yet HR1 splits on party lines. I find myself agreeing with what you said the other day. That Republicans believe their votes for the Juneteenth National Holiday gives them a free pass to vote no on HR1.

    I am not convinced that taking away Voting flexibilities these states enjoyed during the pandemic, like extended time to file, more drop off boxes, etc., will have the impact that they hope. I suspect that these transparent moves by out of touch state plutocrats will excite the voting block of the very group they are trying to suppress.

    I agree, that a Federal Law, along with a voting holiday, is needed.

  3. Susan says:

    To make any progress on national standards for voting rights, including ending gerrymandering, ending Citizens United (unlimited political donations by corporations — outrageous!); ending all these stupid new rules that are an obvious attempt to completely CHEAT and keep left-leaning voters from voting; in addition to other wonderful progressive legislation Biden has proposed, like infrastructure that will create JOBS — it is essential that we end the filibuster. Biden, where are your legendary skills working with legislators? The filibuster was created to preserve slavery, and it is still working to prevent any progress. Defeating creating a commission to investigate January 6? OUTRAGEOUS!! We are still being tyrannized by extreme Republicans. When will this end???

  4. Ken says:

    Amen… to all of the above. May we simply get on with “the arc of the moral universe… [bending] toward justice?!”

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