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Civil rights group marks MLK Day with call for 'Trump card' national ID
A prominent civil rights group is marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day by pressing President Trump to honor his promise to create a national photo ID card for citizens.
Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the iconic civil rights leader and a co-chairmen of the Drum Major Institute, met with Trump two years ago on MLK Day. During that meeting, the then president-elect endorsed the idea of a national photo ID. This year, the group is calling on Trump to follow through.
William Wachtel, co-founder of the Drum Major Institute, said the group sees the issue as critical to ensuring King's work to remove barriers to voting.
[...] The idea has invited controversy in the past, in particular over privacy concerns. In 2013, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a measure, the Protect Our Privacy Act, attached to a Senate immigration bill. The Paul amendment sought to prevent the creation of a national ID card, citing worries that it would make it easier for the government to track people. Wachtel sought to ease concerns about such an ID, saying it would not be mandatory and would only be an option for those who sought it.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by edIII on Monday January 21 2019, @09:19PM (6 children)
The same reasons they would have problems showing up for jury duty, are the same reasons they have problems commuting two counties over, waiting in line for an hour, showing supporting documents, paying for transportation, and finding the time off work. Employers are fucking demons and don't give two shits about anything. For wage slaves, it most certainly is a hardship to deal with government, and even medical when your poor. Since you can be hired by McDonalds/Walmart and still be a "ward of the state", you must factor the logistics surrounding getting the ID.
It has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with class.
If there was a 3-day Federal holiday (paid), with public transportation being free and augmented on those days, then I would be less likely to be concerned for the wage slaves. I think all of the voting that we need to do should occur within those three days, and every voting place should have mobile federal offices that can hand out IDs on the spot. You have to make it that easy, because the only thing left in America is service jobs, and many have to work more than one job just to survive. It's not like the lower classes own their own homes, have ample savings, and are not under constant duress.
When shit is that bad, getting IDs and dealing with government bureaucracy is truly a luxury many cannot afford.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 21 2019, @09:25PM (2 children)
So, the guy who juggles three jobs, can't find time to get to the DMV? Or to vote? I don't think you give him enough credit.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 22 2019, @12:04AM (1 child)
It's shocking. They can find time to get to the polling place twice a year, but can't figure out how to get to the DMV once every four years. According to their masters, they're totally helpless when it suits them.
(Score: 2) by Pino P on Tuesday January 22 2019, @05:33PM
Polling places have more locations and are usually open longer hours than the DMV.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday January 22 2019, @09:51PM (2 children)
What aspect of that is unique to black people? Or are you saying they have a disability that keeps them from doing what white folks in their situation manage just fine?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by edIII on Tuesday January 22 2019, @10:45PM (1 child)
I DON'T think it's unique to black people, but pervasive among the rural poor.
That, and I don't recall being able to register to vote at the DMV. You have to get your ID first, then go to an entirely different building to register to vote. I believe some states automatically register you to vote when you get a driver's license, but that should be every state then.
You underestimate the amount of work required, and it is indeed a burden on the poor. Especially the rural poor that have to find significant time off and need to cover transportation costs. It's not like there is a mini-DMV for every single small town in rural America.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 24 2019, @12:35AM
Insightful? I don't think so.
In my state of Ohio which the idiot media seems to think is a voter suppression pit of Hell, you can register ONLINE or any of the following:
Board of Elections offices.
Ohio BMV deputy registrar office.
Ohio public library.
Any public high school or vocational school.
County treasurer office and other state offices
FFS, if you can't figure out how to register, you'll never figure out how to operate a voting machine. You lefty partisans seem to think everyone but you is incapable of even the most simple of tasks.