Today's P-I mourns yesterday's state Supreme Court decision requiring convicted felons to complete their sentences before having their voting rights restored. The P-I wants the Legislature to "find a solution that welcomes people who have done their time back into society", i.e. automatically restoring the voting rights of those who haven't paid their financial obligations to their victims.
Instead of automatic reenfranchisement, I propose that those who wish to give unincarcerated felons an equal voice in society's decisions should simply help the felons pay off their legal obligations.
e.g. Dwight Pelz and the state Democrats could launch a "Help this Felon Vote" website to include sympathetic appeals such as:
Fruto Boy Crispila punched an old lady in the face and stole her purse. He completed a 20 month prison sentence. He still owes $300 in court costs and $500 to his victim for her dental bills. Your donations will help him to pay his debts so he can vote for Christine Gregoire!Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 27, 2007 11:07 AM | Email This
We'll Pay Off Your Felon Debts, as long as you sign this guarantee to vote Democrat!
Posted by: Jeff B. on July 27, 2007 11:16 AMWe bought harnesses for our dogs to wear while travelling in the car. It keeps them from flying about and if aid cars or police get you out of the car, the dogs don't get loose and run away. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on July 27, 2007 11:47 AMPersonally, I don't want felons to vote, but if they pay the time and cash, then I will go along with consensus.
Posted by: swatter on July 27, 2007 12:00 PMThis isn't a problem that needs a solution, this is a policy which the P-I's editorialists dislike.
God, the level of cant and dishonesty in modern politics is truly depressing.
Posted by: ScottM on July 27, 2007 12:38 PMIf we feel the need to bash someone, how about pointing out the obvious about Rod Tom, wearer of too much man jewelry!
Posted by: Eunice Burns on July 27, 2007 12:40 PM"...How many people do you know who have NEVER smoked something illegal or NEVER taken something that didn't belong to them or NEVER had a drink before driving or NEVER hit someone?...
I mean really, aren't we all criminals who simply haven't gotten caught yet?
Ummm.. no. Idiot.
Posted by: Mike H on July 27, 2007 01:52 PMI'm sure coddling and bribing criminals in the hope that they'll become good is related.
Posted by: Tomas de Torquemada on July 27, 2007 03:00 PMJust asking...
Posted by: SeaRep on July 27, 2007 09:20 PMAnyway I'm somewhat ambivalent about whether felons who have served their time should be granted voter rights after paying all related fines. I mean, maybe people charged with felons should be allowed the right to vote again after serving thier time and paying the fines. Why do we have to treat these people as outcasts for the rest of their lives. But again I am ambivalent about the issue. And I know this is a far-right blog, so I expect a bit of backlash from this post.
And don't forget righties, I'm an independent not a Democrat, so keep that in mind if you decide to respond to this post. Don't just try to put me in your little Democrat box just because I don't fully believe in all you're positions on issues and the oozing bias that pervades basically your entire blog from top to bottom.
Regards,
David
"I mean, maybe people charged with felons should be allowed the right to vote again after serving thier time and paying the fines."
Is exactly what the law says, what the Supreme Court decision was and what Stefan said in his posting. It also disagrees with the PI article. So thanks for agreeing with everyone on a 'far-right blog' as an Independent. It would a good idea to be a bit more affirmative in your thoughts.
Posted by: me on July 28, 2007 10:11 AMObviously I came to the wrong place. This place is for far rights only, no independence allowed.
You people are too bitter and unbecoming, not just the people who post the blogs, but the people who comment on the blogs as well.
I apologize for entering your hostile right-wing zone.
Regards.
Posted by: David Wolbeck on July 28, 2007 12:05 PMI too, am an indie and I disagree with granting rights BEFORE the sentence is served and fines and restitution are paid. I agree that people should be brought back into society and set on the right path. Often, that will not happen until the issues that brought the person into the court system are addressed. I have dealt with many persons who got their rights restored by going through a faith-base program, gasp, I know secular progressives have stopped reading, and they took the long hard road of getting a GED, going through alcohol or drug programs, getting anger management classes and reconnecting with family and friends. Often, leftoids and secular progressives want the vote of the person, they don't want the person whole.
Posted by: WVH on July 28, 2007 01:53 PMHere's an idea... maybe it would be a good idea not to start off your first post by taking potshots at this website with a smarmy, holier than thou attitude if you don't want folks here to be hostile. I mean, really, you could have just said, "I am an independent, and I don't think people should be able to vote before they've paid their fines and served their time". Guess, what? No one would have "attacked" you. Instead, you start with a paragraph attacking the folks here for being biased and a bunch of far righties.
I mean, come on, that's like going to the WSU campus in a UW t-shirt and calling everyone at WSU a bunch of inbred morons, than wondering why you got your a$$ kicked afterward. Are you really that dense?
Posted by: Mike H on July 28, 2007 03:01 PMDo you think maybe that's because you didn't read the article? Or maybe you did read it and didn't comprehend what you read?
Debate is welcomed here. People who spend three paragraphs discussing something they claim they don't care about - and then daring anybody and everybody to pick a fight with them - and then whining when they get their wish, is not.
Posted by: jimg on July 29, 2007 11:23 AMSounds about right. You come here, post insults surrounded by a point (somewhere) and then when you receive a little of your medicine back, you declare victory. You score a zero for internet troll originality.
Posted by: Palouse on July 30, 2007 09:54 AM