Give noncitizens the right to vote...

[The Captain]

Hell, with everything else we're giving away it was only a matter of time:

www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hayduk-let-noncitizens-vote-20141223-story.html

So let me get this straight, you can now vote without any of the responsibilities (like jury duty or being subject to the draft) that comes with being a citizen?

So, do people who are not citizens of a nation have a right to determine elected outcomes?

[Deleted]

Remember it's just someone's opinion. Not even remotely likely to go anywhere...

[Opti]

Its an opinion piece in the LA times, not a done deal.

This is still the country where we believe in free speech, correct?

A newspaper opinion does not write law. Nothing to get straight unless

you know about some impending legislation not mentioned?

[Value Buy]

I know, let's give them a 3/5th's vote like the south used to get!

[Value Buy]

Dec 23, 2014 10:17:21 GMT -5 Opti said:

Its an opinion piece in the LA times, not a done deal.

This is still the country where we believe in free speech, correct?

A newspaper opinion does not write law. Nothing to get straight unless

you know about some impending legislation not mentioned?

Yeh, that's how it started with women's rights in the 1800's too.

It starts snowballing, and look what we wind up with!

Sarcasm, people, sarcasm.........

[Tennesseer]

An opinion.  Means squat.

[billisonboard]

Dec 23, 2014 10:08:56 GMT -5 The Captain said:

...

So let me get this straight, you can now vote without any of the responsibilities (like jury duty or being subject to the draft) that comes with being a citizen?

...

Should being subject to the draft be a mandatory criteria for granting people the right to vote?

[The Captain]

Dec 23, 2014 10:59:21 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Dec 23, 2014 10:08:56 GMT -5 The Captain said:

...

So let me get this straight, you can now vote without any of the responsibilities (like jury duty or being subject to the draft) that comes with being a citizen?

...

Should being subject to the draft be a mandatory criteria for granting people the right to vote?

FWIW I think women as well as men should be subject to the draft, so under those circumstances I would say yes.  At the very least, exclusions should be applied equally.

[zibazinski]

Are you talking non-citizens or illegal invaders?

[whoisjohngalt]

EVERYTHING starts with someone's opinion.

It all depends on how convincing the person is

[Deleted]

I don't find the opinion convincing. 

[djAdvocate]

it will never happen, imo.

[Shooby]

A lot of ridiculous policies start with ridiculous ideas.

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 23, 2014 11:48:24 GMT -5 oped said:

I don't find the opinion convincing. 

I didn't even read the article, was just saying that in general we shouldn't discard something bc it simply is "someone's opinion".

I am working on "calmness and serenity", I don't think this article will be encouraging to that

[Shooby]

And, if you put your opinion out there in print, then people have a right to comment and criticize it as well or cheer it on. Whatever is your druthers.

[mroped]

You can be selected for jury duty and I believe you can be drafted if you are a legal resident of USA. The only right that comes with becoming a citizen is voting.
Is not that far fetched that a legal resident non-citizen can vote. It happens already in a few European countries. Moreover, a legal resident of US pays the same taxes as everyone else, can buy a house, car, gun just to name a few. Why would it be such a bad thing to allow one to vote?
And for those that wonder:not all those born and raised in a foreign country that are currently legaly residing in US are liberal or leaning liberal. Case in point: Orly Taitz- nutcase birther.

[djAdvocate]

Dec 23, 2014 14:10:01 GMT -5 mroped said:

You can be selected for jury duty and I believe you can be drafted if you are a legal resident of USA. The only right that comes with becoming a citizen is voting.
Is not that far fetched that a legal resident non-citizen can vote. It happens already in a few European countries. Moreover, a legal resident of US pays the same taxes as everyone else, can buy a house, car, gun just to name a few. Why would it be such a bad thing to allow one to vote?
And for those that wonder:not all those born and raised in a foreign country that are currently legaly residing in US are liberal or leaning liberal. Case in point: Orly Taitz- nutcase birther.

immensely entertaining.  she sounds like a bad imitation of a man trying to voice crack to imitate an Easter European woman. 

[The Captain]

Dec 23, 2014 14:10:01 GMT -5 mroped said:

You can be selected for jury duty and I believe you can be drafted if you are a legal resident of USA. The only right that comes with becoming a citizen is voting.
Is not that far fetched that a legal resident non-citizen can vote. It happens already in a few European countries. Moreover, a legal resident of US pays the same taxes as everyone else, can buy a house, car, gun just to name a few. Why would it be such a bad thing to allow one to vote?
And for those that wonder:not all those born and raised in a foreign country that are currently legaly residing in US are liberal or leaning liberal. Case in point: Orly Taitz- nutcase birther.

www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/JuryService/JurorQualificaitons.aspx

To be legally qualified for jury service, an individual must:

be a United States citizen;

www.sss.gov/fswho.htm

NON-CITIZENS
Some non-citizens are required to register. Others are not. Non-citizens who are not required to register with Selective Service include men who are in the U.S. on student or visitor visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families. Almost all other male non-citizens are required to register, including undocumented immigrants, legal permanent residents, and refugees. The general rule is that if a male non-citizen takes up residency in the U.S. before his 26th birthday, he must register with Selective Service.

I was right on Jury duty (at least at the Federal level, honestly in my state you only get called at the county/local level if you register to vote).

I will concede that I was wrong the military service part.  Learned something new today.  Even those here illegally are "supposed" to register.  Wonder how often that happens.

[The Captain]

Dec 23, 2014 14:10:01 GMT -5 mroped said:

You can be selected for jury duty and I believe you can be drafted if you are a legal resident of USA. The only right that comes with becoming a citizen is voting.
Is not that far fetched that a legal resident non-citizen can vote. It happens already in a few European countries. Moreover, a legal resident of US pays the same taxes as everyone else, can buy a house, car, gun just to name a few. Why would it be such a bad thing to allow one to vote?
And for those that wonder:not all those born and raised in a foreign country that are currently legaly residing in US are liberal or leaning liberal. Case in point: Orly Taitz- nutcase birther.

This is just my opinion, but if you are not invested enough in this country to become a citizen, then IMHO you don't have the right to influence the political process. 

I'm old school on this, but I'm a piss or get off the pot kinda person.  If you want all of the benefits, then you should accept all of the responsibilities.

[Deleted]

I'm pretty sure selective service was verified with his employment authorization as a refugee.  That or when he took out school loans? 

[Deleted]

I do agree with you captain about citizens voting however it's not just a desire to be a citizen. It took a decade for husband to go through the hoops, And we skipped three years because he went from Permanant resident to citizen in two versus 5 because we were married.

[The Captain]

Dec 23, 2014 14:33:14 GMT -5 oped said:

I do agree with you captain about citizens voting however it's not just a desire to be a citizen. It took a decade for husband to go through the hoops, Andre skipped three because he went from Permanant resident to citizen in two versus 5 because we were married.

To be honest, since I'm not a guy I don't know how selective service works - which is why I didn't even realize non-citizens were required to register.

As far as it taking time, if the intent is to become a citizen then I can understand how the waiting period can be a pain.  However, I still stand by my belief that it should still be a requirement. Otherwise trying to administer pending cases can become a nightmare.

[zibazinski]

Anyone becoming a citizen needs to be healthy and self supporting. That used to be a rule and needs to be enforced.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Overturning the Constitution?  Doubt it.

Voting is one of the delineated rights bestowed upon citizens.

[Deleted]

I remember writing about his citizenship ceremony here when it happened. How it was anticlimactic and all that really changed was he finally go a US passport and voter registration card... I had so Americanized him by that point it really did feel like a formality too long in coming  

But rules can't be based on single circumstances and I know they vary.

[thyme4change]

Given our voter turn-out rates, and the rigged way our system works - does it really matter?

[billisonboard]

Dec 23, 2014 14:50:36 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Overturning the Constitution?  Doubt it.

Voting is one of the delineated rights bestowed upon citizens.

I challenge this statement. I just reviewed the US Constitution including the Amendments and find nothing to support it.

[kent]

It may only be an "opinion" at this juncture but as others have said, this stuff has to "start" somewhere. There are 10's of thousands that will embrace the idea and it could easily spread from there.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

~Lao Tzu~

[Deleted]

If I have to bother myself with every person's every single opinion... 

Seriously, even we don't have that kind of time ...

[The Captain]

Dec 23, 2014 14:51:21 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Given our voter turn-out rates, and the rigged way our system works - does it really matter?

It won't if we become apathetic about it.