bleVins for Vendetta

About a week back, I was having a discussion on the comment board over at DelawareLiberal about writing in the candidate for whom you identify with most if they happen to not be on the ballot. This is a very touchy issue with me, because a) I have yet to pick a candidate and b) I feel that the big three candidates right now may, but may not most represent my views for this country. In the discussion I was urging everyone to do the same, and not to settle for the lesser of evils among candidates. To me, that is a disgrace and embarrassment to what our founding fathers fought for. I know, I know, don’t clog my e-mail with charges of my being idealistic and naive. I know I am.

In the course of this discussion, a certain bill was brought to my attention. A certain Senate Bill 164. Senate Bill 164 is sponsored by the lovely Senator Patricia M. Blevins.

Now, I did not realize that the Delaware State Senate Democrats were in the business of taking away the civil liberties of its constituents. Civil liberties? Oh, right, please let me give you the summary as per the state website:

This bill would require that only votes cast for a declared write-in candidate would be counted. A person could declare himself/herself a write-in candidate to the Commissioner of Elections or the appropriate Department of Elections and that write-in votes cast for any other person, etc. would be lumped together and reported as other write-in votes. Persons who declare themselves write-in candidates would be subject to the provisions of Chapter 80 (Campaign Finance). The bill also provides additional guidance on what constitutes a vote for a write-in candidate.

When I was directed to this page by my fellow posters, my mind was fucking blown. Literally. I could not believe that Democrats-fuck that, ANYONE-in the state government were attempting to dictate to me who I could or could not vote for. This is my right as an American citizen to vote for who I feel will best run the country, state, treasury, town hall, etc. I think my friend over at DelawareLibertarian said it best:

The News-Journal editorial section, typically out of step with citizen-empowered democracy, seems to say it will save a bunch of wasted time and effort actually counting people’s ‘irrelevant’ or ‘illegitimate’ write-in votes.

Excuse me?

“Irrelevant” names (e.g. votes), “legitimate” candidates?

Since when is a citizen’s absolute sacrosanct right to vote, and have that vote counted, contingent on the regulatory compliance of another citizen over whom they (righteously) have no control.

Even if the person for whom they vote is constitutionally ineligible to serve, that still does not negate that a citizen does and should have the absolute right to cast their vote as they wish and have it counted.

This bill, which by the way is now in front of the House Administration Committee, is an utter disgrace to civil liberties everywhere. I am glad to hear that the big dogs in Dover feel that my vote irrelevant, because not one of the Democrats who signed that bill will ever get my support or benefit of the doubt. I am not budging on this, I am PISSED!

I don’t know what bleVins has in mind, but the true V couldn’t have stated it better:

There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn’t there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.

So I urge you to take action and write or call your State Representative, Democrat or Republican, and urge them to shut this bill down!

Tags: Civil Liberties, delaware, politics, Write-in