Polish immigrant I know: "All I can't do is vote. Whats the big deal?"

[NNN0LHI]

He was here legally on a work permit. He didn't see any need to take my advice to become a citizen. This was ten years ago. I told him voting is very important. He said he didn't care. He used to like making fun of "pink face" (Clinton) all the time in his broken English.

I just found out from a mutual friend he was deported last month.

Don

[NoodleBoy]

1. I tell people who say illegal immigrants sway elections for Democrats

that illegal immigrants don't come here to vote, and they don't do anything that could reveal them as illegal--like walking into a polling place.

[sonsera]

3. illegal immigrants

might be able to do that in California since they aren't required to show proof of citizenship there but in most instances you're probally right. In one respect I can understand the logic of the Polish immigrant. I was born here in the U.S. and voting as a Democrat (stright ticket) for over 50 years, except for Eisenhower, but look where it has gotten me now. I'll probably never live long enough to see all the damaged rectified. :-(

[NoodleBoy]

5. you still need to register to vote, have that cleared by the SoS, and

have your adress listed at the polling place.

[sonsera]

6. you still need to register to vote

but you still don't have to prove you're a citizen. In WV I had to prove I was born in the US, show two proofs of my WV address, show Social Security card, WV Drivers licenses, plus sign a certification of the veracity of all this. In CA all they need to do is sign their name certifying they're a citizen and show idenification at the polls. They couldn't even get a drivers license in WV.

California Elections Code Section 2111 states, "A person may prove he or she is a citizen by his or her certification under penalty of perjury on the affidavit of registration (for voter registration purposes only).

[EFerrari]

7. In CA the new voter registration database is "losing" thousands

of Democrats. I don't think the Republicans needs to worry about illegal immigrants. We're the new Ohio with 55 electoral votes fixing to move into the Thug's column next go 'round.

/oops

[demosincebirth]

8. Exactly. They come here to work and could care less

about politics.

[MADem]

2. Guess old Porgie didn't forget POLAND, did he? NT

[TahitiNut]

4. Well, now he can vote.

:shrug:

The "class war" is being waged over control of government. Ninety percent of anything is just showing up. While the wealthiest can (and do) vote, buy votes, and buy politicians, the working class is not only being populated with those who are denied the vote (ex-felons and immigrants, both legal and illegal), it is increasingly populated with those who are being sold the idea their vote desn't count, and don't. Our vote is the last vestige of democracy, after having surrendered all else. It is necessary, but not sufficient - and we're even surrendering that.