For anyone interested in reading more about voting, specifically, here are a couple of books I believe everyone should read, but doubt they'll show up in U.S. classrooms as required reading:
The Right To Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States
by Alexander Keyssar
The Politics of Voter Suppression: Defending and Expanding Americans' Right to Vote
by Tova Andrea Wang
No doubt, there are many other selections to read, but these have been enlightening, to say the least. The right to vote has been abused by Democrats AND Republicans, so efforts to restrict voting rights in America have been bi-partisan, believe me. Remember the suppression of voting rights of African-Americans in the South (oh, and the North, too)...that was spearheaded by WHITE DEMOCRATS. Not Republicans. Not that the Republicans helped that group gain voting rights, at all, but they didn't lead the charge.
Before anyone should accuse me of being biased because of my political leanings, I assure you my goal is to get people to vote. Who you vote for is your business, your decision. My desire is to get people to vote because it's important. Very important. When all of us vote, our voice is heard. I know, I know, today's elections are so overcast with specialized funding sources that skew things one way or another. And computerized election machines create a huge opening for cheating. But voting is still relevant and more important than ever. So, please, go vote. Go vote early, if you can, but vote on election day without fail.
Thanks so much.
First, a video to exit with...
A second video just to show that I'm not biased here...
Ok, now, a tune and video to show my bias along with my desire to get out the vote...
