Photo: Dr. Arthur Blaustein
The following commentary on the need to protect voting rights is by Dr. Arthur Blaustein. Professor Blaustein (shown above holding sign) marched in Selma in 1965.
In Congress and state legislatures across the country, Republicans are attempting to get voter suppression laws passed.
This is unfair as throughout our history we have always moved forward to make our elections and society more inclusive, not exclusive.
This is unconstitutional as it is discriminatory…What’s next: suppressing the vote by targeting the working class, gays, Catholics, people who do not own homes, those who listen to NPR?
It is un-American as people all over the world have envied and respected America as the beacon of democracy and as a model nation. And in the past we have fought wars overseas and have intervened in other countries to promote democracy.
On Jan. 6th an angry and armed mob, incited by Donald Trump, and Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz attacked the Capitol, beat, and killed police officers and were intent on assassinating the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. They wanted, illegally and by mob rule, to prevent the certification of a free and fair election, held on a level playing field, for the presidency. Fortunately, they failed.
Now, Republicans are trying to pass laws to make elections unfree, unfair and on an unlevel playing field. You know, I know and anyone over the age of 12 knows that Republicans are targeting blacks, Latinos and the poor because they tend to vote Democratic. And they know that it has nothing to do with election fraud or irregularities.
Instead, it is plain, simple and obvious that it has everything to do with the fact that it is becoming more difficult for them to win elections… Period. Perhaps, if they would look inward, instead of scheming and lying about what they are attempting, they might find that if they put forth more humane and just policies they might do better. Now there’s a novel concept for a Party that has been playing the “race card” and exploiting division for 50 years.
Finally, we are a multi-ethnic, multicultural society, living under the rule of law; and no self-appointed particular group (funded dark money) should be allowed to pass laws giving themselves special superior privileges over all other groups.
What the Republicans are trying to do is unconstitutional, undemocratic, unfair and un-American.
They must be stopped!!!!
Background on Dr. Blaustein
In 1965, Arthur Blaustein participated in the Selma March in support of the Voting Rights Act. At the time, he was a grad student at Columbia University, an Army veteran and a member of the Willard Stright American Legion Post.
After the Selma March, Dr. Blaustein got very involved in the US Government. He became a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he recently retired from teaching Community Development, Public Policy, and Politics. He has served on the Board of the National Endowment for the Humanities and was chair of the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He lives in Berkeley, California.
He wrote the books Make a Difference: The Ultimate Volunteer Handbook and Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport. His other books include The American Promise, Man Against Poverty, and the Star-Spangled Hustle. His articles have appeared in Harper’s, Mother Jones, the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, and the New York Times Wire Service.
