Jack of Harts

Imagine an America where the Federal government required that all election polls check a State-issued photo ID before allowing a citizen to vote. Assume a basic State-issued photo ID is free so we aren’t talking about a Poll Tax here. Only citizens with IDS could vote. We currently need photo IDs to buy alcohol, cigarettes, open bank accounts, get loans, drive vehicles, and basically do much of the other stuff covered under the category of living. We all carry them with us wherever we go. As someone I know once said, “Using it to show you’re the voter you claim to be is a nothing burger unless you’re not the voter you claim to be.” How would the Federal government work differently if we did that? And could the Federal government refuse to accept results from States that refused to verify the votes? How would that affect representation in the Federal government? Would you like to see voter ID verification or not? And what does either answer say about you and America?

Imagine an America where State legislatures pick the State Senators that serve in the Federal Senate. That is the America that was for the first century and a half of her history. The idea was that Senators beholden to legislatures and serving for six years would be insulated from the passions of the electorate that could sway the House. They would also act as representatives of the State governments and should therefore seek to limit the scope of the Federal government especially if it would negatively impact the sovereignty of the State legislatures that sent them. Imagine how different things would be if that was still the basis of how the Senate was chosen. How would you feel about that?

Imagine an America where only citizens of a congressional district could represent that congressional district. No carpet baggers allowed. House District. State Senate seat. The Presidency. Nobody could simply rent an apartment in a district a few weeks before an election and claim they live there. Say ten years of living there before you are legally allowed to represent that district on the Federal level. Imagine if owning property in the district was another part of that requirement. No renters allowed. How would it affect representation at the Federal level if each Representative and Senator were required to show proof of long-term residency, citizenry, and established roots in the district they represent? Would you like that or dislike that? And why? And what does your opinion on that idea say about yourself and America?