In a republic, voting is a privilege, not a right

[Fafnir665]

(snip)
Every time an election comes around, we are submitted to a barrage of publicity and advertising about the importance of exercising our "right to vote." Truth is, in the republic which was known as the United States of America, there is no "right to vote."

If you take a look at the enumerated rights defined by the American Declaration of Independence, upon which the U.S. Constitution was founded, and the constitution itself, there is no mention of voting rights. For those who believe they have a "right to vote," here's a quick history lesson.

You do not have the "right to vote," you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (ownership of property). You have a privilege to vote, an important privilege. Let's not get caught up in the national socialist plan to destroy this great nation through continued theft by the mob.

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/in_a_republic.htm

[Tiassa]

You do not have the "right to vote," you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (ownership of property). You have a privilege to vote, an important privilege. Let's not get caught up in the national socialist plan to destroy this great nation through continued theft by the mob.

I don't see how these points go together. How does "the right to vote" equal a "national socialist plan to destroy this great nation through continued theft"?

Truth is, in the republic which was known as the United States of America, there is no "right to vote.

In a certain roundabout way, this statment can be held as true if we use the word "was" to indicate the years following the founding of the nation when the right to vote was limited by gender and "happiness" (ownership of property).

However, asserting that You do not have the "right to vote" seems to disagree with our Constitution and its Amendments:

- But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. (Amendment XIV, section 2)

- The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. (Amendment XIX)

- The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. (Amendment XXVI, Section 1)

It would seem, Fafnir, that the right to vote exists in the US Constitution as amended.

Therefore, the author is incorrect when he writes: You do not have the "right to vote," you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (ownership of property). You have a privilege to vote, an important privilege.

Don't let the paranoid and weak define reality, Fafnir. They're further-removed from reality than normal or the insane. That article seemed designed to stir fear among Americans who have no idea what their Constitution says. And yes, there's plenty of those folks out there. That's what makes this article dangerous. Propaganda is most effective among the ignorant and the frightened.

A person asking for the direct democratic right to vote to elect a President will lose in court; how the electoral college votes is up to those electors on the college. Some states, as I recall, have rules for how their delegates to the college vote in response to the people, and there is even variation among those rules. But a person asserting a "right to vote" in general, especially against such an ill-advised assertion as the editorial article offers, will win easily, as the "right to vote" exists in the US Constitution.

[Microzoft]

"the right to vote" and the "privilege to vote"

Wordings and interpretations… some wars have started for less then this!

One must differentiate between the rights and the privileges to vote.
Example: You have the right to vote but that privilege to vote must be withdrawn due to… Criminal stated, mental disorder, etc. etc.
This right to vote its simply qualified by age, nationality, etc. But the privilege to exercise that right is a total different story.

[SpyMoose]

Originally posted by Fafnir665
If you take a look at the enumerated rights defined by the American Declaration of Independence

Hey Fafnir, were you aware that there are no rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independance, and that even if there were no one is leagly bound to them?

It would matter if there were no right to vote ennumerated in the US Constitution, but guess what? There is! (As already established by somone who listed the exact amendment earlyer in the thread)

wow, you didnt do your homework did you?

[Fafnir665]

Originally posted by SpyMoose
wow, you didnt do your homework did you?

Read the link.

[shrubby pegasus]

the declaration of independence is not a legallly binding document

[truth]

Originally posted by shrubby pegasus
the declaration of independence is not a legallly binding document

The Declaration of Independence is just that, it enumerates the grievances against England.

The Constitution is the source of law and was drafted to be amended, that is where the inalienable rights are enumerated.