Radio CG 13: The Countdown Continues

Our thirteenth episode landed with eleven days left to go before the presidential election. We admit it: we’re definitely feeling the tension. As much as everyone hopes for a smooth election and happier days ahead, more and more people on both sides are dreading potential post-election unrest. What’s worse, both sides continue to blame each other. Pat and Dean tried to keep the peace as they discussed the relevant topics.

What Is Voter Suppression?

Before jumping into things, we want to back up and talk a bit about voter suppression. Not because we’re fans, but because like “Defund the Police,” there’s a lot of confusion over what the term means. It is not just angry people walking around with guns and preventing you from voting. It is also not the government telling you, “You can’t vote.”

Voter suppression is a broad term for the things that make it difficult to vote. Let’s take a common example. One county, serving a million people, has forty-five voting booths in each voting location. Another county, also serving a million people, has three booths. The second county’s voters face longer lines and a longer wait to vote. If they only have a couple hours off from work to vote – or if they’re cramming it in to a day filled with caring for family members and working – you can see where voting becomes difficult or impossible.

Often, this occurs in poorer areas, or areas inhabited largely by people of color.

So no, it’s not outright oppression, but the economic realities faced by many in the country means they can’t just take a ton of time away from work or family to vote. That is what so many Democrats are referring to when talking about voter suppression.

The guys do agree: Voting should be easy throughout the country.

If only there was a way to ensure it were so.

Who Should Vote?

Speaking of voting…we can’t say we realized “Who should vote?” was such a push-button topic. Several of our callers had a lot to say on the matter, and we’re not just talking about the common disagreements centered on felons and teenagers and those living overseas.

We heard arguments from those who think only landowners should be allowed to vote (considering the spread of condos and apartment buildings, did this individual mean only homeowners?). There are some – perhaps many – who feel that if you’re on any kind of government assistance, then you’re a ward of the state and cannot vote.

Readers, how do you feel about that? Perhaps it’s a topic for another show.

Even Murkowski Has Doubts

We want to close today’s summary with comments from Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. She made some thoughtful remarks during the confirmation process of now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett, stating that she wished she were voting on a relief bill instead of a justice.

“The timing of this confirmation that we have before us will serve to reinforce the public perception about political influence on the court,” Murkowski said. “I would hope that we all recognize public confidence in our courts must be an imperative. We have to believe that justice will be equal for all of us.”

She went on to vote for Justice Barrett, but recognized that bringing her in would not fix the growing hostility in both the political parties and the citizenry. It would not even help anything. “We have got to figure out how to de-escalate,” she said.

We hear you, Senator Murkowski. We agree.

Folks, if you haven’t voted yet, remember to do that. And please, remember, we are all Americans in the end.