Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Old Enough To Die, But Not Old Enough To Vote?

That was the argument for dropping the voting age to 18.  In more expanded form, the idea is that someone willing to put his life on the line for our Liberty should be able to have a say in the governance of the country.  Yet, those most directly in the line of fire are not having their right to vote honored.

In Wisconsin, just prior to the recall, there was a bevy of activity around military votes- primarily the fact that recall was announced late enough that there was question about if the ballots could get out to the soldiers on time.  Democrat leaning states routinely make changes to the ballot at the last minute, making it more likely that some deployed soldier will not be able to send in his vote on time.

And now, it turns out, the Military is not even doing it's legal duty to ensure soldiers have a chance to vote.

In one of the few pieces of legislation that Barack Obama has signed that I don't loathe with every fiber of my being, the Military was required to establish a voting station on every foreign military base.  According to teh Pentagon's Inspector General, they "failed about 50 percent of the time."  That means roughly one half of our soldiers, literally endangering their own lives for your right to vote, may not be able to vote in November.

The military cites lack of funding for these offices.  Perhaps they have a point, given the hit in funding that the military has taken under Barack Obama, and with "sequestration" charging at them like an enraged bull.  But I cannot brook any excuse for not ensuring that our men and women overseas get to partake in one of the privileges they sacrifice so much to secure for us. 

It is unconscionable.

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