Mimimum Requirements for Voters

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I used to say, "the only wasted vote is the one not cast". While I still consider it wasting your vote is you don't bother voting, I think there is another category of wasted vote... The one cast in ignorance. Imagine my frustration (or share it with me). I take the time to be informed, learn who is running for office, find out for myself what they stand for and against, and go into the voting booth knowing who I'm voting for (or against) with a pretty good idea of why. When it comes to referendums (or is it referrenda ;~D ), before election day, I take the time to learn the purpose of each referendum. I listen to those who sponsored it, others who support it, and those who appose it. Before I enter the voting booth, I already know what each one is about, what a "yes" or "no" vote actually means, and why I'm voting the way I am. The pathetically moronic thing is, MOST voters don't bother with all those pesky little wastes of time anymore. They walk in to the voting booth maybe knowing the names of the Presidential Candidates... Maybe! They go through and vote for the name without knowing (or caring) anything beyond a few bumper sticker sound bites. When it comes to the referendum, all bets are off. They read the title of the referendum and think (if they actually have the ability to think), "oh, that's about cel phones in cars, that really bugs me"... so they mark the ballot "yes" (thinking that a "yes" vote means to ban it). In reality, the ballot was about a special tax on cel phone use, cars were never mentioned in the explanation of the referendum, and a "yes" vote meant to pass the tax. Freedom is for those who cherish it, it is wasted on those who don't. So, just like I changed my mind on Capital Punishment and Legalized Marijuana, I hereby back the concept of the expectation of some basic knowledge for voters. Of course, I also support voters having to actually prove eligibility to legitimately vote... so I guess I'm just an extremist. ;~D