Life Through the Windshield

The life of a trucker

Catnlion

Catnlion
Location
Elon, North Carolina, USA
Birthday
February 04
Title
Truck Driver/Lease Operator
Bio
Where do you start with something like this. I'm your typical white male. I'm married, for the third time. I have 9 kids and 4 grandchildren. Currently I'm an OTR truck driver. I've been doing it for the past year and a half, but I've had several careers. This one is just the latest. In the past I've tried selling cars. That didn't last long. I should say it didn't take me very long to figure out that I'm to honest to sell cars. I've spent lots of years in the restaurant business. Most of that was in the pizza business either as a manager for other or for myself. I also spent 8 years in the Air Force working in ER's and flying Aeromedical Evacuation. I have to say, the biggest mistake I've ever made was getting out. Anything else you want to know, just ask. I'll tell you.

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Salon.com
OCTOBER 12, 2008 9:52PM

Disenfranchised, the new liberal catch phrase

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Who are the disenfranchised? Would somebody please explain that to me.


In this country where even the poor have cable and big screen TVs I have trouble believing that anyone doesn't know that is a few day we are going to have a national election. You can't turn on the TV without an ad, walk down the street without seeing a sign, or go into any store and not hear the conversations. So who doesn't know an election is not about to happen?


So if you don't vote I say you don't care. If you wanted to, or wanted to know, you would ask someone how to do it, or what was going on. Everybody who is running for office has an office that will be more than happy to give you information on how to vote. Do you know of a place where the political party you want to win won't pick you up and take you to vote?


If someone in our country is deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote I don't know who that are. I do know some who don't care and are not registered to vote, IE: my wife, but that is her doing, she is not disenfranchised.


Disenfranchised is just another catch phrase of the times, and you are not going to find them in the middle of any major American city.

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gossip, open call, politics, mccain, palin, obama, election, disenfranchised

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Felons in many states are disenfranchised. Otherwise I think you are right.

(rated)
LT Bohica
October 12, 2008 09:59 PM
And this effectively disenfranchises an entire class of people, disproportionately black men and women. And, by felons, that means even people who have been convicted of a crime and completely served their sentence. As far as one's voting rights are concerned, they are lost for life with a first felony conviction. Texas is thataway.
Rich Banks
October 12, 2008 10:27 PM
Rich,

And what "effectively disenfranchises and entire class of people, disproportionately black men and women"? That statement is what I mean. The new catch phrase that is used but you didn't explain who or why. You just dropped the new bomb.

As for felons, I don't really care. You are going to commit a felony that is part of your sentence. If you think you are that good of a person, after you do that class of crime, I don't know about your ability to make a decision on who to vote for. I don't trust people who's thinking will allow them to do a felony.
Catnlion
October 13, 2008 01:09 AM
Considering that there are nearly 2 million convicted prisoners behind bars in the US, and an average of 450,000 are released per year, not being able to vote is just another way of discriminating against them. More than 60% are in jail because of drug violations, and most are for simple possession, not a truck-full, as most of the big guys never get busted. These people need to be re-integrated if possible, but taking thier ability to vote away just alienates and angers them more. If they served their time, then they should be able to vote. Having a criminal past, no matter how old the crime, follows a person for the rest of his life. They are discriminated against, despite many wanting to do the right thing, getting screwed in the workplace usually means they have to commit crime to survive. This is self-defeating, and is a major contributing factor to the recidivism rates we have, especially for the younger generations.

Disenfranchisement is a term that is perfectly applied when referring to this segment of the population.
Joe Blow
October 13, 2008 01:18 PM
Rich, Texas felons get their franchise back after a certain amount of time. I did massive voter registration for Kinky and had the statute memorized at the time, but essentially once they are off parole they can vote. If you want the actual statute, email me and I'll dig it up for you.
LT Bohica
October 13, 2008 01:23 PM
Joe Blow,

I got a suggestion for you. If voting is important to you then don't commit crimes or use drugs. Damn, that's easy.

I have to say that I've heard all kinds of crap in my job but I have to say they don't build a truck to haul all the crap in your last sentence. If you listed all the reasons that people went back to jail where do you think not being able to vote falls? I can hear it now, "Judge, I only robbed that liquor store because I couldn't vote." BS

Recidivism rates have little to nothing to do with being able to vote.
Catnlion
October 13, 2008 04:08 PM
Lindsey,

So your grandmother doesn't have basic cable. Okay, but how does she watch TV? So if she wanted she could watch the talking heads and see the commercials. Do she have 35 cents to buy a newspaper? Your well informed. Do you talk to her?

I'm not picking on you or your grandmother. The point is anyone who wants to know can find out. For some it may be harder than others but that doesn't mean she can't find out what is going on.

How old is your grandmother? Ask her if things were easy in the 20's and 30's. How did people find out things back then? I'm sure you have heard the slip on when TV was invented. I think it was called radio. Does she have one of those?

BTW, I watched 2 hours of TV in the last month, but I listen to lots of radio to know what is going on.

Also I've never heard of anyone who was fired because they took time off to vote. Where does she work? Most polls are open for 13-14 hours on election day. Could it be these people just didn't want to get up early before work or didn't want to go after?

She is not disenfranchised. She just doesn't have it spoon fed to her.
Catnlion
October 13, 2008 06:21 PM
Lindsey,

Thanks for the comments. It is comments like your's that make me think.

I listened to the debates without commercials on the radio, not just bits and pieces, but I got them also. I also listen to the talking heads. My favorites are Hannety and Combs, their show together and both separate. I also listen to Glenn Beck and Rolleye James. My normal lineup includes right, left and weird.

Lindsey, after reading some of your stuff and your posting here I have to say that if your grandmother is like you, I think I would like her.

I hang out here, read and post, but I would say that I disagree with about 95% of what I read, but that is why I'm here. It makes you think about your position. I spend days alone so I have plenty of time to listen to myself think so I know that point of view, but I need the challenge, and I thank you for giving it to me.

But your grandmother is still not disenfranchised, she sounds well informed and able to make a good, but one I guess I wouldn't agree with, decision and is able to vote.

Harold
Catnlion
October 14, 2008 12:05 AM