One of my favorite professors, who marched beside MLK in Detroit was labeled functionally illiterate until the age of 17. He went on to become the first black professor in the state of Oklahoma and to author and co-author 26 books and hundreds of papers. He's now the Dean of an entire school. Also a good friend and colleauge.

Being from Alabama, he used words like "tote" instead of "carry" in the early 50's. Uncle Sam and the Dept of Education put him into special education.

I can think of about half the state of North Carolina that would be able to vote if a literacy test were required. Dang mumblers remind me of Boomhauer on King of the Hill.

Funny how you are so sensitive when others are doing the talking Adroomi. When it's you it just hyperbole or sarcasm, but everyone else means exactly what they say at all times right?

You meant colleague right?

How does he find time to run a school and be a techie for an aviation company? And at his age?

Or is he on the board of directors with you?

I'm actually for a literacy test as well... Probably end up with a better president.

And for that matter, anyone who is going to vote anti-abortion should be required to adopt a child (I know, left field, but if we are talking about voting reqmts)

my goodnes . . .

Rug,
Yes, I spelled colleague wrong...thanks.

On your other points, I'm not sure I'm following you.

Why would the Dean of a major university be a "techie" for an aviation company?

He's not a member of the Board of Directors with my company, but he'd be a likely candidate. We could definately use his advice on a few things. He's already on about 5 or 6 other boards with other firms though, so I'm sure his plate is full.

Dr. George Henderson has been a teacher, a colleague and better yet, a friend to me since I first met him. I'm honored to have him as a colleague and fortunate to have such a wonderful man as a friend.

http://www.twu.edu/lemi/henderson.htm 

adroomi

i'm completely fine with half the state of whatever not voting if they can't read by age 18.

BillyJackson,
Literacy tests discriminate in that they disallow folks that can't read, or for that matter can't read proper "american" english to NOT vote. In 1965 we got rid of literacy tests for a reason.

Shortly afterwards, the folks that didn't want minorities voting used other methods. "They posted armed guards and real and make-believe policemen at the polls. They told voters they could cast their votes on alternative days, even after the actual election was over. They demanded forms of identification not required by law. They told voters outstanding warrants or utility bills would prevent them from voting. They said immigration officials would haunt the polls, checking on voters' immigration status. They constructed phony voter purge lists which included names of longtime legitimate voters. They loosed the FBI and State Police on elderly voters. They videotaped voters approaching polling places. They set-up so called “ballot security” and “ballot integrity” programs, based on the racist presumption that minority voters are inveterate election-day cheaters, and they harassed and intimated those voters at will." This is not the America I want.

America is full of hypocrisy! For example, why can't a convicted felon vote? If he or she has served their sentance, why can't they vote?

Why can't immigrants that are not citizens vote? Don't they pay taxes too? I seem to remember a certain tea party in Boston that dealt with the same issue.

By the way...here's a sample literacy test from Texas. There are 100 questions. If you miss 6 or more, you are not eligible to vote....

Would you be able to vote in Texas?

WHAT ARE THE COLORS OF OUR FLAG?
HOW MANY STARS ARE THERE IN OUR FLAG?
WHAT COLOR ARE THE STARS ON OUR FLAG?
WHAT DO THE STARS ON THE FLAG MEAN?
HOW MANY STRIPES ARE THERE IN THE FLAG?
WHAT COLOR ARE THE STRIPES?
WHAT DO THE STRIPES ON THE FLAG MEAN?
HOW MANY STATES ARE THERE IN THE UNION?
WHAT IS THE 4TH OF JULY?
WHAT IS THE DATE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY?
INDEPENDENCE FROM WHOM?
WHAT COUNTRY DID WE FIGHT DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR?
WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY?
WHO IS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY?
WHO ELECTS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
WHO BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IF THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DIE?
FOR HOW LONG DO WE ELECT THE PRESIDENT?
WHAT IS THE CONSTITUTION?
CAN THE CONSTITUTION BE CHANGED?
WHAT DO WE CALL A CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION?
HOW MANY CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS ARE THERE TO THE CONSTITUTION?
HOW MANY BRANCHES ARE THERE IN OUR GOVERNMENT?
WHAT ARE THE THREE BRANCHES OF OUR GOVERNMENT?
WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT?
WHO MAKES THE LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES?
WHAT IS CONGRESS?
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF CONGRESS?
WHO ELECTS CONGRESS?
HOW MANY SENATORS ARE THERE IN CONGRESS?
CAN YOU NAME THE TWO SENATORS FROM YOUR STATE?
FOR HOW LONG DO WE ELECT EACH SENATOR?
HOW MANY REPRESENTATIVES ARE THERE IN CONGRESS?
FOR HOW LONG DO WE ELECT THE REPRESENTATIVES?
WHAT IS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT?
WHAT IS THE JUDICIARY BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT?
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF THE SUPREME COURT?
WHAT IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE UNITED STATES?
WHAT IS THE BILL OF RIGHTS?
WHAT IS THE CAPITAL OF YOUR STATE?
WHO IS THE CURRENT GOVERNOR OF YOUR STATE?
WHO BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. IF THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT SHOULD DIE?
WHO IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT?
CAN YOU NAME THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES?
WHO SAID, "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH"?
WHICH COUNTRIES WERE OUR ENEMIES DURING WORLD WAR II?
WHAT ARE THE 49TH AND 50TH STATES OF THE UNION?
HOW MANY TERMS CAN A PRESIDENT SERVE?
WHO WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.?
WHO IS THE HEAD OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, A PERSON MUST MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRESIDENT. NAME ONE OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
WHY ARE THERE 100 SENATORS IN THE SENATE?
WHO SELECTS THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES?
HOW MANY SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ARE THERE?
WHY DID THE PILGRIMS COME TO AMERICA?
WHAT IS THE HEAD EXECUTIVE OF A STATE GOVERNMENT CALLED?
WHAT IS THE HEAD EXECUTIVE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT CALLED?
WHAT HOLIDAY WAS CELEBRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE AMERICAN COLONISTS?
WHO WAS THE MAIN WRITER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?
WHEN WAS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ADOPTED?
WHAT IS THE BASIC BELIEF OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE UNITED STATES?
WHO WROTE "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"?
WHERE DOES FREEDOM OF SPEECH COME FROM?
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM VOTING AGE IN THE UNITED STATES?
WHO SIGNS BILLS INTO LAW?
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE UNITED STATES?
WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT DURING THE CIVIL WAR?
WHAT DID THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DO?
WHAT SPECIAL GROUP ADVISES THE PRESIDENT?
WHICH PRESIDENT IS CALLED THE "FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY"?
WHAT IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE FORM IS USED TO APPLY TO BECOME A NATURALIZED CITIZEN?
WHO HELPED THE PILGRIMS IN AMERICA?
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SHIP THAT BROUGHT THE PILGRIMS TO AMERICA?
WHAT WERE THE 13 ORIGINAL STATES OF THE UNITED STATES CALLED?
NAME 3 RIGHTS OR FREEDOMS GUARANTEED BY THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
WHO HAS THE POWER TO DECLARE WAR?
WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE?
WHICH PRESIDENT FREED THE SLAVES?
IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE CONSTITUTION WRITTEN?
WHAT ARE THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION CALLED?
NAME ONE PURPOSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
WHERE DOES CONGRESS MEET?
WHOSE RIGHTS ARE GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS?
WHAT IS THE INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION CALLED?
NAME ONE BENEFIT OF BEING A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT GRANTED TO U.S. CITIZENS?
WHAT IS THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL?
WHAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE?
WHERE IS THE WHITE HOUSE LOCATED?
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICIAL HOME?
NAME ONE RIGHT GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
WHO IS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE U.S. MILITARY?
WHICH PRESIDENT WAS THE FIRST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE U.S. MILITARY?
IN WHAT MONTH DO WE VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT?
IN WHAT MONTH IS THE NEW PRESIDENT INAUGURATED?
HOW MANY TIMES MAY A SENATOR BE RE-ELECTED?
HOW MANY TIMES MAY A CONGRESSMAN BE RE-ELECTED?
WHAT ARE THE 2 MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE U.S. TODAY?
HOW MANY STATES ARE THERE IN THE UNITED STATES?

whatever

if you are an american citizen at least 18 and can't read, i still have no problem not allowing that person to vote

"I think we ought to nuke North Korea right now just to give the rest of the world a warning"
------------------------------------------------------

Finally, SOMEONE has a policy on North Korea. It's about time.

'..Why can't immigrants that are not citizens vote?..'
-------------------------------------------------------

Lonely in Asia tonight?

BillyJackson,
That's just it....literacy tests do NOT measure a person's ability to read. They test any number of things from the ability to read and write, to the ability to design rocket engines.

Prior to 1965, when the voting rights act was passed, literacy tests were being "used" by certain political groups to earn favor in the voter turnout. What is this fascination with back-stepping that Americans seem to have these days?

Literacy tests are designed, and used to keep "certain" voters from voting. It's plain and simple.

In Northeastern Canada a few years back, one of the literacy tests for voting was given in French. Yep....talk about setting up your "voters" for a sure win, eh?

By the way, since you assumed that "literacy" meant only the ability to read, and were wrong, you therefore are illiterate. You can no longer vote.

:)

8track,
I'm not sure what you mean by your comment about "asia."

In Asia right now, it's anywhere from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Regardless, I'm in Illinois sitting at a sports bar watching a movie and typing on my laptop. Where are you?

Do you have any comment about "why can't immigrants vote?" or do you just like running your mouth with no real points?

The fact is, our founding fathers were tired of paying taxes to the King of England and NOT being able to vote, so they dumped all his tea in the harbour. We learned that in grade school as one of the "events" and attitudes that makes America great.

The sad thing is, folks that are not US Citizens, but are legally here and pay taxes cannot vote in America. It seems we "forgot" what makes us great.

John Walker was a college student. He dropped out to "study" in the Middle East. John Walker = college liberal.

Just for you doomi...err...victor 🙂

You're in Illinios?

For how long?

Want to meet for a drink?

'..The sad thing is, folks that are not US Citizens, but are legally here and pay taxes cannot vote in America..'
-------------------------------------------------------

It's a shame we are forcing them to stay here.

You are in a sports bar, typing on your laptop. Good to see you spending time with your friends.

Actually I'm with my brother, his wife, my mother, my father, and a guy I went to high school with. I'm typing a report that I have to do for work, and surfing this site between emails that are getting me the data I need. I love wireless.

If you want to meet, I'm all for that. I'm in Chicago right now, but will head down to Bloomington next week. Perhaps even to Springfield. Where are you?

horse
face
jack
ass

Don't be so hard on yourself sg...LOL

Drath... a college student who drops out to join a hard-line religious military group is not a college liberal. I've lived with college liberals. I knew one guy who actually was socialist (self-identified). While I don't identify with his politics any more than yours, I would have to argue again that hard-line religious is strictly the domain of the right wing nut jobs (whether they by christian or muslim/islam).

Remember, in the Soviet Union the first thing the Communist Party did when it came into power was control religion (okay, maybe not the first... but it was in there amongst killing off dissent). Thousands of churches were torn to the ground. Moscow, a city of hundreds of Eastern Orthodox Cathedrals was reduced to only a few, priests were killed in labor camps and bishops were executed by firing squad. Stalin, of all people, brought the church back to legitimacy in the 1940s and allowed the priests to exist and some churches to open (although I believe going to church would hurt one's chances of being a good party member).

While I haven't gotten to the point in my life where I would advocate wholesale slaughter of priests, or silly little socialist policies, I think it is inaccurate to identify the Taliban with left-wing-nutjobs. If anything, it belongs more with right-wing-fanatics, a group which DOES require religious adherence.

The right-wing does not "require religious adherence" ado...victor.

Talk about stereotyping. Lets look at the facts about Walker:

California
Parents confirmed liberals
College student in CA
Hates America

Being from CA doesn't make you a libby, but you're off to one hell of a start. Parents don't control how you vote, but they have a major influence. Colleges are liberal indoctrination grounds, especially in CA. Know any righties that hate America? Not me, that's a lefty requirement.

So once again I state: John Walker = College Liberal.