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The push for specific forms of ID, like passports, isn't just about security. It's a calculated strategy to reduce turnout among groups that disproportionately lack them, like married women whose names don't match their birth certificate.
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The U.S. Constitution intentionally excluded women from political participation, defining power for men only. This foundational decision means the country began as what author Anna Malaika Tubbs defines as "American patriarchy," not a true democracy where power is vested in all people.
Opposing simple election integrity measures like voter ID is counterproductive because it fuels public suspicion. This behavior makes the party appear as though it has something to hide, undermining trust regardless of the actual intent.
A person's response to the 'dumb voter problem' is a powerful litmus test. If they believe people who vote for things they hate should be prevented from voting, it reveals a foundational lack of faith in democracy and a lean towards authoritarian solutions.
An economic study analyzing US states that adopted suffrage at different times found government spending roughly doubled within ten years of women getting the right to vote. This suggests a strong correlation between female voting patterns and the expansion of the welfare state.
Fetterman states he is "not outraged" by voter ID requirements and refuses to use rhetoric like "Jim Crow" to describe them. Citing that 83% of Americans and 71% of Democrats approve, he argues for a serious conversation, breaking sharply with his party's official stance.
Instead of reacting with indignation to bills like the SAVE Act, a more effective strategy is to go on offense. Democrats can co-opt the popular idea of voter ID by proposing a more inclusive version that allows student IDs, creates a national voting holiday, and implements automatic registration.
NYC's mayor required two forms of ID and a social security card for temporary snow-shoveling jobs while opposing voter ID laws. This bureaucratic contradiction suggests the debate isn't about accessibility, but about which system's integrity (financial vs. electoral) is prioritized for political gain.
Efforts to ban abortion pills disproportionately harm the most vulnerable. Wealthy individuals can easily travel or find alternative means to access healthcare, meaning these restrictions primarily impact lower-income women who rely on accessible, government-approved options.
States are legally required to offer voter registration alongside welfare programs like Medicaid. This creates a political incentive to maximize enrollment, which can lead to lax oversight and a reluctance to investigate or prosecute fraud.
The U.S. Census counts every person, not just citizens, to allocate House seats and electoral votes. This creates an incentive for politicians to increase their state's population with non-citizens, as their mere presence increases that state's political power in Washington D.C., regardless of their voting eligibility.
