Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

I just saw a piece on the news about a County Commissioner in California who is insisting on identification from anyone casting votes this year. And some people are up in arms about it. They found about 16,000 voters on the rolls in LA who don’t even exist. Gee. I wonder if there’s a problem

I don’t care about whether some people “feel intimidated” by being required to identify themselves or not. Voting is a privilege of citizenship, not of residence.

Neither major party is interested in pressing the issue. For many reasons, not the least of which is a fear of making the Hispanic community mad. I’m sick of it. Supporters of open polls rationalize with such witticisms as “They pay taxes, they should be able to vote.” Not if they aren’t citizens.

I don’t care what your politics are regarding illegal aliens. It is irrelevant. They have no right to vote.

This is what I mean when I say altruism should begin at home:

Supporters of the initiative have raised more than $13 million and plan to kick off an intensive television campaign Friday. Opponents have raised less than $200,000 and say they will rely on news coverage and less expensive efforts to get their message across. A statement opposing the measure, for example, was distributed in some Catholic churches recently, reflecting the position of the state’s bishops.

Proposition 71 is on the California ballot. It will fund stem cell research in California–$3 billion worth. Now call me crazy, but wouldn’t that $13 million in donations to a campaign to get this proposition passed have been better spent on research itself?

No. Because then the taxpayers wouldn’t be forced to pay for something they may not agree with.