There are many views on being "free" or having "freedom" in America. Many have said that our "freedom of speech" has dimished over the past decade leaving us frustrated and disillusioned. It has become more evident in the past several years since "9/11" that Americans have begun to "restrict" themselves from voicing political opinions.

In the last Presidental election "voting," which is considered a part of our "freedom" was tested. After being "denied" the right to vote at my usual polling facility, I was then sent to another polling facilty. At this facility they stated, "Your not on my list.... you can't vote." I stood my ground. I refused to leave without being allowed to vote. For the first time in my life I was ASHAMED of being an American. I was quietly wisked away and told that I could "write in" my vote, and "please...quietly leave." I was outraged! I took my problem to our state Senator who wrote back saying "he would look into this," and I guess he is still "looking" into it, as I never received a response back from him (I didn't think I would).

It amazes me that we (Americans) have ALLOWED this type of situation to occur in our country. As I found out later I was one of over 3,000 individuals in my district that were "refused" the right to vote at their normal precincts (they had been changed 2-days prior to the election and the "post card" was sent out-funny - I never received it even after the election). We point the finger and say, "It's his/her fault," but it is ALL of our faults, each and everyone who calls themselves an American, for ALLOWING this to have ever happened in America.

What has happened to us? We have slowly begun to allow the erradication of our rights to occur right from under our noses.

I am writing this to hopefully "inspire" Americans to take action and not allow a repeat of this to happen in the next Presidental election. Let's not use the excuse of, "its not my problem,"...... it is OUR problem!

Hmmmm...
I'm having difficulty understanding why this is under JFK.
I'm going to move it to Political Opinions and Beliefs.

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"It's never over... BOY!"
The Tall Man, Phantasm III

Apparently Americans expect to be ignorant and free...something that's never happened in the history of the world...

A better question might be, what's wrong with the U.S. and other countries? Take the time to read the following:

http://www.buildfreedom.com/tl/tl17.shtml

Also see:

http://www.buildfreedom.com/tl/rapecon.shtml

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

I've worked at elections before. And you always have those come in who are at the wrong precinct. They didn't bother to look at their voter registration card to see where they were supposed to go vote! And yet, they want to blame others for their mistake. We also have those come in who are at the right precinct, but for whatever reason, are not on the computer list we work off of. But those are allowed to vote anyway in what is called a Provisional ballot, which goes in a separate box and are checked out later--to make sure they are actually registered, legal voters.

I suspect if you looked at your situation objectively, you'd find that the error---if there was one----was most likely yours. They don't change voting places at the last minute and they are ALWAYS listed in the newspaper in the weeks before and the day of the election.

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"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007

Yeah I agree. I remember my very first election when I was old enough to vote I for some reason wasnt on the list. I didnt get in some pissy fit, I simply asked them what would be the best way to go about getting my vote in and they had me fill out a provisional ballot. That was fine, I didnt raise a (*)(*)(*)(*) about it, and I had the faith that my vote would be counted.

By the way, if you fill out a provisional ballot, there is a number that you can call after the election to see if it got counted. So Midnight after doing what you did, you should have called to see if your vote ever got counted or not.

I wish that were the case that I just "didn't" follow instructions or misinterpret the information - that would be simple to admit too.... long story short.... independent investigation was done and found that over 3,000 voters were turned away from one district. When polled the majority of those turned away were educators, administrators, elderly, and college students. So I don't think "making a fuss" was unwarranted. I believe an apology is due to each of us (I too have worked in elections, have served abroad, and believe in the "red, white, and blue") - remember WE (our government) makes MISTAKES and its up to US to stand up and point them out when it happens.

Please be specific. In what way is your freedom of speech being restricted?

So if i live in Colorado, but California wont let me vote at their facilities, am I being denied the right to vote?

Gimme a break.

In Colorado you can cast a provisional ballot anywhere.

If you had an agenda, maybe you wouldnt want to admit it though...

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My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

I'm not doubting that mistakes happen. And if you were turned away due to no error of your own then that really does suck and im sorry to hear it. Im just saying that I dont believe that there is some great "conspiracy" or anything like that.

It is not helpful to posit the issue in terms of absolutes. Freedom and equality, for example, are ideals; but, absent a perfect world, no one can live in society and be entirely free or completely equal. For every freedom there is a corresponding obligation to others, and equality is limited to the extent that such obligations are mutual and others do not demand rights without responsibility for their exercise. In this, the promise of America is not freedom and equality, but rather liberty and equal opportunity and justice under law. Yet, such promise cannot be kept when government instituted by men favors the few in derogation of the many, or serves the special interests at the expense of the public interest, and when the rich and powerful can have more justice than the poor and oppressed.

We Americans are a nation of laws and not men. However, the law can be both used and abused by men; and so it is the duty and responsibility of every citizen to oversee those who make and enforce the laws and administer justice. Need must we be vigilant lest our democratic institutions be turned into a tyranny over us.

Ideals are in a sense motivators. Without ideals we remain stagnant without growth and change. We evolve from growth and change. I don't feel that believing in freedom and equality are perfect. There are standards that go along with freedom and equality which we (Americans) set; however each of us (poor or rich) can become involved in some way in the "ideals" of freedom and equality.

In order to change the perspective of one's belief, the individual has to be open and accepting to change. Change is difficult as is the ideals of freedom and equality. However we (Americans) can make it happen IF we sort out our own preconceived beliefs and open ourselves to change.

I do agree to a point we have become a nation of laws; however how did we (Americans) get to this point? We (Americans) have had to allow this to happen or do you believe that "aliens" have been secretly running our nation.

So where do we go from here? What do you think we as Americans should do at this point? Continue as is....... or make up our minds and believe in those ideals that were set forth over 200 years ago by our fore fathers? I will go for the ideals - at least the motivation is change - and we need change at this point.