Bill to curtail young voters is solution in search of a problem | Opinion
Rejecting democracy
A while back, syndicated columnist and noted author David Frum wrote: “If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.” We are seeing that prediction play out all across the country. As the MAGA Cult philosophy becomes less and less palatable to the majority of Americans Republicans are resorting to the strategy of making it harder for likely Democrats to vote. They reduce polling hours, eliminate drop boxes, disallow same day registration, and outlaw the provision of drinking water to voters standing in line to vote. And now a right-wing, conspiracy-loving State Rep. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, has introduced legislation to outlaw the use of student ID’s for voting identification.
Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams believes that “his party should be careful not to gratuitously alienate young voters by taking away their ability to use college photo ID’s when there is NO evidence that they have ever been used fraudulently.
This proposed legislation is a solution in search of a problem.
Jim Porter, Danville
Quantum fallacies
The Op-Ed by Dr. Jim Roach may contain a few true statements, but I could not find a single one. Starting with his first sentence, he misrepresents everything we know about quantum physics. The study of this field has been a powerful tool for understanding the universe, but there is no evidence that it has any role in understanding human behavior. His blathering about positive and negative “thought waves” is hogwash.
Can’t the Herald-Leader require that its opinion writers have at least a smidgen of knowledge about the articles they submit?
William Oliver, Union
Op-Ed gobbledygook
Wow! Dr. Jim Roach’s recent Op-Ed about quantum physics and health is a masterpiece of gobbledygook and non sequitur! I don’t doubt his medical expertise. However, as an astronomer, I would never hire him to remedy my physics.
According to Dr. Roach, quantum physics demonstrates we live in a world of illusion. No, that only happens at Disney World.
According to Dr. Roach, quantum physics says our thoughts generate light waves. No, if they did, our heads would glow in the dark.
According to Dr. Roach, quantum physics explains a mother’s intuition about a child in trouble thousands of miles away. No, only Santa Claus has the power to assess children’s behavior at a distance.
Finally, quantum physics is not “teaching us a cure for the world’s ills and ours” as Dr. Roach suggests. Quantum physics is now a century old. So, if Dr. Roach were right, I would expect more progress by now curing world ills.
Dr. Roach’s ideas about “positive thoughts” and “Love Potion #9” may have merit in our personal lives. But his grasp of quantum physics is, to use his word, an “illusion.”
Thomas H. Troland, Lexington
Shifting funds
Our GOP legislators are busy shifting more of our tax dollars to their big money donors by amending Kentucky laws to allow our money to support for-profit schools. The citizens of this commonwealth should be aware of the damage this will do to our public schools. Public schools benefit our state, and need to be funded and protected.
There is a lack of oversight of for-profit schools and it has been reported that our tax money goes to people well-to-do enough to already be sending their children to private schools. We have too many small school systems in our small counties that could be devastated by the passage of this bill.
Back around the 80’s or so, we had a highly-rated public education system. What happened? Maybe because the party that caters to big money got the majority in Frankfort and they don’t care about the damage done to the people as long as the big money keeps rolling in for them. Citizens United anyone?
Sherry Cox, Lawrenceburg
Dog fighting
I paint pet portraits. Recently, I painted a portrait of two dogs for a couple and was horrified when learning of their death. Their beloved pets were stolen in broad daylight from their fenced-in yard and later found piled on other dead dogs in the woods. The couple took their pets to University of Kentucky for an autopsy. The autopsy found many broken bones and huge rips all over their bodies. One dog was poisoned and the other dog was shot. These dogs were victims of dog fighting and animal cruelty. Year after year, our legislators refuse to strengthen laws making dog fighting and animal cruelty felonies with substantial fines and imprisonment.
It is common knowledge that in some counties elected officials and law enforcement look the other way when illegal dog fighting is discovered.
If you have lost a pet mysteriously or stand against animal cruelty, call your legislator and leave a message at 1-800-372-7181.
Sallie Clay Lanham, Frankfort
Holocaust remembrance
On Nov. 1, 2005, the General Assembly of the United Nations established Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
This is not a Jewish holiday, nor is it supposed to be solely a reminder of the 6 million Eastern European Jews who were murdered between 1941 and 1945.
It is a mandate to speak out against all hate speech and the violence that is perpetuated against any religion, any race, any gender, any ethnic background.
If we only focus on one religion, only one past event, then we are negating and trivializing all the horrors of past genocides and all the injustices of today.
Evil people are able to get into power because a segment of a population is made to feel that their lives could be better if another segment is suppressed. Fear allows terrorists and dictators and dishonest elected officials to rule and harm others. For our own Kentucky General Assembly, to support legislation and resolutions that decry antisemitism, while passing laws that take away people’s basic rights, desecrates the meaning and intent of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
We must never forget or silence the truth that happened and is still happening, about every genocide, every mass tyranny.
Honi Marleen Goldman, Louisville
Assault weapon ban
A solid majority of the American people want a ban on assault weapons. An assault weapon was used in so many mass shootings.
The weapons are to be used only on the battlefield, not ever domestically. Cops all over our country would be pleased with an assault weapons ban.
Congress should pass legislation making the ban a permanent one, and the President ought to sign the bill. The ban should be one of the major issues in November’s presidential race.
Every candidate running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives must make known before Election Day how they would vote on the issue. Incumbent U.S. Senators up for re-election and their opponents should do likewise.
If Democrats win the presidency again, maintain control of the Senate, and win control of the House, we can be sure we’ll get an assault weapons ban soon.
Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville
Inexcusable hatred
What if everyone went through an entire day living up to their own convictions without condemning or judging or, worst of all, LABELING others? Anti-Semitism is inexcusable. Asian hate is despicable. Discrimination and harassment are unacceptable. Your sex life, fashion choice, and whom you choose to worship or not worship is solely your prerogative. If you’re against abortions don’t have one. Making abortions illegal results in illegal abortions, that’s not pro-life; that’s pro-birth. Concern for the lives of children would be to adopt the orphans, foster those in need, feed the hungry ones and house the homeless ones.
You have the right not to pray, but NOT to restrict my prayers. If you don’t like a statue or flag or portrait, then look elsewhere. A public business or government office must not discriminate, but intentional confrontation fuels disharmony. Prison costs approximately $35,000-$40,000 per year per person. College, including room and board, is about $25,000 on average in the U.S. - and that’s out of state. U.S. companies report an unprecedented shortage of workers and yet Americans are succumbing to this border crisis propaganda.
Politicians spend OUR money to kill and destroy strangers while profiting personally and weakening our economy, our environment, our existence.
Dana Gilliland, Owensboro
Compiled by Liz Carey