Time to move on.

Well Well,
The deadline has past and the Civil Rights Initiative was not submitted. I, like every petitioner worked hard on this, but we would not be voting on this initiative this year. It seems like the blockers are going to have their way this time. Blockers are supporters of preferential treatment who tried to keep people from signing the petition. Some sign the petition in spite of the blocking. While the concept of blocking is free speech, the some of the blockers tactics were not.
On Earth day, I started petitioning after I got off work. I collected 15 signatures before I approached a couple to asked them to sign my petition. Blockers form the Young Voter League past out there propaganda to them. The couple signed the petition in spite of the propaganda. So the blockers became more aggressive. The blockers started to yell over me when I asked another person to sign my petition. Then it was time for me to go to church. When I started on my way to church, the blockers followed me. I told them not to follow me. They would not listen. Since I was on my bike and they was on foot, I rode off.
I don’t have to ask why the blockers don't want it on the ballet; they know that they would loose. So now I have to mover on other activism.

Race and Gender Quotas is not just a U.S. Problem

Hello, Hello,
my last blog was in response to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about me petitioning to get an initiative on the ballot that will ban preferential treatment based on race and gender in public employment, education, and contracting. This has been a problem in the past. Now I have news for you, it is not just a problem in the United States.
According to a recent British News, the Telegraph, British has banned the practice; However, there a push to repeal the ban. Similar to American proponents of these practices, British proponents argue that these practices are need to to help the disadvantaged. British opponents argue that granting preferential treatment is unfair and insulting to the disadvantage.
Ann Widdecombe, the Conservative MP and leading campaigner against all-women shortlists in Parliament, said: "In addition to being superfluous, this law would be detrimental because it suggests that women and members of ethnic minorities need special treatment."
I have a thought, if proponents of preferential treatment want to help the disadvantage, then they should help the become advantage. For example, help students of the St. Louis Public Schools learn the skills they need to go to college and get a job. The school district is in need for qualified tutors and teachers.
As for Britain, granting preferential treatment people based on race and sex could hurt their growing emigration population. Last year, Telegraph reporter Phillip Johnston reported that Britain is emigrants are moving in was Britains are moving out. Should these same proponents who want preferential treatment based on race and sex be concerned about putting the emigrants at a disadvantage?

I'm for Affirmative Action, But against Quotas

Hi my friends,

let me take the time to clear something up in regard to the petition drive that I'm participating. As reported yesterday by the

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, I was participating in a petition drive yesterday; however, the petition would not ban all Affirmative Action Programs, just the one that discriminate and grant preferential treatment. In the begininng of the petition, it reads, "The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education,, or public contracting." Again, "not discriminate" or "grant preferential treatment to". The petition does not ban Affirmative Action without preferential treatment. Affirmative Action is not just quotas, it's reaching out to women and minorities. For example, if a public contractor want a diverse roster, I don't see anything wrong with the contractor my recruit at the Missouri Black Expo to recruit minorities. I'm opposed to a fixed quotas to hire a certain about of minorities. Now, my opponent is passing out flyers urging you not to sign my petition. I urge you, the educated voter, to take a look at the petition for yourself.

Visit:

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petition/2008-009.asp

If you wish you may visist the Missouri Civil Right Initiative by clicking on by the link ubove.

Damien

My voter ID proposal.

Last year the Missouri Legislator passed a voter ID law. Unfortunately the law was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Missouri Weinschenk v. Missouri. I'm writing this blog to explain the difference between my proposal and the legislators'. The following is my proposal:

1. All Missouri voter are required to show a picture ID. A picture ID includes a state ID, a school ID, a work ID, or a U. S. passport. The idea is to put the face with the name. 
2. If the voter fails to show up with a picture ID, the vote could vote by affidavit. To vote by affidavit, a voter could use, a voter ID card or mail sent by the local election board, a utility bill or a financial statement, library card, or any information from school with the voter's name and address on it. Before the voter votes, the voter would be given a carbon-copy of the affidavit to take to the local board of election to get a free ID. This carbon-copy of the affidavit is all the voter would need to get a free ID. As long as the voter is registered, there is no need for a birth certificate. This would only apply to registered voters.
3. Require identification to register to vote. I remember when this law passed, I was asking, "should we make sure the voter is eligible before showing up at the polls?" When I registered to vote at my local library when I turned 18, I had to show my library card, my insurance card, and raise my right hand and take an oath. Soliciting registration on the street should be banned. While there are a lot of well meaning people doing it, there are a lot of uninformed people doing it  as well. In 2004, American Coming Together turned in thousand of fraudulent voter registration cards. This happened because they were paying people to register and the people they employed needed money. Since the commission was per voter, some were willing to open a phone book and put a name down. 
4. Another way I think we should allow registration is through checking a box. Just like one could check a box when you apply for your driver license, Missourians should be allowed to check a box on a high school graduation or GED application, or any documents you sign relation to College, apartment and housing, healthcare, or any dealing with the state agencies. For example, you apply for an apartment, you check that box so you new landlord will turn in you information to the local board of election. This provision would allow a high school student to check a box on the graduation application to register to vote. 

The legislation the Missouri legislators passed did not have provision 3 nor 4. Another differences are the solution if a voter does not have an ID. The legislation allowed people to vote provisionally. I believed voters should vote by affidavit to allow the vote to count on Election Day, not 2 weeks later. I believe if the Missouri Assembly pass my proposal, it would be upheld on appeal.  

Win for Putin, Loss for Chavez

To day, Vladimir Putin's Party the United Russia won a victory in the parliamentary election (AP Barry). As I printed earlier, Putin is term limited. While he can run for two consecutive terms, he can be prime minister until he can run for president again. This election makes Putin as prime minister possible. 

In other news, Venezuelan voters voted down a referendum to do away with term limits (AP James). Chavez is term limited as well and had the referendum pass, he could remain president for life. Hopefully civil liberties and the freedom of the press can return when Chavez leaves.