Voter Supression Laws (Photo ID)

[gopiscrap]

I know we need to litigate in the courts and fight with our state legislators to oppose ID laws that are punitive and whose goal is to suppress the poor and minority vote. Yes let's do that...but also what we need is a coordinated liberal/progressive NATIONAL FUND DRIVE with all progressive, group, agencies and blogs taking part. Use this mony to pay for the proper ID and the transpo to get there, By the time we could get all these overturned the election might be over. Just IMHO

[golfguru]

1. Does one need ID to cash a welfare check?

I simply do not know since have been lucky to never need welfare.

[tech3149]

2. These days you don't get a "welfare check"

You get the equivalent of a cash card and the bank who issues it takes a cut off of every transaction. We can't let those poor old financial institutions suffer the problems of the rest of us.
After all, if they can't make money, why should we?

As a point of reference, I only got public assistance, that's what they called it back then, back in the 70's. Even then they made you feel like a criminal for asking for a little help. I got screwed out of UI because my "employer" had been pocketing my UI and FICA for six months after I informed him I was headed back home for another opportunity.
I can still remember trying to fight 70mph winds at sub-zero temps to get to the "welfare" office that was 25 miles away. After all, you have to prove to them you're doing something to find gainful employment.

I'm just short of retirement age now, but I'm no better off now than I was then. My profession has become a joke, my skills aren't valued by employers, and I won't work for anyone who doesn't admit that they need me to make money.

[golfguru]

4. I am so very happy you were able to get back on your own feet n/t

[davidpdx]

3. I think a lack of coordination is exactly what the Republicans have been counting on

when they passed all these crap legislation bills. Even some of us overseas are getting paranoid as to whether some rightwing nut job will come along and challenger overseas ballots so we have to file a special card every year (as recommended by Democrats Abroad) to make sure we don't get purged from the voter rolls.

[Celebrandil]

5. Could someone enlighten me?

Changing laws as a mean to suppress groups of voters doesn't sound right, of course, at least not in a supposedly democratic country. However, what I fail to understand (since I'm not American) is how you can have a safe and fair election WITHOUT a photo ID? How you to prove that you are you when you go to the ballot box?