Posted on 10/24/2010 4:29:31 PM PDT by therightliveswithus
PORTLAND, Maine -- Like his neighbors, Claude Rwaganje pays taxes on his income and taxes on his cars. His children have gone to Portland's public schools. He's interested in the workings of Maine's largest city, which he has called home for 13 years.
There's one vital difference, though: Rwaganje isn't a U.S. citizen and isn't allowed to vote on those taxes or on school issues. That may soon change.
Portland residents will vote Nov. 2 on a proposal to give legal residents who are not U.S. citizens the right to vote in local elections, joining places like San Francisco and Chicago that have already loosened the rules or are considering it.
Noncitizens hold down jobs, pay taxes, own businesses, volunteer in the community and serve in the military, and it's only fair they be allowed to vote, Rwaganje said.
"We have immigrants who are playing key roles in different issues of this country, but they don't get the right to vote," said Rwaganje, 40, who moved to the U.S. because of political strife in his native Congo and runs a nonprofit that offers financial advice to immigrants.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Rwaganje has lived in Maine 13 years but hasn't started to assimilate, yet he wants the privileges of a citizen, even if limited (for now) to state elections.
There's a telling part in the article that describes a guy who doesn't speak English well, been here 18 years, has nine kids, is looking for a job and wants to vote for the Democrats. Yep, just the kind of guy we want voting on tax measures.
Foreign tourists pay sales taxes on goods and services - should they be allowed to vote as well? First the state will let the Green Carders vote, then those with visas, then Matriculas, then any body in town on election day.
If these foreigners want to vote in our elections then perhaps they should go through the legal process to become US citizens. Or, they can go back to their home countries and vote.
Sadly this is probably legal. It already goes on in Takoma Park, MD.
All things changed on 11/4/08...nothing will ever be the same.
Absolutely EFFING NOT. Ever.
This destroys the country. Foreigners no matter how nice have NO RIGHT TO VOTE. Let them emigrate and go through the process. I have no problem if they want to do that and go through the process.
Let’s just set up polling places all over the world...wherever we can reasonably expect the people to vote democrat.
Try recounting 6 billion ballots.
I think I would trade a non-citizen who pays taxes and is a permanent resident for a citizen who does not pay taxes and only uses tax money.
Ping
If we are going to change the law - then lets allow anyone paying income taxes to vote and stop those who do not taxes. No Representation without taxation!
I agree. I don’t think you should be allowed to vote if you do not pay taxes. Right now, almost 50% of the population doesn’t pay taxes. Why should they be allowed to vote themselves more entitlements. This is all about income redistribution.
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