rahtruelies
VIP Member
- Mar 24, 2015
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Discussion of voter qualification in the early days of the American Republic-
http://jer.pennpress.org/media/26167/sampleArt22.pdf
....................................................................the right to vote had always
been extraordinarily widespread—at least among adult white males—
even before the country gained its independence. During the colonial
period, the right to vote for the lower house of colonial legislatures had
been defined in traditional British terms: Only people who had freehold
landed property sufficient to ensure that they were personally indepen-
dent and had a vested interest in the welfare of their communities could
vote. That qualification normally applied to men who were heads of
households, since women were almost by definition dependent, but the
right could extend to widows who had become responsible for the family
property. Some colonies excluded propertied people whose civic com-
mitment they suspected—recent arrivals, members of minority religious
sects, and racial groups deemed unacceptable. But those most generally
excluded were laborers, tenant farmers, unskilled workers, and inden-
tured servants, all of whom were considered to lack a ‘‘stake in society,’’
a permanent interest in the community, and the wherewithal to withstand
corruption"..........................................
Given the changes of 200 years in technology and the economy how might this standard be applied today to produce an electorate with a vested interest in the welfare of their communities?
My thoughts regarding standards for the Franchise-
1) Must be a Head of Household
2) Must be age 30 minimum
3) Minimum Household income of $30K/yr exclusive of any Government Salary, Pension or other payment.
4) Minimum Household Net Financial Assets of $100K or a House & Land without Mortgage and at least $5K in Net Financial Assets.
5) House Holder never convicted of a Felony Crime.
6) House Holder not a practicing attorney in the past 15 years
7) Household has not received Public Assistance in the past 5 years.
8) Must be a Citizen by Birth or have been Naturalised for at least 10 years.
http://jer.pennpress.org/media/26167/sampleArt22.pdf
....................................................................the right to vote had always
been extraordinarily widespread—at least among adult white males—
even before the country gained its independence. During the colonial
period, the right to vote for the lower house of colonial legislatures had
been defined in traditional British terms: Only people who had freehold
landed property sufficient to ensure that they were personally indepen-
dent and had a vested interest in the welfare of their communities could
vote. That qualification normally applied to men who were heads of
households, since women were almost by definition dependent, but the
right could extend to widows who had become responsible for the family
property. Some colonies excluded propertied people whose civic com-
mitment they suspected—recent arrivals, members of minority religious
sects, and racial groups deemed unacceptable. But those most generally
excluded were laborers, tenant farmers, unskilled workers, and inden-
tured servants, all of whom were considered to lack a ‘‘stake in society,’’
a permanent interest in the community, and the wherewithal to withstand
corruption"..........................................
Given the changes of 200 years in technology and the economy how might this standard be applied today to produce an electorate with a vested interest in the welfare of their communities?
My thoughts regarding standards for the Franchise-
1) Must be a Head of Household
2) Must be age 30 minimum
3) Minimum Household income of $30K/yr exclusive of any Government Salary, Pension or other payment.
4) Minimum Household Net Financial Assets of $100K or a House & Land without Mortgage and at least $5K in Net Financial Assets.
5) House Holder never convicted of a Felony Crime.
6) House Holder not a practicing attorney in the past 15 years
7) Household has not received Public Assistance in the past 5 years.
8) Must be a Citizen by Birth or have been Naturalised for at least 10 years.
