This is Viewpoints for Sunday, April 24, 2016

Privilege or right?

In his Sunday column, Larry Walker said that "voting was a privilege," a statement I believe to be factually incorrect. In practice it has been rendered so by various state legislatures which continue to pass voting requirements aimed at preserving its privileged nature by restricting access to the franchise for those deemed less worthy or less capable of voting.

While the right to vote is enshrined in the Constitution (Article VI, no religious test to qualify for government office) and further expanded and protected via the 15th Amendment (to former slaves), the 19th (women), the 24th (no poll taxes) and the 26th (lowering voting age to 18 for all), the fact remains that states run elections and have employed all sorts of measures throughout our history to curtail and limit this essential right.

Although voting is not mandatory in the U.S. and it's exercise can be legally limited (i.e. found guilty of a felony), it still remains a right that is basic to a functioning representative democracy which this country is. If one doesn't agree, I invite them to check out the authoritarian and unstable versions that exist in many other countries. We have a functioning, mostly uncorrupted government, at all levels of our democracy.

The question I would pose to Walker, who seems to believe, like many of his fellow conservatives, that there is reason to be really worried about our country's future. What specifically gives him pause? And if voting is a privilege, is it the lack of its exercise the reason that he is worried about our future? Or is its exercise not privileged enough? Or could it simply be a commonly held point of view by conservatives when they don't control all the levers of power, including the presidency?

From where I sit as one who's been around at least as long as Walker, I see problems which are solvable when we have two political parties willing to work together to solve them. There's the rub, as the unwillingness to work together, certainly at the federal level, largely resides on one side of the political divide. And that side has apparently morphed into a parody of itself.

I never knew you

Should a person be a Christian or a follower of Christ? A Christian is someone who has been saved from their sins through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and reconciled to God. Once a person is saved they become a follower of Christ. You can't be a Christian and not be a follower of Christ, but you can attempt to follow Christ without being a Christian, but beware as Jesus has words of warning for those who try to do so; "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Innocent?

Yes, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Guilty of what? Unauthorized disclosure of lower level classified information, known as confidential, could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security. Secret information: Serious damage to national security, and top secret information — Exceptionally grave damage to national security.

• 18 U.S. Code § 798 — Disclosure of classified information: Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person ... Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

Strike 1: Knowingly using non-secure methods to transmit classified information.

Strike 2: Knowingly lying and saying communication of classified information was never transmitted on her private email.

Strike 3: A U.S Congressional investigation proved communication and transmission.

It is somewhat evident that the United States Justice Department does not know how to proceed with such a high-ranking dignitary and presidential candidate. Or should I say, someone who thinks the laws do not apply to her.

Therefore, I’d like to ask Frank Gadbois a few questions. Does he sincerely believe she is fit to be the top executive for the United States? Is he a socialist? Third: Was the United States Constitution wasted effort on behalf of our forefathers?

If he answered “no” to all questions he must be a conservative voting American. Thanks for that Republican vote. However, if he answered “yes” to any of the questions, then it is my personal opinion that he is in the wrong country.

This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 5:07 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, April 24, 2016."