A Facebook friend reposted this. I would normally begin my commentary by trying to introduce this guy, but you can get the complete gist of him and his outlook on the world from this screencap alone. The fact that he’s Indian and not some white guy is probably the most surprising thing about him.
He says that he would make it so that people under 25 who don’t serve in the military or as first responders would have to take a “civics test” to be eligible to vote. Allegedly, younger people lack “civic experience” and therefore need to prove their dedication to society by, presumably, either memorizing biased facts that they’ll forget two hours after taking the test. Turns out that having to live through the America that other people have shaped through their votes and experiencing its ups and downs firsthand just ain’t cutting it. Even if your county banned books from the library of the high school you just graduated from or decided that your little sister can’t wear jeans to class anymore because it’s too “androgynous.” (Considering the extent of some legislation being passed today, I wish I was joking when I said that isn’t an unreasonable proposal for legislation in today’s world.)
That five year old kid down the street with a lemonade stand providing refreshments for everyone stopping by for his mom’s yard sale? Better make him pack up not just because he doesn’t have a permit, but also because you can’t just get off that easy trying to call that “civil service”, kid. Best learn the facts of life early.
With the 26th amendment to the Constitution existing, the general reaction from the professionals seems to be one of shock and disapproval, including, according to him, his staff, which is quite amusing. The peanut gallery does show some approval in the same way that some people who worked their asses off to pay off their student loans refuse to see a world where people don’t have to go through the hard work and pain that they did. America will do that to you, I guess.
If this guy really wanted to ensure that everyone who votes is on an “equal playing field”, maybe he’d call for public school systems to educate young people on how their country works and promote media literacy and transparency. But his focus is obviously not on inclusion. It is based on a systematic form of suppression against the potential that young people hold to make great societal change.
Vivek Ramaswamy would want me to say that he can’t say make such a statement, because he wrote a book called Woke, Inc., man. Critique means straight censorship to him, probably. But it’s just sad that we’re at a point in time where someone can make such a statement. It’s sad that someone can suggest that we undermine and oppress an already vulnerable group of people who did not choose their position whatsoever. It’s sad that someone can use such an egregious statement to his advantage for political notoriety points. It’s sad that such a statement can garner support from people who likely no nothing more than the selfish and unsympathetic propaganda that such a statement only amplifies.
Sacrifice your body for the government’s twisted needs, or take a stupid test. That’s what you’re worth to us. That’s the message I’m getting from this, as a young person.
Shame on a country whose political discourse has become so warped and desensitized to favor fascist thugs while the people who want an actual equal playing field are shunned and discredited as “radicals”. Nothing but shame.
