Here is an idea for a new law: Lets establish a procedure that will exclude hundreds of thousands of eligible voters from our democracy.
If those citizens want to vote, lets make them take time off work several months before an election, travel to distant offices, wait in long lines and pay a poll tax. Many wont be able to afford the tax, and many others will be required to go through this process more than once.
More than 40 years ago, Americans abolished the poll tax in the 24th Amendment, taking a historic stand against the shameful exclusion of poor people from the polls and use of poll taxes to enforce the Jim Crow segregation laws. As the Supreme Court explained a few years later, “the right to vote is too precious, too fundamental to be ... burdened or conditioned” on a voter’s affluence or payment of a fee.
New York is about to purchase new voting machines. Unfortunately, the New York State Board of Elections has taken the position that the state may only choose from among the most expensive, error-prone and inaccessible machines available.
Wal-Mart epitomizes crisis of work By Annette Bernhardt
Across the country this week, communities are holding town hall meetings and other public events to talk about what Wal-Mart means for America. It’s a watershed moment that signals a distinct turn in the debates about the company.
U.S. Must Not Repeal a Basic Right By Jonathan Hafetz
With scant debate, the Senate voted on Thursday to step into ongoing cases and short-circuit court review of the detentions at Guantnamo. Buried in the fine-print of a giant defense authorization bill, the measure would violate basic constitutional principles and tarnish our image as a country founded on the rule of law.
A lawyer looks at French heretics, Moscow show trials, Nuremberg prosecutions, and more. Aziz Huq talks to Sadakat Kadri, author of "The Trial: A History, from Socrates to O.J. Simpson."
Something deeply un-American has just happened in New York. After a long and careful process in which citizens helped select four cultural institutions to be present at the World Trade Center memorial site, Gov. George Pataki has unilaterally silenced free speech at ground zero.
Tram Nguygen's new book about post-9-11 immigration enforcement makes an important contribution to the debate about the balance of rights and security. She examines counterterrorism strategies from a perspective often discounted in the formulation of national policy: that of those who most often find themselves at the wrong end of a gun barrel.
Does the giant size of media corporations lead to more raunchy shows on radio and television? A study released last week reported a strong correlation between increasingly consolidated media ownership and increased “indecency” findings by the Federal Communications Commission. In fact, the study found that the FCC levied 90% of all indecency fines against three of the four biggest companies in the business - Clear Channel, Viacom, and Entercom.
Voter ID Law Would Do More Harm Than Good
Tuscaloosa News
November 27, 2005
Here is an idea for a new law: Lets establish a procedure that will exclude hundreds of thousands of eligible voters from our democracy.
If those citizens want to vote, lets make them take time off work several months before an election, travel to distant offices, wait in long lines and pay a poll tax. Many wont be able to afford the tax, and many others will be required to go through this process more than once.
Disguised Poll Tax Still Unfair
Charlotte Observer
November 25, 2005
More than 40 years ago, Americans abolished the poll tax in the 24th Amendment, taking a historic stand against the shameful exclusion of poor people from the polls and use of poll taxes to enforce the Jim Crow segregation laws. As the Supreme Court explained a few years later, “the right to vote is too precious, too fundamental to be ... burdened or conditioned” on a voter’s affluence or payment of a fee.
Getting Out the Vote Just Got Tougher
New York Daily News
Monday, November 21, 2005
By Lawrence Norden and Jeremy Creelan
New York is about to purchase new voting machines. Unfortunately, the New York State Board of Elections has taken the position that the state may only choose from among the most expensive, error-prone and inaccessible machines available.
Wal-Mart Epitomizes Crisis of Work
Times Union
Friday, November 18, 2005
Wal-Mart epitomizes crisis of work
By Annette Bernhardt
Across the country this week, communities are holding town hall meetings and other public events to talk about what Wal-Mart means for America. It’s a watershed moment that signals a distinct turn in the debates about the company.
U.S. Must Not Repeal a Basic Right
The Star-Ledger
Monday, November 14, 2005
U.S. Must Not Repeal a Basic Right
By Jonathan Hafetz
With scant debate, the Senate voted on Thursday to step into ongoing cases and short-circuit court review of the detentions at Guantnamo. Buried in the fine-print of a giant defense authorization bill, the measure would violate basic constitutional principles and tarnish our image as a country founded on the rule of law.
Beyond Kafka
A lawyer looks at French heretics, Moscow show trials, Nuremberg prosecutions, and more. Aziz Huq talks to Sadakat Kadri, author of "The Trial: A History, from Socrates to O.J. Simpson."
Connecticut Must Shed Its Legacy of Corruption
The Brennan Center urges Connecticut to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform, including a full public financing system.
Free Speech an Important Cornerstone
Albany Times Union
Published 10/4/2005
Free Speech an Important Cornerstone
By Neema Trivedi & Marjorie Heins
Something deeply un-American has just happened in New York. After a long and careful process in which citizens helped select four cultural institutions to be present at the World Trade Center memorial site, Gov. George Pataki has unilaterally silenced free speech at ground zero.
The Other Side of the Crackdown
Tram Nguygen's new book about post-9-11 immigration enforcement makes an important contribution to the debate about the balance of rights and security. She examines counterterrorism strategies from a perspective often discounted in the formulation of national policy: that of those who most often find themselves at the wrong end of a gun barrel.
A New Use for "Indecency"?
September 15, 2005
A NEW USE FOR “INDECENCY”?
by Marjorie Heins
Does the giant size of media corporations lead to more raunchy shows on radio and television? A study released last week reported a strong correlation between increasingly consolidated media ownership and increased “indecency” findings by the Federal Communications Commission. In fact, the study found that the FCC levied 90% of all indecency fines against three of the four biggest companies in the business - Clear Channel, Viacom, and Entercom.
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