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Honest question: why would someone of a certain race be less likely to own ID?

I’m not being provocative, I don’t know the answer and the media says it’s a problem but not why.

I need ID to vote, by alcohol, get in to night clubs, collect secure post and so on. I just flash my licence and move on. Why is it not so easy for others?

I have asked here before, lots of people liked my comment but nobody replied.
windinhishair · 61-69, M Best Comment
Some states require voter ID, but it can be difficult to obtain for certain groups, such as the poor or elderly. Those groups are less likely to have a drivers license or other ID. And those states deliberately make it difficult to obtain one by cutting locations and hours, and putting other roadblocks in the way. Those groups, particularly the poor, are disproportionately minorities, though they include whites as well.

My brother recently needed to renew his drivers license in Texas. He has lived there since 1971 and has driven and voted without a problem his entire adult life. But Texas is slowly losing Republican voters, so they have been implementing voter suppression efforts. When he went to renew his license, he found out that he needed to bring his birth certificate. Which he did, but even that wasn't enough as they would only take one that was certified by seal. His original birth certificate doesn't contain a seal because they didn't seal them in the 1950s. So now he has to apply for a sealed copy on his birth certificate from another state, pay $180 for it, wait a month, and then go back again and see if there are any other roadblocks to getting his ID that will allow him to drive and vote.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
@boudinMan Yes, it does. The current Texas attempted legislation speaks to federal elections,too. When federal law is controlling, States generally fall in line (example Americans with Disabilities and Amendments Act).

In addition, any attempt to institute discriminatory actions (racial, disability, income challenged) can and should be taken to federal courts. Any entities which receives federal funding are mandated to comply with federal laws. States do.

When a State ties one State agency (drivers' licenses) to a federal program (voting) is not going to prevail.
boudinMan · 61-69, M
@FlowersNButterflies i'm talking about state ID's. you're talking about election laws.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
When you vote in your State for president, VP, Congress, you are using State facilities, resources and personnel. When you are driving on a federal highways in your State, different laws apply. Same issue applies with many other agencies in States which exist to serve federal needs like federal courts in your State.

So the idea of Texas seceding from the union are childlike and foolish, not that it is your argument, just that a lot of people see "socialism" but not "federalism" instead.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalism @boudinMan

deadgerbil · 22-25
As another comment stated, it makes voting for certain groups, like poor people, difficult. This transcends racial boundaries.

However, due to the US's pretty racist history, certain groups are disproportionately poor, so that's how race ties into this.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
Snopes is waaaay better than your opinion. They are public. They are impartial. They explain their work on each issue with links and more. Sad that we need fact-checkers in society. @Thorstormbringer
No one needs such things as so called “fact checkers!” They are nothing more than censors, period! What is needed is critical thinking and open inquiry! Without censorship ! Funny how fact checkers always side with the Left? Hmmm. What an incredible coincidence! @FlowersNButterflies
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
@Thorstormbringer Or: You are simply wrong. Did Snopes hurt your feelings? You seem quite easily rattled. Perhaps the issue is in you, not out there.
My understanding is that it is the cost, often.

This has been made worse by the "fee increase" trend. As states try to increase revenue, one way of claiming you did not raise *taxes* is to raise *fees* (so that, while the taxes claim is true with respect to this, the cost of living in a state is higher). The fee thing has been a go-to by (esp.) Republican governors/legislatures (as here in Michigan under Gov. Snyder, the previous gov. & a Republican).

Because being non-white increases your chances of being in poverty, driving with an invalid DL is cheaper than driving with one. [And if your state has gone to the "portrait mode" DL for UNDERAGE drivers and "landscape mode" for others, showing your license is the landscape type is probably sufficient.]

And if you WERE to let your DL lapse, there is often a greater fee for reinstating it (late fees). So it can be a vicious cycle.
Johnson212 · 61-69, M
@SomeMichGuy I don't know anyone that does not have a drivers license or id card, not a single person. This is all bs something over nothing.
@Johnson212 Are you white & at least middle class?
Johnson212 · 61-69, M
@SomeMichGuy If voting is so unimportant to you that you will not at least go get a free state ID one time, then I don't think I want you voting in the first place picking my representatives in government.
MrsKatherineArch · 41-45, F
Honestly, I think the insinuation that POC are incapable of having ID is at the very least insulting, and at the very worst racist.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
Nobody affirms that. There are seniors too old to have birth certificates, and people with incomplete adoptions, records destroyed in earthquakes and fires, kidnappings. There are people whose wallets and persons were stolen and can't afford to replace them, like welfare moms. There must be contingencies. Simple human kindness. @MrsKatherineArch
Pretzel · 61-69, M
the argument for it doesn't hold water.
now I COULD see if they said OLD people - people that can't drive and are confined to nursing homes.

oh and you left out needing an ID to get a job or apply for benefits too.

without ID you don't exist.
boudinMan · 61-69, M
you need a state id to do all sorts of things from purchasing medicine, buying alcohol and cigarettes, driving a car, opening a bank account, getting food stamps, etc. the idea that a certain group of people are unable to get a state ID is insulting and yes, racist.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
@boudinMan Nope. https://www.usa.gov/voter-id
boudinMan · 61-69, M
@FlowersNButterflies all that link did is prove what i've been saying.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
No, it did not. Read it. If you don't meet a State's requirement, there are options. Read them. Not gonna chew your food for you.



@boudinMan
Pfuzylogic · M
A question for the brits only?
@Pfuzylogic I love how your replies always peppered with little jabs.
Pfuzylogic · M
@SirenCalledLuce
I like that metaphor.
Somethings are obvious to me but you have to experience the racism in the US.
Weren’t we friends one time recently? 🧐
Jeffrey53 · 51-55, M
@SirenCalledLuce yes you do need an ID to buy a gun unless you buy them off the street
RedBaron · M
You also need it to BUY alcohol, BY the way!
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
There are rural people, even now, born at home, no doctor's certificate of birth. They never get in the system. Rural folk are far less likely to have internet, much less computers or computer training. No social security number. No legal entry into society.

This is one reason Biden is working on getting rural internet for all.
GERRI · 51-55, F
There is absolutely no challenge to getting a government ID in the States--- not in Texas, Not in West Virginia, Not in New York. Now, if you have a felony warrant for your arrest, now that I could see as an obstacle for any going to apply for an ID. I've had a government-issued ID since high school.
Subsumedpat · 36-40, M
It is all about statistics, republicans have noticed that if you have a few more requirements more democrats will stay home. Democrats have noticed the same thing so they play the race card because it gets more attention.
windinhishair · 61-69, M
@Subsumedpat Democrats play the race card because it disproportionately impacts racial minorities.
Johnson212 · 61-69, M
@windinhishair They want to stir up trouble and they know that is one pot they can stir and get some fireworks out of.
You’d think that suggesting they are incapable of sorting an ID out would be considered racist.. or insulting at the very least..

Nope showing ID is racist.. who would have thunk ey?

Lolz 😁
It is disinformation, period. There is no reason and it simply isn’t true. It is all a transparent ploy to rig elections and promote one party over another...
Less likely to need id in their environment? Drivers license, school id, healthcare card etc. Would've been my suspicion
Exactly! They wouldn’t be! To suggest otherwise is covertly racist..,
TurtlePink · 22-25, F
Who said that?

 
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