Mr. Kane, May I sell my can ?

By Donna Cole

 Milwaukee Journal columnist Eugene Kane's recent op-ed, "Groups feed hunger for information about voter IDs", discusses an effort, and a honorable one, to educate folks what identification they need to legally vote.

 I have no problem whatsoever with educating legal citizens about their right to vote. As a matter of fact, I encourage it. I want citizens to be knowledgeable about politics and to vote their personal opinion.


 However, the political left has tried to say I.D. requirements for voting are somehow racist and it denies citizens their right to vote. Here, Mr. Kane defines those without legal identification;

"Even though some people find it amazing, the truth is that in some communities, you can survive fairly well without an official ID."

"Some people don't drive, own property or have a bank account."

"In some inner city and rural areas, people can live their entire lives without an official state ID and never really suffer any negative consequences. Now, they need to get a photo ID to vote."

I reckon these folks who "survive fairly well" must not have jobs, or any intent to get a job, because I have never seen a company or business who would legally hire a person who could not legally identify who they are.



 Now, let us imagine somehow this person has a job. Just how would they cash their paycheck without an I.D. ? It's not direct deposit, because they don't have an I.D. to get a bank account.



 Given the jobs situation, perhaps this person could go to school. Only I don't think you can enroll in college without being able to prove who you are.



 I also reckon these folks do not receive any form of public assistance to "survive fairly well" because you cannot receive any public assistance without legal identification of who you are. Even if they did, this brings us back to check cashing question.



 Where would this unidentifiable person live ? They certainly would have a hard time renting a hotel room much less an apartment.



 So, how could someone without a job or public assistance "survive fairly well" ? I think being a criminal is a possible answer. This person has chosen to not be part of our society for a reason, to live a life of crime. I have very little sympathy for this person's ability to vote.



Even if this person does not "survive fairly well" by a life of crime, for whatever reason, this person has chosen to not join general society by not having any form of legal I.D..



 The Libertarian part of me says that is just fine, but voting is also part of being a member of that general society. If they do not want to be part of the general society, then I am not worried if they vote or not because they apparently are not either.



 Given all the facts presented here, let us dream up Mr. Kane's person who "survives fairly well" without a legal I.D..



 First, they must live somewhere, or they are homeless. They must either live in a relatives, or someone's, home or on the street. Neither of which should keep a legal citizen from voting.



 They must have some sort of job that pays cash, which means they pay no income taxes, which also means they will never collect a penny of Social Security when they retire, but let's leave that aside. Mr. Kane does, so we shall too.


 As we know, many homeless folks collect aluminum cans and other scrap metal items to make money, cash money. I have saved cans and sold them for years. I have taken scrap metal into recycle for money more than a few times. I do not care about the environment, I wanted the cash. There is nothing dishonorable about doing this. Nor should it disqualify a person from voting.


 But in order to sell this scrap metal in the City of Milwaukee, the buyer is required by city ordinance to get some form of I.D. from the seller. This is from Chapter 92 of the City of Milwaukee ordinance code, which covers Secondhand Dealers. From section 92-11, which covers what forms of I.D. the dealer must get from the seller. These are what is acceptable:


a-1. A Milwaukee county identification
card.
a-2. A valid Wisconsin motor vehicle
operator's license.
a-3. A state identification card.
a-4. A valid motor vehicle operator's
license, containing a picture, issued by another
state.
a-5. A military identification card.
a-6. A valid passport.
a-7. An alien registration card.
a-8. A non-picture identification
document issued by a state or the federal
government, if the dealer also obtains a clear
imprint of the seller's right index finger.
a-9. A senior citizen's identification card
containing a photograph.
b. No person pawning, pledging,
exchanging, consigning, leaving for deposit or
selling any property with any licensee shall give a
false or fictitious name, present false or altered
identification documents, give a false date of birth
or give a false address of residence or telephone
number to the licensee gathering information for
the transaction description record..

 Just as the City of Milwaukee requires a scrap metal seller for I.D. to prove they have not stolen the scrap, we on the political right want legal citizens to show I.D. so they do not steal other citizens' votes.


 All we are asking is that voting, the most sacred part of a democracy, be at least as secure as selling an aluminum can found on the side of the street. Is that too much to ask Mr. Kane ?


 I already know the answer, it is the same phony one you have given before. Mr. Kane, you can take your legal I.D. to the pages of the Journal to call me a racist, I guess that is how you make your living.


 But with all due respect, that will be as disingenuous as your claims of voter suppression.