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The unfortunate economic, ethnic, and racial truths of our times threaten to supersede The "inalienable rights" of our Declaration of Independence, as well as the Bill of Rights.
As an election judge, I experienced people's confusion over ballot initiatives and referendums.
Why is it that legislators continue to phrase such things in nearly indecipherable legalese?
Beyond this impediment, one has to deal with the tiny print. Many elderly voters, like my ninety year old mother, as well as myself, also needed to get out a magnifying glass merely to scrutinize read the items.
Harry Truman was probably the best President ever on the subject of "plain talk,' although Reagan tried unsuccessfully to usurp Harry's reputation of plain spoken demeanor.
In all too many cases, however - especially those involving rights for gays - the wording led the voter through a convolution of complex-compound sentences that were enough to strangle a grammarian in circuitous language, and bring even lawyers to their knees!
A few elections back, here in Colorado, many people were approached by this kind of nonsensical bull feces in the usage of the phrase "Special Rights" for gay - when those rights were, in fact, guaranteed by our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
There's nothing "special" or unique about every American's rights in achieving the goals of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!" In the workplace, as in schools, the marketplace and hospitals, no American of any age, financial circumstance, race, or creed should be in any way discriminated against in such vital matters.
Such a pursuit of one's happy life in the American dream must, in and of itself, apply to all matters: fiscal, health, sexual, racial, ethnic,with complete and unfailing legal equality, and "equal protection under the law."
But a confused voter, I came to realize early on - and it was reinforced by my observations at the polls as an election judge with the ensuing results - almost without fail, becomes a "NO" voter.
When in doubt, it seems, our citizens simply shrug their shoulders and use their ballot as a means of preserving the status quo, whether that circumstance be ethically sound, fiscally wise, or not.
In short: too complicated? Too bad!
At some point, legislation must eventually be introduced which will specify the simplification of ballot issues, and even, I believe, include a flat statement to the effect that "yes means you believe that..." as well as "no means the converse, that..." with utter simplicity!
The far right, ultra-conservative, and fundamentalist Christian portions of our society wrestle constantly with those of us who follow, as is their right, a different drum, applying a choke hold that has gradually become a death grip!
What happens in the bedroom, how people raise their children,and sexual proclivity are sacred and personal matter. Let's get the government's nose out of our intimate and most sacred affairs! I don't want it in my bed between the sheets, or in my briefs!
Each night as my mother and I watch Jeopardy, I'm stunned when the young contestants who know everything there is to know about sports, science, and who's who in entertainment, flounder at times on historical facts and the arts and literature!
