Good quote.

ok, just curious. why do you think prisoners should maintain this right?

i think the reason we don't let them vote is that they are in a situation where others exert control over them. hypothetically a warden could cause all of his prisoners to vote for x candidate in exchange for some privilege. that could totally skew the results.

edit: added 2nd paragraph.

They should be able to vote because no person is in ANY position to withdraw voting rights from another citizen.

A democracy is based on the voice of the people, and as soon as somebody has the ability to snuff that voice, regardless of whose voice it is, democracy has failed.

These people are in jail, they're not dead. As long as someone is alive, they have rights as a human being.

Let's see....the prisoners make their "living" breaking laws...so let's give them the right to elect the people who both make the laws and enforce them?

Riiiiiiiiiight....

Regardless of how "uncomfortable" it makes your regular Joe.

don't you think it would be pretty easy for a guard to induce people under his control to vote the way he likes?

and besides, they are in prison for a reason. there are consequences to actions.

A democracy should be based on the voice of the people who uphold that society, not the ones who prey on it.

These people are in jail. While they are in jail, they should not have the right to affect the society in any way. The reason they're in jail is because they have affected society adversely. Therefore they should be stripped of all but the right to food, water, clothing, and shelter. When they've paid society back and are once again free, then they should regain the rights of a citizen.


Sidhe

Those consequences do not squelch the basic right of human beings, as much as some would like them to.

I don't care how much you hate prisoners, you don't get to stamp on their rights as human beings.

Sidhe, when you became batshit crazy, did you hear a snap?

What about all the people in jail in China for believing in Democracy?

What about the people we put in jail for minor drug offences? Smoke a joint and you're out of the loop? Or murderers who are WRONGLY convicted and thrown in jail?

Being in a building you can't get out of does not make a person a piece of shit on your boot, Sidhe.

Get off your horse.

Nowhere have I said that I "hated" prisoners. However, prison is supposed to be punishment. While they are there, they should be afforded the aforementioned basic rights. The point of being in prison is to remove the person from society. If that's so, then they should be removed completely, until they've served their sentence. They shouldn't have the rights bestowed upon the free members of society until they are once again free members of society.

i don't hate prisoners. at the current time i have a cousin and an uncle in prison for different reasons. they chose to break the law. they have lost their rights in many areas.
since the idea of a guard or warden exerting undue influence on prisoner's votes, how about this one:

politician in area with a large number of prisoners runs for office with one of his ideas being that he will free prisoners that fall within categories x,y, and z. prisoners would undoubtedly vote for this person. they should not have the option to influence this election because that is basic bribery. "you get me into office, i'll get you out of jail"
bad idea.

i think it was more of a mild burbling. rofl.......funny, carb, funny

this is from the official parker bros monopoly rules. it is not a large leap from buying and selling property to voting. We sold a car to a guy in jail once. his wife had power of attorney. they paid cash. ;)

You're acting as if you assume that everyone in jail is innocent. Not everyone is.

Like I said before, prison is supposed to be a place people don't want to go to....a punishment. But they have more privileges than law-abiding citizens do:

free medical care
free law library and representation
three meals a day, a place to sleep, clothes to wear
a gym
cable tv

Hell, I can't afford that stuff, yet they get it?
We treat our prisoners better than we treat our homeless. That's bullshit.

Prison is a punishment, period. They get enough perks as it is, especially federal prisoners. They shouldn't have the privilege of voting.

Then let their wives vote.:p