Something to Consider

I don't think there's anybody who finds it easy to write about race, but sometimes doing the easy thing isn't an option.

In this country we have, with shameful regularity, tried to restrict the vote to whites as much as possible. Some of you might be thinking that this is a Southern thing; but while a lot of the most open and obvious examples of voter discrimination are from the Southern States, the north did their fair share to keep Blacks, Hispanics and other immigrants from voting. It would be nice to believe that those techniques are in the past.

Sadly this appears not to be the case. Bob Herbert has a editorial at the New York Times this week which reports that voter intimidation might be alive and well and funded with tax payer money.

State police officers have gone into the homes of elderly black voters in Orlando and interrogated them as part of an odd "investigation" that has frightened many voters, intimidated elderly volunteers and thrown a chill over efforts to get out the black vote in November.

The officers, from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which reports to Gov. Jeb Bush, say they are investigating allegations of voter fraud that came up during the Orlando mayoral election in March.

Officials refused to discuss details of the investigation, other than to say that absentee ballots are involved.

The trouble with this case, in my mind, isn't the investigation; it's the secrecy. We are supposed to be the Sunshine State; it's probable that a little bit of sunshine would reveal what fraud they are looking for and how interrogating elderly black women plays a role in stopping those who committed voter fraud.

I mean I'm sure that Florida's governor and it's law enforcement agencies want a high voter turnout. A little clarification of their position might reassure these voter registration organizers, so that their valuable efforts can continue.

Some of you might argue that revealing the parameters of an investigation might make it easier for the guilty parties to cover their tracks. Under normal conditions I would agree. If it is a choice, however, between ensuring the sanctity of our voting system and catching some alleged crooks, well I chose the former.