Alderman wants to allow noncitizens in Carrboro (N.C.) to vote

[kurth]

Associated Press / May 13, 2006
Alderman wants to allow noncitizens in Carrboro to vote

CARRBORO, N.C. - A Carrboro alderman wants to make his city the first in North Carolina to let noncitizens vote.

At a meeting Friday between the Board of Aldermen and the Orange County legislative delegation, John Herrera asked the state lawmakers to take the topic to the General Assembly.

Herrera, a U.S. citizen who is a native of Costa Rica, said allowing future U.S. citizens and legal residents to vote in municipal elections will put them on the path to citizenship.

"In Carrboro, we would really like to be the pilot project in this," Herrera said...

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article_ap?id=85301

[rodeodance]

1. umm...indeed, something to think about.

Sen. Ellie Kinnaird and Reps. Joe Hackney and Verla Insko, all Democrats, said they liked the idea, but it would require amending the state constitution.

That means it would be more appropriate to raise it during a long session of the Legislature, that starts after the fall elections, not the short one that is under way now.

"This is a huge issue _ I mean huge _ if this is going to be a constitutional amendment," said Kinnaird, a former mayor of Carrboro. "So planting the seed in our minds is a good start."

[hogwyld]

2. Why not

Anyone living in a particular area should have the person they want representing their interests.

[Doctor Venmkan]

3. I hope that's sarcasm, but I doubt it...

Non-citizens should NOT have the right to vote! If you don't like it, get in line and immigrate here LEGALLY.

[LostinVA]

4. They are talking about municipal elections, not Federal

A town has a right to make their own laws about stuff like this, not you, or some dude in Raleigh or DC. Carrboro is a righteously liberal town, and has been for many years. Good for them. There are also many non-residents in the area because of UNC.

Just have to get that "Illegals" meme in don't you? Even when it has NOTHING to do with the topic at hand.

[hogwyld]

5. Since when did America become "full"

I don't remember seeing the big "No Vacancy" sign in front of the Capitol. What the hell are you afraid of?? Xenophobic shills like yourself have no concept of our heritage as a melting pot. BTW, it am a citizen, so your cheap shot to tell me to wait in line was uncalled for. I was merely saying that those people that are affected by their MUNICIPAL policies should have a say in how their communities are run. Next thing you know, you will be throwing kids out of school, (could you imagine the teen crime rate?) or letting non citizens sit and die at the emergency room entrance. What happened to DU? This used to be the last bastion of liberal thought.

[Doctor Venmkan]

6. First and foremost, I wasn't attacking *you* personally - no offense meant

As for your 'return fire,' watch who you're calling a Xenophobe...ESPECIALLY given the example about ER entrances - which is more ironic than you could have known. You can't even begin to know me, but here's two things:

1. I don't oppose immigration - only *illegal* immigration!
2. I have a job where I serve the public in a healthcare role, a job which I do very well and very professionally. Damn right I have strong opinions, but it doesn't get in the way of my work.

Remember the old saying that to assume makes an ass out of you and me! ;)

I've come to see in the past few weeks that the reaction of people that want to ignore the fact that we have borders, and a legal process to immigrate here, (and hell, looks like people don't even see what the point is of being an American citizen anymore!) is to scream "RACIST" as loud as you can at anyone that doesn't share your view.

[Zookeeper]

10. You are so right, Doc...

I seldom even bother to post on the immigration threads anymore due to the passion, naivete, arrogance, hostility and sometimes downright stupidity of the pro-ILLEGAL immigrant advocates. I happen to know the backgrounds of some of the DUers they have attacked and made nasty assumptions about, and it has not endeared me to this small, but vocal, group.

They scream "RACIST" because they really have no facts or logic to back up their arguments. And because they think their argument is the one and only Liberal argument. I've also observed an astounding amount of bullying on the part of this group, even to the point of posting flame-bait threads just so they can attack anyone who disagrees with them. The assumption (ASS-umptions) they make about fellow DUers is painful to read. They really do seem to post in bad faith.

A number of DUers have posted about their personal experiences with the subject of illegal immigration, but it never counts compared to some poster's ideology.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Is there a single country in the world...

which allows noncitizens to select people to represent those who are?

It's a stupid freakin' idea.
++++++++++++++++++++++

edited to add:

"Citizenship is membership in a political community (originally a city but now usually a state) and carries with it rights to political participation; a person having such membership is a citizen." is the first sentence in the Citizenship wiki.

[kestrel91316]

9. Next step: Fighting to allow noncitizens, and even nonresidents of

the US to hold public office in the US.

Mark my words - you'll see it soon.

[Marie26]

8. That'll never happen. nt