Silly Season

I have no desire to politic on this blog, and this may well be my only post reguarding the matter. But it was too much to let it go by. I've never seen anything like this.


I realize I have some readers that do not reside in the US. Just to let you know, we have another name for our Presidential Election cycle, especially as it nears November. It's called the Silly Season. I'm sure I don't have to explain that to anyone. I went to the swap meet/flea market today and I saw this. Yes, the sign says "Ex-Felons Can Vote"

I honestly did not know there was such a thing as an "Ex-Felon", but apparently there is. I thought you either were one, or you were not.

There are a few things people who have been convicted of felonies CAN'T do. They can't own a firearm (duh). Doubtful that they will become adoptive parents. There will be certain places they cannot work..for example, the University of Georgia. International travel is restricted, (Canada, you are tough) and it used to be taken for granted that they could not vote...(not allowed to help make the law if they are law-breakers) .

So, here is the deal for Ex-Felons in Georgia. These are not federal laws, they are state laws pertaining to voting.

Georgia denies the right to vote to:
people who were convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude
while the person is in prison, on parole, and on probation
which includes the payment of fines, fees and restitution.
Once a person has completed all of the terms of their sentence, the State automatically restores the person’s voting rights.

The ACLU is still fighting with the state over the definition of moral turpitude.

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I had a strong crazy impulse to walk over there and register as a republican, even though I have been a registered independent my entire adult life. I resisted the urge, thinking I might get beat up. Seriously. This flea market attracts a large percentage of folks operating outside the (societal) margins. Which was why the sign was there in the first place. Which struck me as pandering. Which bothered me enough to contemplate my crazy impulse.

Yep, it's the Silly Season. I'm just saying.