The Post Office, Voting, and Getting Older

There are proposals to close post offices throughout the country.  The last two times I went to the post office were to get a passport and to mail a package.  I do drop off letters at the South Miami Office regularly.  Our church mails about 150 newsletters monthly to those who don't pick it up on the last Sunday of the month and pays first class postage  Whether I get mail on Saturday or Monday doesn't make much difference to me.  Even in a wealthy congregation there are many that don't follow stuff electronically.  Most of these people are older.

The Economist Magazine was also commenting on the number of states that are adjusting their voting rules to require picture IDs.  There are many people without government issued picture IDs.  They are mostly poor and elderly or younger adults that don't drive.  Supposedly these changes are done to stop voter fraud.  I live in Miami and the fraud that has occurred has to do with absentee ballots and robo signing, not picture IDs.  These changes are to suppress turnout among the poor, poor elderly, and to hassle younger, more liberal voters.  These efforts are closer a poll tax that may not cost any thing but will hassle certain people and groups. 

With this country sharply divided I would hope that any rules that suppress turnout, adversely affect the poor, and marginalize groups that are either older or younger to the benefit of the wealthy beyond the advantage already received by means of their wealth be reviewed carefully and rejected as manipulating the political system.

The incumbents are already able to game the system enough.