"Idiots and lunatics"

[fantastic_jackie]

I was reading through the Texas Constitution tonight and ran across a part that has since been superceded by the U.S. Constitution. The particular section states:

ARTICLE VI.

Suffrage.

Section 1. The following classes of persons shall not be allowed to vote in this State, to wit:

First -- Persons under twenty-one years of age.

Second -- Idiots and lunatics.

XDDDDDD

I'm not entirely sure how they expected to enforce that, but okay historic fellow Texan buddies! *giggles some more*

Comments

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Wow. Think the Texas Constitution needs to update its language much?

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

Well, you gotta understand how the Texas Constitution works, though. Part of what makes this part so funny is that it's so out of character with most of the document. The Texas Constitution is exceedingly long (something like 93,000 words as compared to the U.S. Constitution's 7,000... or around abouts) not to limit the people, but to limit the government. Because our Constitution basically says that the State can only utilize powers that are enumerated within the Constitution, each power is specifically outlined down to its limititations. The citizens' rights are also outlined specifically.

The Texas Constitution that we're currently under has been in place since we rejoined the Union after the Civil War. Much like the U.S. Constitution, several attempts have been made to rewrite it or revise it, but it's very difficult to do because of the requirements involved. So... we have a buttload of amendments. lol

I think it's cool, though. It's like a view back into the past to see what they thought was important, and this apparently needed mentioning in their minds. And you gotta remember that it wasn't until... what? The 1970's that the 26th Amendment was ratified into the Constitution that nationally empowered 18-yr-olds with their full rights to vote. So that part about being 21 isn't so crazy. But the particular Article also mentions, for instance, that soldiers in the U.S. Army & Navy are not allowed to vote, either; you gotta wonder what they were thinking -- and I think I have an idea, considering what had just happened.

So we do have some stupid stuff in our Constitution, but it's just far easier to amend or repeal - or just leave it be after the U.S. Constitution trumps it. :) Most of the Texas Constitution is excellent, though; we wouldn't have a balanced budget or have created more jobs than the other 49 states combined without its strict limitations!

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

No, I wasn't disputing any of that... I was more reacting to the cruelty of the term "idiot" in that context. I hate that that's how mentally handicapped were referred to for centuries and it's a shame something like that stands. :(

But that's me being sensitive, lol.

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

Eh yeah - or at least to us, it is. Truthfully, I just think it's so hilarious how it reads now-a-days now that the connotation, and maybe even definition has changed. lol I think dictionaries still recognize it as mentally retarded in their definitions, but no one uses it like that anymore.

I still don't have any clue how they'd enforce something like that, though. Like the sodemy law. I understand where they were coming from, but come on! But back in their day, it was probably akin to common sense even though it's not entirely logical, especially with their stance on government.

It just occured to me that laws such as the U.S.A. strictly define a person as someone who is not a minor, deceased, or legally declared mentally incompetant, though. But that's securities, and a person can be an entity in that law, as well. Still, I wonder... I wonder if it does still stand, now that I think about it. I have no clue if "crazy people" who are not felons are allowed to vote. Huh.

[xxdesert-rose.livejournal.com]

Hey... Whatever happened to that long post you were supposed to write about? The really long lengthy political post you told me about? *taps foot like Sonic the Hedgehog* Ohhh! I'm terrible though! Do you remember the link you sent me a while back? It was about a story I think? And I think you were the only one reading it?

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

o.o

Uh............ :D I gotta uh... go to the movies!

I'll answer when I get back. ;)

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

Well... A couple things happened, to answer your first question. 1) It's really long and needs to be edited for length 2) I need to create a few more diagrams... but every time I open paint, I start working on my new mood theme. ^^; I was also finally, randomly struck with an idea how to redesign my journal (tada!) and got kind of obsessed with doing it. I'll post it tomorrow if you'd like, though; I have to go to the doctor today. >.>

As for the story, I should warn you that it's a web comic, and so the updates that occur every Friday are only 2 pages. Which makes way for cliff hangers. I only check it once every two or three months. ;)

http://thedreamercomic.com/