The Republicans have finally found a case of voter fraud. An 86 year old woman in Minnesota voted twice in the last election. She voted by absentee ballot and then again in person. This is not even necessarily a case of senility. This is just a bit of forgetfulness. Anyway, charges have, believe it or not, been brought against her. She says that if they’re going to prosecute her, they should also prosecute the poll workers, who should have caught the mistake.
In Miami, an 82 year old woman was physically thrown off a metro train for singing. Normally, when I see the phrase “thrown off,” I take it with a grain of salt. I’ve been thrown out of plenty of bars in my time and only once or twice did it involve actual, literal throwing. She was knocked to the ground, though. That’s pretty harsh, for singing.
Freedom!
I sometimes get a little bit irritated with people who are listening to their ipods and the sound is clearly audible and, as a general rule, their taste in music kind of sucks, but I don’t think they should be thrown off. Sometimes the gypsy kids get on and walk through the car with an accordion. Sometimes I give them 10 or 20 crowns, if I’m feeling generous, sometimes I try not to make eye contact, but I don’t see them as criminals. Music is a good thing.
My main point, however, is that both of these women are in their 80s. Laws are written to protect society against people who are a threat to it, and if there is any single demographic group which poses zero threat to society, it is 80 year old women. Old men are pretty harmless, too.
The way I see it, once you hit 80, you should be exempt from most laws. Not like murder and rape and stuff but very few people over 80 are even capable of those, even if they were so inclined. Muggers in wheelchairs are really rare.
If an occasional octogenarian votes twice, so what? It’s logical to assume that there are just as many Republican old codgers as there are Democrats, so it evens out. If an 80 year old person is singing at the top of their lungs on public transportation, all that does is provide a bit of amusement during your morning commute. If an 80 year old person is sitting on a park bench, smoking a big, fat joint, what point would incarcerating them serve? Is it going to reform them? Is it to protect their health, prevent them from stunting their growth? Even if some crazy, creepy old geezer is standing in front of an elementary school with his pants down around his ankles, the kids are more likely to be looking at him out of the windows and laughing than be traumatized.
Lighten up, cops. The law is meant to protect society -not to harass old people.
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