RE: Why not more of us in Congress?
June 17, 2012 at 1:09 am
(This post was last modified: June 17, 2012 at 1:25 am by Darth.)
(June 16, 2012 at 11:34 pm)Godschild Wrote:(June 16, 2012 at 10:17 pm)Annik Wrote: There are 6 states in the US who currently have laws against atheists running for office on the books. You can find the states, along with the laws, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discriminat...ted_States
I see our state is one of the six, it should be changed, equal rights for all citizens, still think everyone who runs for public office should have to declare their beliefs, people have the right to know who they are voting for.
They have the right to not vote for somebody who won't reveal their beliefs.
What if its somebody's religious/moral belief that they shouldn't reveal their religious beliefs, that its an entirely personal affair, are they to be excluded from public office? What if a particular voter is looking for a politician who refuses to disclose their beliefs or lack thereof, under your rules they won't even have the possibility of ever being represented. You are free to ask any politician you want what their beliefs are, and they are in turn free to answer however they wish, a non answer or refusal is a type of answer.
Also, article 6 of your constitution "... The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Seems to me that that would prevent rules that specifically exclude specific religious groups, but that it would also prevent answering the question "what is your religion" from being a requirement* to holding public office.
*requirement in a legislative sense, of course voters are free to have it as on of their own requirements of politicians which may effectively make it a requirement if enough voters do so. I'd bet a bible/christianity or a "my religion is ____" pledge would be like the no tax increase pledge, it easily gain traction in America.
