Asshatted Constitutional Fact of Week

I read an article in the Sunday paper regarding the affect of the census on congressional representation. Now it's not often that I read something that I don't already know, and maybe I knew this at one time and just decided to purge it.

Fact: Congressional representation is based on populations from the census. These populations include all persons, not just US citizens.

Excerpt from the 14th amendment:

"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State."

Can someone please explain to me how it makes sense that illegals...excuse me, non-citizens...should get representation WHEN THEY CAN'T VOTE FOR THEM!

Apparently they weren't worried about the impact of illegal, non-citizens back in 1868 when this amendment was drafted. It's obvious they made a distinction between the population at large and the population of citizens, but why? I guess what I'm most shocked at is the fact that this has an impact on several states including California, New York, Arizona and Texas (all having more representatives because of non-citizens) and the less obvious upper mid-west states that are losing out on representatives. And of course this issue then carries over to the ever-flawed electoral college.

There are over a million illegals entering the country annually. The real problem...yes, it is a problem...is only going to get worse. Thankfully there are some in Congress trying to take action. So take a minute and get familiar with the issue, and then contact your representative and let them know how you feel. Of course if you live in California, New York, Texas or Arizona you might also want to send a note to Barry Bonds suggesting he take himself off the hall of fame ballot in a few years, it'll get about as much traction. Here's a link to some information.

Now if I find out you didn't bother getting involved, I guess I'll have to start buying houses in your sub-division and renting them out to some illegals. Next thing you'll know you'll have a Molson swilling, hockey fan living next to you singing Celine Dion tunes in his outdoor shower while you're trying to have a patio party.

It's aboot freedom, it's aboot democracy, it's aboot proper representation.