Genie states.

I am very troubled when I sometimes see the same people waving the flag (literally and/or figuratively) while at the same time calling for abandoning the Bill of Rights.

To reply, I would agree with you, intelligent Americans understand basic principles of America rest on the guarantees of freedoms for everybody, even the "pinkos" fellow travelers, peaceniks and the anarachists. I actually heard somebody use the word peacenik the other day! Where there is no living Constitution and defense of freedoms, there will you see tyranny?

Jack states. One can contribute to a society without serving in the armed forces. All should be able to maximize their contribution but doing what they do best. But I still believe the privilege of voting should be earned so that it is appreciated. Immigrants have to pass a citizenship test, why not people born here? To reply.

Jack, lets put this point into words of the International. The short form of this is of course is the classic and indisputable truth. "To each according to their needs to each according to their abilities.

I wholeheartedly disagree, freedom and the right to vote is the bedrock of our society. Like any other freedom, with my Army service I have earned the right not to vote, should I chose to, what about you? . Do you know how to service a 50-caliber machinegun? You seem to disregard the value and of putting your life on the line for your fellow citizens.

As for immigrants, quite frequently they now start their life in the United States by violating the very laws they would claim later to hold so dear.

In much of the cases, if you're a thugs or an angel, you can get into this country, or Canada for that matter,(or Australia), by just getting here. Later just get a good lawyer. (Remember the immigrant ship that rammed San Francisco and everybody jumped out.) It was about two year ago.

As to passing a test to be an American, if you want I think I can find my Alabama Voters Registration Test. A remnant of the good old days when we could make sure only the right people voted. It takes somebody with about a Masters in Political Science to have a change at passing it.

Jack you talk as if you think only the educated should vote. Are you a Conservative Republican?