Bilingual ballots

[Vermouth]

If you want to participate in the political process, learn English.

Residents of Bethel and five Kuskokwim River villages are asking a federal court to order more effective elections assistance for Yup'ik-speaking voters.
...
They say efforts to provide language assistance so far have been lacking.

They say many polling places often have no one available to help Native speakers and very little quality control over the assistance that is provided.

For example, they cite a 2002 ballot measure regarding the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority where references to natural gas were translated as "this gas in the stomach."
...

Yup'ik voters want help at polls

[BIGTEX]

BIGTEX delights in informing the mestizos of what he expects of them by stating:

"Ingles es la lengua de Los Estados Unidos. Comprende?"

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

BIGTEX delights in informing the mestizos of what he expects of them by stating:

"Ingles es la lengua de Los Estados Unidos. Comprende?"

liltaint, back in the good old days, when you were huffing and puffing before a captive population of "cultural geography" kiddies, did ya ever reference the map???  exactly how many generations of inbreeding does it require to produce something as ridiculously asinine as you work so very hard to present?    

[gunit_sangh]

If you want to participate in the political process, learn English.

They were in Alaska long before the US acquired it ... maybe we ought to learn their language 

[Vermouth]

Most places I've lived send voters sample ballots ahead of each election. Many also encourage absentee voting. If your English isn't strong, you have plenty of time to research/translate the ballot measures and get help filling it out. The ballot measures are complex and even native English speakers need to research them before deciding which way to vote. I don't recommend depending on the skill of a government-provided translator at the poll.

If you want to participate in the political process, learn English.

They were in Alaska long before the US acquired it ... maybe we ought to learn their language 

That would be fine with me. I don't care what the language is, as long as there is only one.

[SDML]

Why should there be only one?

[Vermouth]

Why should there be only one?

Efficiency! Small government. It is inefficient for the government to publish materials in multiple languages. Look at Canada, Spain, etc.

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

Why should there be only one?

Efficiency! Small government. It is inefficient for the government to publish materials in multiple languages. Look at Canada, Spain, etc.

Well that and America shouldn't become a Third World boarding house. 

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

Why should there be only one?

because liltaint has a point in generally stating that this is the united states of america and english is the language of the land.  through this language we are bound cross culturally.  putting alaskan villages aside for the moment, if you cannot speak the language what are you doing voting?  why and how have we developed a situation where citizens of this nation cannot, have not or will not learn the language of the land.  why would you speak to further perpetuate this?

[conleys ghost]

Why should there be only one?

Efficiency! Small government. It is inefficient for the government to publish materials in multiple languages. Look at Canada, Spain, etc.

doesn't canada print ballots in french too, at least in quebec?

is there no use of catalan in barcelona?

for the record i agree with you...oh maybe you are saying canada and spain are inefficient

honestly if you cant understand the ballot initiative in its native language, are you really going to understand it translated? maybe if you were  a lawyer in your native land but probably still no. it's the people's responsibility to learn the language of the country they come to, not the other way around. there's nothing to say learning english makes you abandon your culture.

[conleys ghost]

If you want to participate in the political process, learn English.

They were in Alaska long before the US acquired it ... maybe we ought to learn their language 

maybe they should have tried to defend it with something more than a fishing spear? 

not to mention they should thank their lucky stars they didn't end up as comrades ;-)

[SDML]

Perpetuate? I just asked a question.

[conleys ghost]

Perpetuate? I just asked a question.

i think he meant why would the government perpetuate a system where there is no incentive to learn the native language of the country (english). but heck if i know, grumpy's a weird one.

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

Perpetuate? I just asked a question.

great, i just gave you an answer.  comm lee we won't wait around for you to figure out what if anything you might know.

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

Why should there be only one?

because liltaint has a point in generally stating that this is the united states of america and english is the language of the land.  through this language we are bound cross culturally.  putting alaskan villages aside for the moment, if you cannot speak the language what are you doing voting?  why and how have we developed a situation where citizens of this nation cannot, have not or will not learn the language of the land.  why would you speak to further perpetuate this?

actually Tex has made several good points. Unfortunately, they get completely lost in the pissing contests.