Under U.S. law citizens are guaranteed the right to participate in "genuine elections." I like this wording for it is simple, dignified, and verifiable. We do not have genuine elections in the United States at this time. This has been acknowledged by the recognized leader on this issue, former Pres. Jimmy Carter. With gerrymandering, the corrupting effect of huge sums of advertising dollars, voter suppression, voter caging, unverifiable computerized voting, and various and assorted campaign dirty tricks; we cannot have confidence in the sanctity of the vote. This is a tragedy, but the truth must be said.
Below please find several pertinent sections from the Declaration, useful for life in America today.
from the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
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