On This Day January 24th...

In 1964 the final ratification took place on the 24th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Previously anyone who failed to pay taxes was denied voting rights. Congress first proposed this in August 1962. It was submitted to the states in September that same year. It wasn't until March 25th, 1963 Pennsylvania approved it.

Still it didn't end there.. Selma, Alabama 1965

Also on this day in 1984 Apple Computer first came out with it's Macintosh personal computer. The cost was $2,495 ($5,595 in today's dollars)


This was also the day that the United States Department of Homeland Security officially began operation in 2003.

Expanding on a couple of things
The 24th amendment's purpose was to eliminate an attempt to block blacks from voting. The poll taxes were ruled legal by the Supreme court up until this amendment. The last state to pass it was South Dakota. In order for an amendment to pass 2/3rds of the states have to ratify. Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina & Wyoming to this day still have not.

The Macintosh personal computer was several more times powerful then the computers aboard Voyager 1 when it launched seven years earlier on September 5, 1977. Remarkably Voyager 1 (the furthest spacecraft from Earth) traveling at a velocity of 38,000 mph still sends back messages 37 years, 4 months and 18 days as of January 23, 2015 !

Homeland Security: Ron Paul (R-TX) said on November 2002 Homeland Security Is the Largest Federal Expansion in 50 Years -- "Ironically, many in Congress who usually champion limited government were enthusiastic supporters of the largest federal expansion in 50 years..." On October 26, 2012 Obama signed new Executive Order expanding Homeland Security mission in the U.S..

In my opinion it appears we're all subject to this ever expanding spying on American citizens and on other individuals here and abroad. Question is.. does Homeland Security's main mission consist of protecting individuals or the powers of government itself?