Echoes of Jim Crow -- the voting rights act is coming up for renewal

[Cyrano]

Here in southern Florida, there are many gated communities. Ninety nine percent of the people who live in them are white. The people who maintain the grounds are black, but, with the exception of black supervisors, the bosses/owners are white.

In the spring, summer and fall, the heat is brutal. On some days, the humidity makes it feel like you're breathing water. Yet, these people working outside are little better off than slaves on the plantations of the old south. Many of them end up in emergency rooms on some hot days.

Yes, Barak Obama, Maxine Waters, Charlie Rangel and many other black men and women are in the U.S. congress. But too many black people in "the richest country on earth" are trapped in jobs that pay low wages and offer a life of daily misery.

So what's my point? Well, try this. We know the Bush Administration and most Republicans don't give a shit. And we also know that when the 1965 voting rights act comes up for renewal in 2007, the Republicans will try to bury it.

The time to start raising this issue is now, before the Republicans get their spin machine working. If this act isn't renewed, you can bet we'll once again see poll taxes and literary tests.

[pocket]

1. literary tests?

This is going to totally screw math majors.

[Cyrano]

9. Sorry, meant literacy, not literary. My bad.

[bryant69]

2. Hmmmmmm

Do you think they can really bring back poll taxes and literacy tests? Seems like it would be a hard sell.

I mean I'm not saying we aren't racist, many of us are--but, even in the south, openly praising racism isn't seen as anything but reprobate and backwords.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Cyrano]

5. Four years ago, no one could have imagined what Bush has pulled off.

Selling the country on an unnecessary war, cutting taxes for the richest people in the country. sending people to gulags without trial or recourses of any kind, torture, a lunatic religious right fringe condemning cartoon characters, a mainstream media that has turned into Pravda: Why would you think these people wouldn't resurrect Jim Crow (or worse).

And who ever thought that any president could try to destroy social security. Don't misunderestimate this swine and those around him.

[bryant69]

10. Yeah but i don't see the pay off

Give me their argument for bringing those laws back? Because right now it sounds like "Well they are evil and bringing back Jim Crow would be evil, so naturally they want to bring back Jim Crow."

[Cyrano]

15. Remnants of Jim Crow still exist.

Florida's "felon's" lists which kept an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 black voters from the polls. Not to mention voter intimidation in black areas. Then we have this year in Ohio where there weren't enough voting machines in black neighborhoods, forcing voters to stand in line 8-10 hours.

And in Mississippi and Alabama (and elsewhere?)they still have "citizen's councils" which are in fact the remnants of the Klan. (I'm sure Trent Lott would be happy to tell you all about it if you could get him drunk enough.)

Blacks may not be forced to the back of the bus, or forbidden to sit at lunch counters, but do you really believe that redlining doesn't still exist?

Republicans wouldn't need to pass any "Jim Crow" laws. All they'd need is Bush's federal judicial appointments to turn away every discrimination case that came before them.

[roseBudd]

3. The GOP cannot win in states with a significant minority population

unless they suppress the minority vote. Felon disenfranchisement is Jim Crow.

FL spent 1.8 million this past year on a felon list that had 47,000 names on it. But surprise had virtually no Hispanic names on it.

bushcheated04.com

[China_cat]

4. What do you expect from a pResident

who says he isn't familiar with the Voting Rights Act?

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=381

Bush tells CBC he's 'unfamiliar' with Voting Rights Act
by Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
January 27, 2005

President George W. Bush met with the Congressional Black Caucus Wednesday for the first time as a group in nearly four years, but what CBC members said stood out the most was the president's declaration that he was "unfamiliar" with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed in the history of the United States.

At the conclusion of yesterday's 40-minute meeting, Bush - who attended along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - was asked by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) whether he would support the re-authorization of a portion of the Voting Rights Act that must be approved every 25 years (It will come up for consideration next year).

"I don't know anything about the 1965 Voting Rights Act," Jackson recalled the president saying in an interview with the Chicago Defender.

[Ian David]

8. I sorta hope this DOES come to pass. Maybe it's the wake-up call we need

[kk897]

6. I have to wonder if this doesn't have something to do with Conyers'

support of the naturalized citizens can run for prez legislation. People are freaking, thinking it give Arnold S. the all-clear for the Oval Office, wondering how the hell Conyers could do it. Perhaps a deal was made; his intro of the bill for unquestioned renewing the voting rights act. I thought this the other day when everyone was up in arms about the bill.

Is it at all possible that the act wouldn't be renewed? Seriously... does anyone think that the reactionaries could spin it to look like not passing it isn't horribly racist? I mean, are the people *that* dumb or deluded? The populace doesn't have a good track record lately, true but I have a hard time considering the possibility it wouldn't get renewed.

But this Conyers thing has me worried.

[Cyrano]

7. "... are the people that dumb or deluded?"

Well, (assuming the election wasn't stolen) look who's in the White House. Let's face it. How dumb and deluded can people get?

[kk897]

14. dumb, deluded

I know, I know, but it seems like there has to be some sort of limit. Wishful thinking, I guess (and I for one believe that the election was stolen, before a vote was even cast).

All I know is, if it doesn't pass, I'll do my damnedest to leave this country, because I'll know then that I haven't been simply paranoid and that this country really wll be on its way to Reichdom. I mean, I think it already is, but maybe I don't have the best judgement, maybe I'm a little "out there," maybe I don't have the complete picture. If it didn't pass, then I would KNOW... if it isn't too late by then.

[forgethell]

11. No, that's wrong.

Poll taxes and literacy tests are permanently outlawed by the VRA throughout the nation.

The parts up for renewal are the parts specifically addressed to the South, and requiring Justice department approval for any changes in voting laws and redistricting.

Perhaps it is time to re-examine this. A new generation has arisen in the South, and the permanent parts of the VRA would still apply as they do elsewhere.

[China_cat]

12. This administration

has trashed the 1st, 4th and 14th amendments of the constitution. Do you really think they'd allow any provisions of the VRA to stand?

[forgethell]

13. Yes.

They would have no choice.

[elperromagico]

16. When roadblocks are thrown up in minority voting districts...

When "potential felons" are thrown off the voter rolls primarily because of skin pigmentation...

When congressional districts are gerrymandered to create white-only and minority-only districts...

When minority polling places are stocked with antiquated equipment prone to malfunction and miscalculation...

Jim Crow is still around. He's just not codified any more.