Disenfranchising "The People"

[jumptheshadow]

After the unending refrain from Dean supporters about how his candidacy reflects the will of "The People," it occurred to me: Who are "The People?"

When describing "The People," Deanies like to talk about the Internet. "We've created a grassroots movement that has raised tens of millions of dollars. It's a juggernaut that will remold the Democratic party and purge Bush," is the usual theme.

Kos, quoted here from Joe Conason's column, put it this way:

"In the past, they (primary voters in some states) wouldn't have had a say. They didn't in 2000 (did anyone?). But technology has changed all that ... A mere four years ago, an Alabama Democrat would've had no say whatsoever in our party's nominee. But today, Democrats in Alabama have helped spread the word about Dean, donated to his campaign, attended meetups, wrote letters to Iowans, Granite staters, and Al Gore.

"So it's true, no votes have been cast. But that doesn't mean we haven't seen democracy in action the past year. 2003 was a clinic in how technology could be used to build a movement, how bytes on a screen could be transformed into off-line activities in pursuit of a cause ... "

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/12/09/dean_gore/index.html

Yes, I agree emphatically that this has been an effective and innovative campaign. But let's get back to "The People." When I think about "The People," my mind always focuses on the voters whose ballots weren't counted in Florida.

I think about the minority voters who were purged from the voting rolls by Katherine Harris.

I think about the elderly voters who made what might have been a difficult trip to the polls only to get spat upon by their governor and his minions.

I think about the Jews in Florida who were overjoyed that they might end their lifetimes seeing a Jewish VP after starting their lives witnessing the slaughter of their own relatives.

I think about my uncle, a WWII vet and a lawyer, who had to get help from a poll worker because he didn't understand the Palm Beach County ballot.

Then I ask myself: How many of these people are about to have a candidate who is not their first choice shoved down their throats because they are afraid of computers or can't afford the hardware and the Internet access that would enable them to take part in this technological revolution?

I worked for a while giving technical support to AIDS organizations. I can't begin to tell you how many HIV counselors and social workers froze or started weeping in front of a computer. These were good people, who had been on the frontlines giving their hearts to people in the most desperate situations. I remember several of their faces right now. I can't tell you if they'd vote for Dean, Sharpton, Kucinich or Clark. But I can say this: If they're Democrats, and they probably are, they've been given the shaft by this "People's Revolution."

If Dean does get the nomination -- and that's a big "if" -- let's pray that he wins so they don't get screwed twice.

[deminflorida]

1. Sad isn't it......And I always believed this party was about lifting....

people up...don't worry. People in general think of the South as backwards, well for once in history, those backwards lifestyles may soon save the country during the primaries or kill us during the general. I think the word I'm looking for is "Ironic".

[jumptheshadow]

2. Sometimes it's hard to remember

Not all people in this country are computer literate or friendly. I'm a boomer. I had to study for years to get up to speed on a computer. (I started my career on a typewriter, like everybody else in my generation.)

That's an insightful observation -- the future of this nation (and of the world) may rise or fall based on Southern voters.