"Voting doesn't matter."

[nadinbrzezinski]

You know how many times I have hears this? It is the ultimate form of voter suppression and self fulfilling prophecy. And sadly, due to the self fulfilling prophecy part, these people are right.

WHAT? Let me explain, and I will use my local primaries.

Last night, while talking to my local head of the Registrar of Voters, she said that voting for this primary was on track for the 40% turnout... this is based on mailed in votes (more and more people are doing that, so actual same day voting... is no longer a good track of actual voting)...

So who exactly bothers to vote? Those on the extremes on both sides (though mostly the RW) and the three other idiots among us that damn it still believe it is an obligation. This has had a very particularly horrifying effect. Even though the population is NOT as RW as my future city council. For that matter the districts are not as RW as the people who will represent them... the people elected by a MINORITY of those registered... are to the right of the people who live and work in those districts.

Why is it that people feel that voting does not work? Simple... those who write initiatives understand these dynamics. You want bad crap to be in the books, you do not put them on a FEDERAL ELECTION in the presidential cycle. You put it in the ballot during the PRIMARY, which averages 40% turnout, sometimes less... and this turnout tends to be older, whiter and far more conservative. This is how you do it. They have perfected this, it is a science.

So the effect is, that voting doesn't matter.

This form of voter suppression is harder actually to counter than the crap they are doing in Florida... what do you mean you think I am not a US Citizen? Are you on drugs? Why? Because this is psychological. It has to change at the grass roots levels, where people decide to show up regardless. I have no idea how to do this. But the first thing, is that party leaders must realize that local elections and issues matter.

For the moment I will continue "to waste my time," and trust me, it is a waste of time, and show up at every election... never mind that it truly doesn't matter. My vote will be countered by at least two, especially in primary season. You think I am kidding? Look at the returns in a few hot issues. But at least they will still have to counter my vote. That said, it really doesn't matter. And this is why democrats and progressives keep losing... they have ceded the local elections to the other side.

Remember once again what Tip O'Neil once said... "all politics is local."

Oh and doing that... will take a generation before it bears any real fruit... you will have to change the attitudes of millions, who will gladly point to you why elections really don't matter, and voting really doesn't matter. I love self fulfilling prophecies... and it took the GOP two generations to gain control of that board.

Me, well, hope is dead, been dead for a while, elections and voting don't matter, but hey will continue to do it. Why? Well, I did not have a right to vote for some time in my adult life... so yes, voting matters... even if my vote will have zero effect.

But when somebody tells me, "why bother? It's not like it counts..." they have a point.

[drm604]

1. Wow. This kind of pessimism is not what we need.

I'm surprised to see it coming from you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. No it is not pessimism, it is reality

Am I telling you not to vote? Nope, I am telling you to KEEP DOING IT. But I am also telling you Federal Offices are not the ultimate goal... you want to control things and change this dynamic where voting does not matter to potential voters... look lower, MUCH LOWER. to your county judge, your local mayor, and if you have them, initiative proceses.

[zappaman]

8. Doesn't suprise me in the least

It is not the first time this poster has said voting doesn't matter.

[shcrane71]

2. The truly sad and horrifying this is that in Dane County Wisconsin, the progressives are/were in

charge at the local level. Progressive Dane is it's own party. I'm not sure if they still do, but they had so many people on the school board that they would have to announce any meetings amongst the PD school board members in the news media as when they met, they had a quorum.

Progressive Dane would help any group with strategies for building support at the local level. A group I was working with met with PD, got ideas, but the strategy fell apart once we got back home due to petty squabbles.

Feingold was the best Senator in the entire Senate next to Bernie Sanders, and we lost him to a tea bagger.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Some local parties have it

most don't, and most need to learn how to.

Part of the problem is money, but it is also structural

[shcrane71]

7. If you don't mind explaining, what do you mean by structural?

I'm sorry I have to ask, but I'm that dense.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. No problem

Must local parties live in a bubble where they just ask... why is it that these people do not get it? We are for them!

Covering the race I got to see my local democratic clubs close up and personal, as well as the Republican events.

(I recommend that.)

The democrats it was the why is it that they don't get it? There was some talk of backing candidate and doing canvasing. But that was very little to be honest.

The republicans were a well oiled machine, there to educate voters, take it to the streets and go talk to people.

Democrats had three major issues on the ballot (two in San Diego, and one in El Cajon, they all lost, by 60% + margins) as in I mean MAJOR local issues. they have no money or organization to fight back. The other side, and it came down as bricks, last night, since we went, on purpose to cover the Republican speeches... not only was organized... had the money (that helps) but while in their bubble they know they need to organize and organize, and organize some more.

Coffee and cookies are fine... but it needs to go beyond the coffee and cookies, and comparing notes with people from across the state in February, most Democratic clubs and local democratic parties are in that state. Talking to the Chairman of the party, this is a national problem. Yes, they got the energy of Deaniacs in 2004 and now Occupy, but energy is not everything.

So if you can have Dane County teach others... it sounds like the local Lincoln Club (a very right wing Republican outfit) in level of local organization and reach.

[shcrane71]

10. But it didn't work in my municipality. We were actively attempting to set the ball

in motion to build a grassroots movement when the "leaders"' of our so-called consensus organization pulled their support. Now those leaders are working with the former ALEC chairperson for this Progressive group. Things that make you go, hmmm, huh?

As far as the Democrats, I volunteered with a congressional campaign. I saw fresh college graduates in paid positions who didn't talk to us lowly non-paid volunteers beyond telling us of their and their parents credentials. Come to think of it, no one in a paid position save for one guy talked to us non-paid volunteers. That campaign wasn't even close; whereas the Dem challenger two years prior got came within two points of the safe Republican. Dem challenger two years prior had no help from the national level. I think that actually helped.

I don't know why the Democrats can't organize. After seeing Progressive Dane in action, I know it's not progressive trait.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. In 2004 the same thing happened in san Diego

they were handicapped by leaders who are afraid (rightfully so) that they will lose their power.

It is all about power, that is the name of the game.

But at some point grassroots will have to have small time revolutions. Historically Democrats used to have party machines that were very effective and efficient... it can happen again. I can't tell you when, but it has to. The other wide speaks of the Democratic machine, but they have an extremely efficient machine of their own.

[Blue_Tires]

3. When somebody tells me, "why bother? It's not like it counts..."

I just quickly remind them how many of my not-so-distant ancestors were beaten/maimed/killed/disappeared just to exercise this right...And for me to flippantly waive that right is to piss on their memory...

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And your point? You are dealing with a creature

that wants to know when was the last time you did something for me, not that uncle Pete lost a leg in the Philippines in WW II... even in this military town... not everybody knowns somebody who has been personally maimed or killed.

This is why this is so insidious and harder to break, and why the local game matters.

[Sirveri]

12. What I want to know is what moron put 29 on the primary election ballot.

Also I think there is a new law that props can no longer go on the primary after this year, so we make progress there. Of course we lose progress since the law changed and now only the top two vote getters move forward to the general election. Which means that the real election for office is now the primary. WHEEEEE. Why isn't voting on a Saturday and also a national holiday? Why Tuesday? Isn't it obvious.