If the poor actually voted the Dem's would win every time!

[Quixote1818]

My Dad and I were talking about how the poor usually shows up in low numbers and if they actually showed up to vote then Democrats would win absolutely every time. Anyone disagree?

[jpgray]

1. With progressive candidates, they still don't vote.

One of the benefits of Nader or having Dennis in the primary, is to see if the working class really is just waiting to vote for more progressive candidates. Well, they didn't come out and vote for Kucinich, they don't come for Nader, and they didn't even come for a rather reasonable middle ground in Howard Dean.

So issues and progressive stances don't draw them. What does?

[napi21]

3. They have to be mad enough about their own personal situation

to demand a change. If they aren't upset enough by unemployment, fear of loosing their job, high cost of Gas and groceries, they will lapse into the I don't give a sh*t mode, and I doubt there's anything that can motivate them.

[jpgray]

4. I think there is an active campaign to discourage people from voting

As in focusing on politics is socially strange, or that the candidates are all equally lousy, etc.

[napi21]

5. I don't think there's any active campaign for that!

If you ask anybody you know when was the last time you voted FOR a particular candidate, and not just the better of two bad, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who can remember any time at all.

There haven't been any candidates who really excited people in a very long time! I'm not even sure there has been any in my lifetime.

[murielm99]

6. I can't agree with that.

I was excited about Clinton. I know many other Democrats who were, too.

I live in Illinois. The excitement here about Obama is unbelievable.

[napi21]

9. I was refering to a presidential candidate, and even Clinton

creats more excitement NOW than he did during the Presidential campaigns.

[murielm99]

13. Once again, your opinion only! nt

[Carla in Ca]

15. The repubs hate poor people. They are doing whatever they can

to get as many people into poverty as they can...and the numbers prove it. It was the reason I was glad Kerry chose Edwards. If anyone can give them a reason to stand and fight, to be heard and to be helped, Edwards is it.

[Radical Activist]

7. And how many low income people knew about Kucinich?

with a media blackout and a community that doesn't have time to read a lot of news I would say close to none.

[eridani]

24. Exactly, and not just low income people, either

I was sitting at a table collecting signatures for the Kucinich petitions at the King County Convention (4 months after the February caucuses)and a woman came up and was very excited about the anti-NAFTA petition in particular. She said "Is that Kucinich the same one that was mayor of Cleveland back in the 70s? Is he running for something?"

I immediately put on my chemistry teacher pokerface that I wear when someone asks "How many bonds does carbon have?" (You have to do this if you have emphatically stated at the beginning of the term that the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask.)

I told her that he was a candidate for president who was still running even though it was clear that Kerry was the nominee, just to keep issues like this in front of people. I loaded her up with literature and DVDs--her friends are all upset about outsourcing and she wanted them all to know about this guy--four months too late to do him any good in WA state, of course. But us stubborn Kucitizens are taking the long view.

This woman was obviously not someone who had given up on politics like many low income people do. She had taken the trouble to get up early on a weekend to drive in from Marysville (about as far from Seattle as you can get and still be in King County), she was concerned about issues, and with all our doorbelling, tabling, press releases, et al, we missed her anyway.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. They don't think it matters

they don't think their vote matters, they don't think they make any difference at all.

That's why.

[Indiana_Dem]

16. Exactly. That's what a lot of non-voters tell me. eom

[unfrigginreal]

20. Does it matter?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x865890

[napi21]

2. How right you are! The same statement has been broadcast

quite a few times on several different news programs. Their actual statements were "No one has a way to know what percentage of voter turnout we will have this year, but if a high percent of low and middle class voters actually go to the polls, Kerry will win for sure!"

That's why there's such a heavy concentration on voter registration by the Dems. I sure hope all the people they got to register actually get out the door and to the polls on Nov. 2nd!!!!

[Radical Activist]

8. More likely the socialists would win

But socialist political movements are not allowed in the US so the poor are not encouraged to vote.

[rullery]

21. Socialist political movements not allowed?

Sorry, Radical Activist, but I have to disagree with your statement. Socialist parties ARE allowed, but they have not been effective in recent years in finding many supporters. Part of the problem is that socialists are equated by many people with communists, as in Communists = bad, disloyal!

One prominent socialist who HAS made it in politics is Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He is listed as an Independent but he organizes with the Democrats. However he truly is a socialist. Not to start an argument with you, but I do believe these are the facts.

[chaumont58]

10. Its a mystery to me also

I'm a senior, quite comformtable now, but have faced poverty in my lifetime, and the fact that so many economically challanged people don't bother to vote is a great sadness. Politics is the art of the possible, and to stay home and not bother to vote leads to the possibility that the US gets more political leaders like the smirking chimp. To me, any Democrat is better than any repuke, and if a vote for Nader can bring on chimpie, then don't vote for Nader. Again, politics is the art of the possible. I've been voting for a long time and on occasions I have looked the other way while I voted for the lesser of two evils. So be it. Life is like that.

[cheshire]

11. Not to be an ass but some folks are poor for the same reason they don't

vote. Laziness or fear of appearing stupid. I can be quiet lazy so don't get pissed I'm just stating my observations.

[Quixote1818]

19. YOU BASTARD! No, I think their is a lot of truth to that.

[Sugarbleus]

14. I'm poor and I always vote...

I'm probably an exception but I'm sure I'm not alone. There are myriad reasons why a person doesn't vote...not the least of which is laziness and/or ignorance of the issues.

I just learned in recent months that ex felons are treated differently from state to state. In my state an ex felon can vote after all their time has been served; not so in other states. Many ex felons (male and female) fall into low income categories.

Then you have persons who are simply uneducated in political matters..they don't get it and they don't know how to "get it". Then you have low income people who struggle just to keep body and soul together with barely enough time to come up for air--they often don't have the energy to "study" politics to know who to vote for or even have the time to vote--maybe they are working 2 and three jobs. voting should take place on weekends

You have people who are alone, people sick and depressed and out of the loop feeling hopeless. You have people, like me,who have voted forever hoping "things would change" but when they didn't, they gave up.
Average people get disillusioned with politicians; politicians promise the world then change their colors once in office. Happens over and over.

Power voting seems more effective--voting within a bloc, special interest groups like Environmentalists or AARP or NAACP or Unions or Women's groups or Teachers etc etc.. Those pull more weight and get their needs met. Low income/poor individuals have no power plus society has stigmatized them. They are pariah. Poorer citizens know this. They know that NO ONE is speaking to their plight. It's a cold day in hell when their own congress persons even lend an ear in any substantial way--------because they have NO POWER.

If a president/politician stood up and made a commitment to alleviating most of the suffering that goes on in the shadows of this "mighty" country, perhaps that would capture the hearts and minds of the poor....they would vote in droves.

Poor people would like some simple solutions. JOBS might be a grand way to start. Jobs that PAID enough to live on and support a family. Help with auto insurances so one can actually DRIVE to work, if need be. CHILD CARE is essential. QUALITY Healthcare, dental, vision, mental health etc. FREE or very very inexpensive. CLEAN, DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING to rent. Everyone can't and won't be able to BUY a house.....renting is a permanent part of this social structure. Though I do find it scandalous that the FAT MOUTHS that talk about home ownership constantly never consider instituting a program whereby very low income people COULD buy a modest dwelling CHEAPLY no matter WHICH community they happen to reside in. *In my community, there are so-called programs for low income first time home buyers..guess what, "low income" here is considered $55-60,000 yearly!! A person cannot make less than that to buy one of these so called low income homes. WTF!

All people plus the society need to have stability. Stabilize the lower classes with a few perks, they will contribute back to the tax base as well as to the community......but first they need the JOBS.

End of essay.......sorry =o/

[CitySky]

22. A fine essay at that, Sugarbleus

I agree that I'd like to hear MORE about these issues in presidential campaigns.

Have heard that JK wants to raise the minimum wage, but that's not something they will repeat a whole lot. Maybe they're afraid of 'turning off' the people who aren't directly impacted by it.

Someone working full time at a minimum wage job right now will make $10,712 -- after they work ALL 52 weeks of the year, no vacation.

This should be an outrage - why not?

[SoCalDemocrat]

17. plenty vote Republican

The Republicans are good at conning the poor into voting for them. They appeal to their sense of religion, to gun control, or even to their race. They appeal to their patriotism. Ultimately, they appeal to their fear.

The find ways to swing the poor voters and get them to act against their own best interests.

[sandnsea]

18. Yes, you're right

And has them so beaten down that they honestly believe whatever wage they get is fair because the boss man would pay them more if he could. It's unbelievable how brain-washed some people are, Reaganism has really done a number on this country.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. People don't always vote with their wallets

Look at Western PA. It is full of union members. But they keep sending Republicans to Congress. Why? Social issues like abortion and gun control.