Why . . .

[Professor]

Nov. 5, 2002 was the worst day of my political involvement. I am dumbfounded by the recent elections. I know all the right reasons why WE should vote but why do we not turn out better numbers. Somebody please tell me why?

[Blackwatch]

The answer boils down to priorities and ignorance. This past weekend , the chapter was canvassing "our" community when a gentleman walked by and saw us and said "it don't make no difference if we vote, ain't nothin' gon' change ". I truly felt his frustration. But, I sat back and thought about it, the people who are most apathetic to the voting process are the ones who are most affected by politics.

Many of us are only concerned with the self, survival and happiness. For a lot of us, this translates to money and things. Which means puttin' in a slew of hours per week working.This yeilds less time to understand politics and its connectedness to our daily lives. It funny because studies show that people who make more money are the ones that vote more often. They are also the ones that stay up to date on political issues. It's sad because the people that are most affected by politics are the poorer, working class people.

I suggested to the chapter bruhs that "our" community needs an informed voice in gov't that would be sensitive to the needs of our community and understood political workings. Then maybe people will be motivated to vote.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

[AKA2D '91]

Even though (to me it doesn't make sense), Bill Clinton was on Tom Joyner's show recently. He revealed that the Republicans (allegedly) had this agenda to keep "us" from voting. There were instances where in some areas we would loose "our" assitance (hand-outs) and other things if we went out to vote.

I was like, huh? Who would actually believe that? If you are not informed, I guess you do not know.

[Professor]

This is a really sad time for North Carolina and Wake County. We had several AA to represent us in the political process. Our frat, Bro. John Baker has been Wake County Sheriff for more than fifteen years and everyone assumed he would again be elected. Our County Commissioner C. Coleman and several other folk were not reelected because AAs did not go out to vote.

Nationally, we will see a change in social programs. When I receive calls from constituents complaining about food stamps, Medicaid, ect. I plan to ask callers did they vote. Perhaps then folk will understand how politics can be the tie that binds or breaks many opportunities.

[Love_Spell_6]

Blackwatch, u are right on the money....again

The people that don't vote are the ones most affected. BUt they are always the first to complain about something. It really bothers me,..... because to use one of GWB's words, if you don't vote, you're basically irrelevant.

Most of the time Black American's only react to issues (which most of the time aren't the most important issues) instead of being PROactive to injustices in our community.

I think a viable solution would be for those who are the so-called "role models" and leaders in our communities to be more , concerned about what's going on in our communities. Why don't we hear songs like "WAR" and "Whats Going ON" anymore....that's where the influence is today.....unfortunately...

[sphinxpoet]

In order to activate a more effective voting public the time may come where we have to do it like when voting rights were instated. We need to register everyone and then the day of election day walk door to door and move people to the voting booths. *knock knock knock* open the door because A VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE. We have become complacent in this area. How is it that in states where democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 there is a 54% vote going to the repulicans. You DO NOT have to vote along party lines but the reality is that we have 1) failed to educate voters on the issues 2) register people and 3) make people go to the booths.

Sphinxpoet

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by sphinxpoet
In order to activate a more effective voting public the time may come where we have to do it like when voting rights were instated. We need to register everyone and then the day of election day walk door to door and move people to the voting booths. *knock knock knock* open the door because A VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE. We have become complacent in this area. How is it that in states where democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 there is a 54% vote going to the repulicans. You DO NOT have to vote along party lines but the reality is that we have 1) failed to educate voters on the issues 2) register people and 3) make people go to the booths.

Sphinxpoet

Question:

how can we MAKE anybody go to the booths and vote?
Why do WE have to educate people, why isn't th answer personaal responsibility?

[sphinxpoet]

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6


Question:

how can we MAKE anybody go to the booths and vote?
Why do WE have to educate people, why isn't th answer personaal responsibility?

It should be personal responsibility but there is a lack of vote empowerment at a young age. It should be more enforeced to our young people the responsibility of voting. Make may have been the wrong word but as a service organization and part of our national programs Alpha does have a responsibility to provide our voting public the opportunity to not only register but give them fourms where they can find out about the candidates and the issues.

Sphinxpoet

[Professor]

My Frat Bro. and a best friend left a message on my v-mail inviting me to a Libby Dole party - - - DAMN DAMN DAMN - I could not sleep last night. I kept thinking how my great state will change because of the election. Jails on every corner, cuts in social programs,increased unemployment rate and judges that don't support my folk. Knowing folk like my Frat Brother helped elect Libby has changed my way of life. From this point forward, don't ask me for shit. Especially when your job is cut and someone wants to know if I can spot him or her a few bucks the answer will be hell no - call Libby. When your grandmother can't pay for her meds and worries about that high electric bill don't call me talking about social services won't help her and what can I do - - My answer - call Libby - she was your answer November 5th.

[CrimsonTide4]

SAY THAT PROFESSOR!!!

[Blackwatch]

Bro. Professor,

In my best Bill Clinton voice "... I feeeel your pain "

Just let me ask you this question, was it so much different before this Republican Regime came into office? Didn't grandmothers have problems with perscription drugs in 2000? Wasn't there a long line at the welfare office last winter, and pretty much every winter since the Gulf War, full of people trying to get there light bill paid? Didn't the deregulation of the electric industry happen under Clinton's watch?
Do not get me wrong, the Republican Reigime comming into office is not good news ( I ain't finna go celebrate with the Doles either ), but would a democratic regime have been too much better?
I don't think the answer to the issues that are in the black community is partisan politics, I think it is political power. Too often partisan politics becomes market driven (say whatever will get me in office) rather than revolution driven (let's change the social, political, economic, AND RACIAL order). The reason why the democratic party keeps loosing ground, even though they probably speak for more Americans than the republicans do, is because they are trying to appeal to a broader, more "centrist" base so as to win elections. They are doing this because their core base (minorities, and the "underclass" or working class people) has more mistrust of the political system as a whole, and less likely to vote than the "suburban soccer mom" whom Clinton sought after in his election bids. Thus the democratic message gets watered down. Black people need revolutionary politics, not partisan politics. Revolutionary politics ain't PC, it won't sell in Middle America (the soccer moms ain't singing "It's time for a revolution").
I think the solution is education and motivation. Black people need to see a real choice, and a choice that speaks to their concerns. This person probably cannot win on a national level, but all politics is local. We need to field our own candiates, preferrably from our own party. A candidate that understands both the needs and sentiments of our community as well as how politics work (policy analysis, strategy for empowerment, understanding networks and how communities are empowered, etc.). Don't tow the party line on issues, tow the black people's line. Yes we want redistribution of wealth, but we ain't gotta agree with abortion rights to have it, like so many liberal democrats believe. To partisan politicians, its all about "power to the party", to revolutionary politicians, it's about "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!" I think that is what black people are longing for, real change. We didn't see enough of a difference between Libby and her democratic counterpart (even though there is, is it a big enough difference to warrent the trouble to vote?). Black people can't trust the market for our empowerment, but that is what partisan politics expects.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

[Professor]

You make a good case Frat. However, Blacks will soon see the difference in the forcoming months.

[APA4LYFE]

I find the Nov. 5th events a "hot mess!!!" This election was ridiculous and truly an example of how corrupt this country is. A Soror mentioned in an earlier reply that the GOPs has this plan to keep us from voting properly, it is most definitely true! I have never witnessed such a straightforward attempt to disinfranchise minority voters...e.g. no assistance, turning away from polls, etc.. We as a people must only rise above and persevere...as we always do.

Trav
Delta Beta Chapter
A-Phi-A

[RedefinedDiva]

Well, I see everyone's point. However, I think that there is more to it than just going out to vote. People MUST feel likle that their votes count. Yes, the educated percentage of our people, as well as some less that knowlegeable about the system, know that we as a people play an important part on ALL elections.

Playing Devil's advocate, what do we get? There are plenty of programs out there that lose funding when we don't vote. However, who knows that? For the past x amount of months, commercials, ads, debates, etc. have been rolling, but nowhere does it say, "If you don't vote, you stand the chance of losing your Medicare or Section 8." Or how about, "Your vote determines whether your kids will get free lunch or not." You just see some sly foxes smiling in your face. If there is one thing that I know, it's that people (our people especially) don't care and don't want to be bothered if they aren't directly affected.

Secondly, elected officials and candidates always want to get the African-American vote, but they don't care about us. How many of these people actually come into our neigborhoods and schools to find out what matters to us or how we feel? A few of them roll in, but show minimal concern. If you can't be down with the 'hood, dont expect the hood to be down for you.

Lastly, the focus is one the wrong people. The main group of people that aren't voting are the young, i.e. anywhere from 18 to 35. We all know that Clinton gained so much popularity because he put himself down with the "MTV generation." Clinton showed us young people that he was human and that he knew what it was all about to be young. He also showed that he was willing to put programs into place that would benefit us. No one talks to us, yet they beg for our vote. FOR WHAT? This is how people feel and those feelings are real.

I can complain until the cows come home. Sometimes, I feel the same way as everyone else. Voting seems like a waste of time. I do it out of privilege because I know what my people went through to get me this right. I vote out of hope that maybe things will change. I vote for all types of reasons, but things always seem to remain the same or get worse....