In my opinion, our community’s voter education effort involves:
A: Getting new voters registered before the deadline.
B. Encouraging early voting with new media and facebook.
C. Taking family and friends to the polls.
C. Whole ballot voting.
I just coined the term “Whole Ballot Voting” because too many people voted for Obama/Biden in 2008 and nothing else on the ballot. After Obama and Romney exit the national stage for sweet mansions, we will still be living with the other federal, state and local officials. If I had my druthers, most local elections would be non-partisan but the old school “ticket” or “slate” is still important.
In the old days, the top of a party’s ballot lead, pushed or carried down-ballot contests—by top I mean president, governor, U.S. senator, congressmen and state-wide officials. Of course, the GOP took or the Democrats gave up too much power in the South. So, who leads the Democrats’ efforts in most of Georgia outside Atlanta? Sanford Bishop and John Barrow would be the natural leaders and Barrow has his hands full these days with relection.
When giving credit where credit is due, the GOP is one well-oiled political machine. Like the Confederacy, they do a lot with a little. Democrats, like the Union, have the numbers but keep getting out maneuvered and out foxed. So, President Obama is a combination of General Grant’s field marshal skills and President Lincoln’s intellect. During the RNC Convention this week, we should watch Red Team’s operation for pointers.
In the future, we should cultivating the next generation of leaders or better let everyone lead a little bit. For now, we must encourage and education our community about the importance of other contests. For example, the state Public Service Commission doesn’t seem exciting but they regulate telecommunication, natural gas and utilities–they impact everyone’s wallet.
The GOP is slick and savvy and they selected nice guy Mitt Romney to serve as a Trojan Horse. Once they get back into those White House gates, he will be pushed aside and policy will be driven by some nameless diabolical minds. Oh, Romney isn’t a bad fellow but there is 10 to 15% of the conservative movement that is as ugly as they come. Remember, that ugly element ran the moderate Republicans out of the party.
We must vote the whole ballot so leaders won’t make decisions without hearing all sides.
[quote]After Obama and Romney exit the national stage for sweet mansions, we will still be living with the other federal, state and local officials. [/quote]
Brother Slyram – I believe that you have it discombobulated.
If you look at the most pressing problems within the Black community with regard to our Black Community Permanent Interests……
* Safe Streets
* Quality Education
* Thriving Local Economies
* Healthy Lifestyles and Relationship Outcomes……….
……are all more powerfully rooted LOCALLY than one can argue that the Federal Government and the President will ever fix.
It is my analysis that forces embedded WITHIN or that are externally influencing the Black community desire to HAVE US LOOK PAST OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS and the governance problems that are stunting our development and instead invest our BLACK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSCIOUSNESS into national politics.
If I had my way I would have Black people to focus more of their passions on the LOCAL institutions and become LESS EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED to NATIONAL POLITICS.
It is clear that these VICTORIES, as defined by Black Leaders have NOT translated into ADVANCEMENTS for our people where it counts.