Republicans are openly engaged in ethnically cleansing the voting pool. A conservative judge in PA refused to stop the voter identification law, even though the state's lawyers acknowledged that they knew of NO CASES of in person voting fraud. In an eerily reminiscent, obtuse manner which called to mind the defense of the SCOTUS for its Bush v. Gore decision in 2000, the judge simply agreed that the law would protect the integrity of the election (for George W and his supporters).
As the population demographics continue to overwhelm conservatives in the years ahead, and as Democrats organize around the ID barrier, no doubt Republicans will turn to more drastic measures. One day they could be driving stakes through the hearts of minority voters. After all, some of "them" could become vampires, and vampires can't be legal citizens. They don't deserve the vote. Undoubtedly, Republicans will do even that with a clear conscience, so long as it gives them a chance to win elections.
I thought I heard a Republican cry last night. Shriek actually. Sounded like a mortal pang of conscience. She could no longer stand by silently while the carnage continued. Then I woke up. Not a stitch of guilt on a Republican face. Another carefree day of ethnic voter cleansing for the Right-minded.
Today I dream that liberals and moderates will agree to join together in a meaningful, unrelenting, unstoppable struggle to not only let the country know that we will not let the slaughter continue but also to stand strong together and deliver the stopping of the slaughter for those minorities for whom we claim to fight. Not just to end the slaughter, but to ensure that there are reparations for the voters purged, the voters can vote without poll tax or ID, during the same hours as Republicans, with equal access to voting machines. Not in 2016. Not next year. Not after the election. Now, because we are American citizens who will come together to defend the Voting Rights Act if nothing else.
I dream that we find common cause and maybe even a few sympathetic Republicans and go to Washington with and without permits, to march in legal, discrete groups of 75 throughout the streets of D.C., loosely organized at ad hoc staging areas throughout the city, amassing day after day until the media is fixated, the city is brought to a standstill (It's a city of 600,000. The bar is not that high.) and the country stands at attention.
It's a dream I have.
Do your cares about Voting Rights or at least the results of November's election cause you to dream of stopping the slaughter, of stopping the unjust loss of elections across the country?
If you have an intellectual distaste for the implications of influence-by-mass-protest, consider the implications of "oligarch and racist" (compliments to George R. R. Martin, AKA "Game of Thrones" author)) rule. If the word "oligarch" still sounds histrionic to you, then focus on "racist" rule. Or just focus on the fact that THIS ALONE COULD DETERMINE ELECTIONS, INCLUDING "THE" ELECTION, THAT YOU KNOW MUST BE WON.
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Pragmatically, is not my dream more logistically possible than that of ensuring that everyone impacted by these laws is in fact on the rolls in November and has an ID? And yet are we not pursuing these goals? We can do both. We must do both. We cannot risk that one or the other may not work.
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Some points of clarification.
Simpler messages resonate more clearly.
That's why, when I know that the motivation for the cleansing within each Republican's heart may or may not be racial, I focus on the impact, which IS predominantly along racial lines. Saying that "Republicans are disenfranchising key Democratic demographics for the purpose of gaining an electoral advantage" just does not have the same impact.
(Also, other affected groups such as they young and the elderly can be championed in discrete, parallel campaigns.)
I focus on the fact that even if there are Republicans who endorse these electoral schemes without thinking racially, they are endorsing schemes that have a decidedly racial impact. They are accepting discrimination against minorities as a means of electoral victory. They ARE collectively and individually engaging in racism even if racism is not, for every individual, the motivation.
Let's not forget:
To many Republicans this is about a deep-seated fear and unshakable belief that illegal immigrants are voting (through dead people) en masse all over the country;
To others it's just a "fair game tactic" for wining the election.
In reality it is a shocking and shockingly enormous and powerful conspiracy to steal the election. And it has an excellent chance of working all across the country.
[Most conspiracies fail because someone inside it can't keep the secret. So far, in this brilliant conspiracy, there's no secret necessary. WE MUST CHANGE THAT OR LOSE.]
Last, by focusing upon the minorities, which is entirely legitimate for the reasons I've already stated, I draw a bold, stark link to the inherent racism, which is so often characteristic of the impact of Republican policies. And it also lends itself, again, validly, to the ethnic voter cleansing meme, which is much more compelling than "Voter Suppression", which has never gotten the respect unquestioningly given to Voter Fraud.
I think it is paramount for us to establish ETHNIC VOTER CLEANSING as firmly in the public consciousness as now are "the 1%" and "the 99%". As soon as possible. It is entirely doable.
We need to dispel the notion that these programs are just part of the day-to-day mechanics of maintaining the machinery of elections.
We need to dispel the notion that these programs are "fair game", that democratic elections are a game in any sense at all.
(Perhaps I am naive, but I do believe that there are Republicans out there who will revolt when it is made publicly clear how racially revolting their party is behaving.)
Regardless, WE NEED TO EXPOSE TO AS MUCH OF THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE THE HORRIBLE SECRET IN PLAIN VIEW; TO FEEL, BE RIVETED BY AND MOVED TO ACTION BY UNDENIABLE, MASSIVE ETHNIC VOTER CLEANSING IN AMERICA.
Perhaps we can even get the international community to stand up and object.
And that's why my message is shaped the way it is.