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> In 2015 in Alabama, DMVs in predominantly black (and therefore democrat) In 2017 in Alabama black people had an amazing ~30% turnout for the senate elections

> In 2015 in Alabama, DMVs in predominantly black (and therefore democrat) In 2017 in Alabama black people had an amazing ~30% turnout for the senate elections. More than for President Obama. I don't think requiring ID is a real issue in Alabama.

ataturk 9y ago
Except for the inexplicable 92% turnout last week, right? It is abundantly clear something fishy took place there because I simply don't believe that all those poor people in Alabama suddenly woke up and decided to turn over a new leaf and become civically active. Roy Moore was a shit candidate from beginning to end, but the all-out media assault on him was a passel of lies and half-truths and that election was dirty, dirty, dirty, once again.
TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
To those downvoting this comment, please think hard about whether you're just downvoting because you disagree with them. The comment wasn't inflammatory, and does counter the comment that it's replying to in a logical manner. We need to allow for civil discourse between people we disagree with, or else we'll form an echo chamber.
- Latty 9y ago
  It's a response to a comment saying "Black people's votes are routinely suppressed" with "Black people don't vote enough, that's the real problem!" - yes, at least in part, because they are being suppressed! It's just like when people quote the percentage of black people in prison as some kind of proof of inherent black immorality. They are ignoring the root causes that aren't the fact those people are black: average wealth, systematic racism, etc... The comment is getting down voted because it's just logically stupid - it's like someone coming to you with the problem that they don't have any food, and you going "Well, you haven't eaten a meal all week! Maybe start there." - it's not useful or a "counter", it's just restating the problem and pretending it's the fault of the victim. Compare that voting figure to the national average for people in a similar socio-economic class to the average black person, and then consider they are having votes suppressed as well. Not to mention a political history of being ignored, discriminated against and lied to that would likely reduce anyone's faith in the system. The idea that it's somehow their fault they are being targeted for systematic suppression or that we shouldn't care about the issue because they, as a population, have low turnout, is just flat-out stupid.

ataturk 9y ago

Except for the inexplicable 92% turnout last week, right? It is abundantly clear something fishy took place there because I simply don't believe that all those poor people in Alabama suddenly woke up and decided to turn over a new leaf and become civically active. Roy Moore was a shit candidate from beginning to end, but the all-out media assault on him was a passel of lies and half-truths and that election was dirty, dirty, dirty, once again.

TheAdamAndChe 9y ago

To those downvoting this comment, please think hard about whether you're just downvoting because you disagree with them. The comment wasn't inflammatory, and does counter the comment that it's replying to in a logical manner. We need to allow for civil discourse between people we disagree with, or else we'll form an echo chamber.

Latty 9y ago
It's a response to a comment saying "Black people's votes are routinely suppressed" with "Black people don't vote enough, that's the real problem!" - yes, at least in part, because they are being suppressed! It's just like when people quote the percentage of black people in prison as some kind of proof of inherent black immorality. They are ignoring the root causes that aren't the fact those people are black: average wealth, systematic racism, etc... The comment is getting down voted because it's just logically stupid - it's like someone coming to you with the problem that they don't have any food, and you going "Well, you haven't eaten a meal all week! Maybe start there." - it's not useful or a "counter", it's just restating the problem and pretending it's the fault of the victim. Compare that voting figure to the national average for people in a similar socio-economic class to the average black person, and then consider they are having votes suppressed as well. Not to mention a political history of being ignored, discriminated against and lied to that would likely reduce anyone's faith in the system. The idea that it's somehow their fault they are being targeted for systematic suppression or that we shouldn't care about the issue because they, as a population, have low turnout, is just flat-out stupid.