3 ms·

I recall in the 2016 election here in NJ I went to vote (we are in a deep red town). Despite the fact that I voted in multiple cycles in the same town and poll

I recall in the 2016 election here in NJ I went to vote (we are in a deep red town). Despite the fact that I voted in multiple cycles in the same town and polling place and the ladies working at the polling station remain unchanged over the years, because my signature was slightly off from the ones in their records they started saying out loud "hey wait a minute this does not seem legit". They started getting visibly angry and I started getting terrified because I am not white and there were a bunch of semi angry looking Trump people in the room with us. They asked me for another form of ID so I showed them my drivers license and then they were like "OK all is well" and calmed down. But still that experience of fear is what I imagine is going to prevent people from coming out to vote, especially in districts where Democrats haven't provided any meaningful reform when they have been in office(see rural areas getting killed under Clinton/Obama). If you combine an electorate that is already discouraged + the fear of altercation it spells doom in the long term. This culture of fear is what the Republicans want and its what they need to hold on to power amid changing demographics. They will strip the government of every last thing they possibly can on their way out of relevance. I won't ever give up my right to vote but would I have fought back if they continued pressing the issue? Would I accepted a provisional ballot that may result in my vote being thrown into the trash or becoming ineffective on election day? I don't really know.

post_from_work 5y ago
>>>This culture of fear is what the Republicans want and its what they need to hold on to power amid changing demographics. They will strip the government of every last thing they possibly can on their way out of relevance. You do know that there are Republicans who aren't white, and that some of them are very much in favor of improving voter registration? https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyNKlacik/videos/3035599606714428/ https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyNKlacik/videos/303559960671...
- nebula8804 5y ago
  Eh yeah but their actions have been hostile to minorities since I started paying attention near the end of middle school. The fact that you have a small handful of public figures that try to put on a happy face for the party don't really jive with their actions. Furthermore are you really going to make this argument that the party apparatus operates in good faith after Trump? You could barely make this argument after Bush.
  - post_from_work 5y ago
    I don't think ANY party apparatus operates in good faith. Maybe it comes from being in the military, which is harshly meritocratic, reasonably color-blind, and expects people to overcome obstacles. I'd rather work to reform the demographic outreach/culture of an adversarial party with a sound policy platform, than work to overcome the patronizing, low-expectations deconstructionist culture of a party that pays lip-service to my demographic to advance its terrible policy platform.
    - nebula8804 5y ago
      Sure the Democratic party has well documented corruption. Both parties serve the owner/investment class and not the working(upper/middle/lower) class. No matter what you are not getting any progress in either party. Bernie tried and while he was a historic candidate just due to the size of his movement and the unbelievable amount of grassroots funding, they managed to crush him. But if I had my pick as a non white person I'd definitely pick Democrats every time. There was a lot of depressing moments during the bush years after 9/11 but when Obama went into office(I was in college) it felt like a weight had been removed from not only me but everyone around me. It felt like the future could be anything I wanted it to be and that good times were ahead. People around me became more optimistic and positive. Yes he did not improve material conditions for many of the states. Even if he was a farce this alone was a very nice thing. Then Trump brought back those terrible feelings that I couldn't quite explain when I was in Middle/High School. All I know is that whatever the Republicans are selling, i'm not buying ever. In my time on this planet all I have ever seen is them turn the sentiment in the country from optimistic to pessimistic. The military is pretty objective but I have my doubts. The whole Air Force Academy having a large chapel and the notion that many enlisted and top brass are evangelicals that favor other Christians gets me thinking that it is not so cut and dry. I have considered joining just due to wanting to get that discipline and help to improve my country in some way but I have been advised against it for two reasons. My current salary is many multiples over whatever benefits I could get from the Air Force + multiple stories of racism and intolerance. It makes sense since many recruits are there because they have no other options so you're not getting the cream of the crop but i'm sure there are a lot of serious people in there as well and so in reality it is probably a mixed bag.

post_from_work 5y ago

>>>This culture of fear is what the Republicans want and its what they need to hold on to power amid changing demographics. They will strip the government of every last thing they possibly can on their way out of relevance. You do know that there are Republicans who aren't white, and that some of them are very much in favor of improving voter registration? https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyNKlacik/videos/3035599606714428/ https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyNKlacik/videos/303559960671...

nebula8804 5y ago
Eh yeah but their actions have been hostile to minorities since I started paying attention near the end of middle school. The fact that you have a small handful of public figures that try to put on a happy face for the party don't really jive with their actions. Furthermore are you really going to make this argument that the party apparatus operates in good faith after Trump? You could barely make this argument after Bush.
- post_from_work 5y ago
  I don't think ANY party apparatus operates in good faith. Maybe it comes from being in the military, which is harshly meritocratic, reasonably color-blind, and expects people to overcome obstacles. I'd rather work to reform the demographic outreach/culture of an adversarial party with a sound policy platform, than work to overcome the patronizing, low-expectations deconstructionist culture of a party that pays lip-service to my demographic to advance its terrible policy platform.
  - nebula8804 5y ago
    Sure the Democratic party has well documented corruption. Both parties serve the owner/investment class and not the working(upper/middle/lower) class. No matter what you are not getting any progress in either party. Bernie tried and while he was a historic candidate just due to the size of his movement and the unbelievable amount of grassroots funding, they managed to crush him. But if I had my pick as a non white person I'd definitely pick Democrats every time. There was a lot of depressing moments during the bush years after 9/11 but when Obama went into office(I was in college) it felt like a weight had been removed from not only me but everyone around me. It felt like the future could be anything I wanted it to be and that good times were ahead. People around me became more optimistic and positive. Yes he did not improve material conditions for many of the states. Even if he was a farce this alone was a very nice thing. Then Trump brought back those terrible feelings that I couldn't quite explain when I was in Middle/High School. All I know is that whatever the Republicans are selling, i'm not buying ever. In my time on this planet all I have ever seen is them turn the sentiment in the country from optimistic to pessimistic. The military is pretty objective but I have my doubts. The whole Air Force Academy having a large chapel and the notion that many enlisted and top brass are evangelicals that favor other Christians gets me thinking that it is not so cut and dry. I have considered joining just due to wanting to get that discipline and help to improve my country in some way but I have been advised against it for two reasons. My current salary is many multiples over whatever benefits I could get from the Air Force + multiple stories of racism and intolerance. It makes sense since many recruits are there because they have no other options so you're not getting the cream of the crop but i'm sure there are a lot of serious people in there as well and so in reality it is probably a mixed bag.