Ferguson Proves: Your Vote MATTERS.

[riqster]

https://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/ferguson-proves-your-vote-matters/

Source info at the link.

And your vote can change things. In Ferguson, MO, the locals did more than march in the streets: they marched right into the Board of Elections and cast ballots. And they tripled the number of council seats they hold. “Huge” doesn’t begin to describe it.

Ferguson residents voted to add two African Americans to the city council, a move that diversifies an elected body that was overwhelmingly white in a city with a majority black population.

Ella Jones, Brian Fletcher and Wesley Bell captured three seats on the Ferguson City Council. Jones and Bell are African American, while Fletcher is white. The six-member council will now have three black members for the first time in its history.

Bell said he was heartened by the sturdy turnout — especially since prior elections had featured dismal voter participparticipation. “We knocked on doors. We were all about community outreach and staying positive. And it brought out the highest turnout in the history of Ward 3,” Bell said. “That’s what I’m most proud about – that we reached out to citizens. Residents who have not felt a part of the process. And they came out. And they came out and they spoke loudly.”

Shortly after the Michael Brown murder, two things happened: the city militarized to suppress the black community, and said black community started to register to vote. We now know which method works best.

The former racist city administration has been shamed, sued and purged. Meanwhile, the formerly marginalized majority of the city’s voters now hold 50% of the city council. Ballots won, bullets lost.

This is how we change things, peeps: by voting. It works. It is powerful. It is effective. It is truly the American Way.

Vote.

[RKP5637]

1. +++ 1,000 +++ n/t

[riqster]

10. TY.

[aikoaiko]

2. That's a good start, but the real measure will be whether systematic changes happen.

[riqster]

5. And whether voters remain engaged.

If they do, change is far more likely. Sustained voter involvement is essential.

[sheshe2]

60. It is a great start.

Me, riqster, I think they will remain engaged. This is just the first step, I am not just speaking of Ferguson here.

Thank you.

[riqster]

61. Certainly looks that way.

[RedCappedBandit]

3. Word.

Voting does matter. Especially in local elections. People who try to convince others not to vote are the lowest of the low. Either they're woefully ignorant of the political process overall, or they do not share the interests of the people.

[riqster]

7. Some of each, I would say.

[City Lights]

4. This is great news!

Thanks for posting, riqster!

[riqster]

6. Thanks. I see other posts as well.

It is a good day for GOTFV activists.

[-none]

8. Now if they can do this in the next election, the citizens can have control of their own town.

Which means Ferguson probably be will be much safer for Blacks.

[riqster]

9. Exactly.

Just like the rest of us. We need to participate on an ongoing basis.

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. Good job, Citizens of Ferguson, keep participating!

[riqster]

12. Yep!

They can remake their town if they keep it up.

[Sienna86]

13. I thought of Ferguson yesterday as I was voting

Wonderful to hear the citizens came out and voted.

[riqster]

15. Agreed. When I saw them start GOTV right away, I was hopeful.

[CanonRay]

14. Good for them, long overdue

Last edited Wed Apr 8, 2015, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Stay active, stay engaged, it is your rent for living on the planet.

[riqster]

16. Well said.

[ieoeja]

17. Still only 30%. And two of the three were won by the de facto incumbents.

Some distrusted Bell's role as a city prosecutor and municipal judge in other north St. Louis County cities, while Fletcher was at times openly critical about the protest movement.

In fact, (former mayor) Fletcher said Tuesday's results were a significant rebuke to protestors.

"We’ve had a lot of things canceled or postponed over these last several months because of the unrest," Fletcher said. "And I think it’s a signal to the protesters that they want their city back. The citizens do. I think this was a message."

[riqster]

23. The highest turnout in ward history.

Why dismiss it?

[global1]

18. People In Ferguson Were Motivated......

they Got Out The Vote. That's how change happens. I'm thinking that the People of Chicago - that also had an opportunity to change things for themselves weren't as motivated. The powers that be demoralize the People and make them apathetic and basically want them to sit home and not vote. If Chuy was to win in Chicago the key was to get the People incited enough to GOTV. He didn't have the money that Rahm had and I believe that was a factor. Also - one of the Black Mayoral candidates that ran in the initial mayoral election 6 weeks back - where Rahm didn't get the majority and caused this special run-off election - threw his hat in with Rahm. My gut is that he worked out a better deal with Rahm than with Chuy.

Both the Ferguson and the Chicago elections were potentially change elections - ripe for the taking back by the People. Ferguson's People were more motivated to take back their city. The community organized a GOTV campaign right from the start. That's what should have happened in Chicago and it didn't.

Now who's or what's to blame in Chicago? The money? The powers that be? Or the People?

Looking forward to the 2016 Presidential Election will the same factors be in play? Will the People be motivated enough to GOTV or will they continue to be demoralized by the antics that are going on in D.C. to just sit home and watch it play out.

In my opinion - President Obama has and is making every effort to take back America from the Neocons and get back the dignity of the poor and middle class. But the People are so demoralized by the gridlock that they have it in their mind that nothing they can do can change things - so they sit at home and don't get involved and don't vote.

They don't realize the power of 'their vote'. They are brainwashed into thinking that their one vote doesn't count. That's what the powers that be want them to believe and behave like. Just one look at the voter turnout in the midterms points to that and that is why the Repugs took back the Senate and maintained the House. The Repug voters were motivated and they turned out.

Why were they motivated? Lies told by the candidates and not challenged by the MSM. The basically right wing MSM. The money that is involved in elections thanks to Citizen's United. Racism. The lack of backbone by the Dems to fight back.

All elections are within the grasp of the People. If the People aren't motivated to GOTV - then we're doomed.

[riqster]

24. Very true.

We have to motivate each other.

[jeff47]

27. Change is hard. We will lose many elections.

But keep in mind this is the first runoff for mayor. Ever. And even then, Emanuel got just over 50%. Previous incumbent mayors got way more votes in the first election.

That's a big fucking deal. It will shift the party. Not as far as a win, but it will still demonstrate there is a very large danger of continuing Third-Way bullshit.

The Teabaggers lost far more elections than they won. They now control the Republican party anyway.

All elections are within the grasp of the People. If the People aren't motivated to GOTV - then we're doomed.

It is not up to the people to be motivated. It is up to the candidate to motivate them.

[global1]

41. It Needs To Go Both Ways.....

I agree with you it is up to a/the candidate to motivate the People - but the People need to be motivated as well.

In the case of Ferguson - it took that shooting incident to get the People involved and motivated to do something. They learned that their apathy in past elections didn't provide them with adequate representation in their city government and because of that - they were up against a system that worked against them and further demotivated them.

Once the Ferguson thing reached national attention and the community of People actually took charge and became motivated - they were able to mount a GOTV campaign that resulted in getting back some representation for them based on last nights election.

It took national attention. The MSM. The community activists. The national activists to get that accomplished.

In Chicago - I don't think the Rahm/Chuy election got that level of attention. Also - the money was heavily weighted toward Rahm and Chuy wasn't able to mount a campaign such that it could get the People more motivated. Also - given machine politics in Chicago - that has a tendency to demotivate the People because they don't feel like they have a chance against the machine. It's been that way for so long that many Chicago voters feel that their vote doesn't count.

So I believe it needs to be a two way street - the candidate for sure needs to be a good candidate and needs to motivate the People - but the People in the community need to motivate themselves and the others in the community as well. They need to realize that they have a shot at changing things and they need to believe that.

Take Barack Obama's first election. The People in the Community really felt that he could be a change agent. They rallied and Got Out The Vote. Though Barack Obama did win a second election - the Repugs used every trick in the book to sandbag him and make him not as effective as he could have been. The result is that this demoralized the People in the communities to think that nothing that they can do can change things. This might have been the reason for such a poor turnout in the recent midterms.

Going into 2016 is going to be interesting - because GOTV is going to be critical in this presidential election. Will Hillary - who seems to be the anointed Dem candidate be able to generate as much interest as President Obama did - or will they continue to be demoralized and demotivated because they now think that after 8 years of gridlock that - nothing they do will change things. That is what the Corporatists, the MSM and the Repugs want them to believe if they think the Repugs think they have a chance at taking the presidency in 2016.

Will the first woman president stimulate as much interest and excitement as Barack Obama - the first black president did? That is the question?

[jeff47]

43. IMO, you're reading too much into Chicago.

Garcia wasn't going to run for mayor 6 months ago. He didn't run a terribly good campaign due to lack of time and money - For example, he didn't have a concrete financial plan for the city.

He still got 46% of the vote. Against an incumbent.

but the People in the community need to motivate themselves and the others in the community as well. They need to realize that they have a shot at changing things and they need to believe that.

And that change only happens via a candidate.

Desire for change doesn't in itself turn into change. Three "change" candidates start running. They're relatively unknown so they each have 10% support. The status quo crushes them before they are able to build support. Results in voters who still want change, but change is not on their ballot.

[global1]

50. In Ferguson The People's Desire For Change Turned Into Change.....

I don't believe a candidate running in Ferguson motivated the change to happen. The People realized that they were not represented and they voted to get representation.

[jeff47]

51. Because candidates magically appear on the ballot.

There's enough change in the air and "Poof!" you get a change candidate on your ballot.

You need both a good candidate and voters that will vote for that candidate.

[Fred Sanders]

19. President Obama has shouted the messsge of VOTE so many times he must be sick of saying so.

This result from Ferguson has to be held up like a shiny trophy to show non-voting folks that there is hope, and it does not have to be given to them, they already have it.

Wonder if the mass media will report on this much...this vote that is a lasting legacy of a tragedy the mass media reported on day and night?

Vote.

And screw the mass media.

[riqster]

25. I am sure the anti-vote people will do their best to spin this their way.

Fuck those people.

[Iliyah]

20. Voting does matter. Dems, Green or other progressive/moderate groups need to

realize that even in non presidential elections. Just look what the USA got, a bunch of lunatics who believe that they are more important than the office of US President (non GOP). Also, this is what the GOP party are very afraid of and that is why they are instituting voter suppression laws with the help their activist judges from city to state to federal to US Supreme court.

Look at the insanity of the states run by GOPers. They don't give a shit about the American people unless you are the 1-2%ers.

So kick this thread.

[jeff47]

22. Candidates are not entitled to votes. Candidates have to earn votes.

This story is a story of candidates earning votes. They knocked on doors, they met with voters, they worked their ass off to earn votes.

You propose the opposite. That Democratic candidates are entitled to votes, no matter what. That does not work.

It is not up to the voter to vote. It is up to the candidate to earn the voter's vote.

[riqster]

28. Voters should just sit back and wait for a perfect candidate?

That has never worked, and will never work. We have to participate.

As Senator Warren said, "If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu."

Ferguson's majority has been on the menu for a very long time. Now they are at the table. Not because they had perfect candidates; because they voted.

[jeff47]

21. No, Ferguson proves busting your ass to get votes works.

We knocked on doors. We were all about community outreach and staying positive. And it brought out the highest turnout in the history of Ward 3,” Bell said. “That’s what I’m most proud about – that we reached out to citizens. Residents who have not felt a part of the process. And they came out. And they came out and they spoke loudly.”

They busted their ass to connect with the voters and ask for the voter's help.

They did not sit in their tower and lament when the voters did not materialize out of thin air.

[Andy823]

26. Yes knocking on doors helps

But you can knock on doors all day long, but if voters don't get out and vote things won't change!

[jeff47]

32. That's why you knock on doors all day long.

To get the voters out.

There's a massive number of people on DU that write posts based on the premise of candidates are entitled to votes. If a candidate loses, it's the stupid voters fault.

It is never the stupid voters fault. If they didn't show up, it is the candidate's fault for not motivating them enough to show up.

Gore blames his 2000 loss on himself. Not Nader, or voters who did not turn out. Why'd Obama win the 2008 primary? He got voters who usually stay home to show up. Why'd Coakley lose two "gimme" elections? She didn't motivate voters to show up.

[riqster]

30. Yes, GOTV efforts were crucial. They had tents set up right after the shit started to fly.

But acting as though the voters themselves don't deserve credit for doing their part is demotivational malarkey.

[jeff47]

33. The alternative is blaming stupid voters for the loss.

Take a look at the threads lamenting Emanuel's win. They're filled with posts that say "stupid voters".

The emphasis needs to be on the candidate's efforts to win votes, where it belongs. Instead of emphasizing that the voters must show up no matter who is on their ballot.

[riqster]

34. That is a top-down, elitist approach.

"The voters can't be expected to involve themselves, they must be led by a charismatic figure" is a steaming load of bollocks.

Voters can and must educate and motivate ourselves, not wait around for someone to motivate us.

[jeff47]

40. No, the elitist approach is assuming the voters are not doing that.

Voters can and must educate and motivate ourselves, not wait around for someone to motivate us.

You're calling non-voters unmotivated and stupid. That might be a wee bit elitist, don'tcha think?

Well motivated and educated voters can make the choice to not vote. If they feel there is no candidate that represents them on the ballot, why should they show up anyway?

A while ago, I lived in a very red area of NY. It was quite common for there to be literally no Democrat on my ballot for many races. You are saying I was unmotivated and/or uneducated because I did not vote in those races, and did not show up if the ballot only contained those races.

[riqster]

42. No, I said no such thing.

It is ridiculous to compare a situation in which there is no candidate with one having a candidate. In the first, the voter cannot cast a ballot at all, unless they vote for a possible opposition candidate.

A race which DOES have a candidate from your party is a totally different scenario.

[jeff47]

44. It's the obvious implication from what you did say.

Your complaint: Voters don't show up. Your solution? Voters have to become educated and motivated.

That solution only applies if voters who don't show up have not done that. So by saying they need to become educated and motivated, you are saying they are not educated and not motivated. AKA stupid and lazy.

A race which DOES have a candidate from your party is a totally different scenario.

Nope. We also got "Democrats" on the general election ballot who lost the Republican primary. I should have voted for them because........?

[riqster]

45. I am advocating active personal involvement.

You advocate a passive, externally driven model.

And you think MY approach is insulting?

[jeff47]

46. Well, you're the one calling voters stupid and lazy.

I think most people would consider that an insult.

You advocate a passive, externally driven model.

Nope, my argument is it's up to the candidate to attract votes. Instead of the voters owing their vote to the party regardless of the candidate.

You give me a shitty candidate, and my well-educated and motivated vote may very well be doing something else. For example, I had the opportunity to vote against Senator Feinstein. My well-educated and motivated assessment was that she was a shitty candidate. And alternatives to her get crushed by the political machine in CA before they can attract enough support to get rid of her. No matter how much I am motivated.

If you want a short summary of my position: Stop blaming the voters for shitty politicians.

[riqster]

47. And here is a short summation of mine:

Those who don't involve themselves should not complain if the government is not to their liking. And those who do involve themselves deserve to be recognized for their efforts.

I started a "yay voters" thread, and you immediately minimized the achievement of the voters, preferring to laud the party for its GOTV efforts. You have since further minimized the voters by insisting that the candidates are more important than the voters.

That'll wash a lot of hogs.

The voters are ultimately responsible. And the more of us who realize that, and act on it, the better our country will be.

[jeff47]

49. Involvement does not equal results.

In theory, involvement in a democratic system yields results.

In reality, that is frequently not the case.

I started a "yay voters" thread, and you immediately minimized the achievement of the voters

You started a "stupid and lazy voters finally did the right thing" thread, dressed up in positive language.

What, exactly, did you think those voters were doing in all the previous elections? Because this thread heavily implies you only have a positive opinion now.

You have since further minimized the voters by insisting that the candidates are more important than the voters

We do not get to choose from every possible candidate. And even if our chosen candidate runs, they can still do a terrible job with their campaign.

Our political system exists. It is not something you can ignore and say "it's all the voters". Because the voters do not have every option available. If you'd like a nice, shining example, take a look at 1968's primary.

The voters are ultimately responsible.

Yeah, I used to think so. Then I turned 18. And quickly learned that voters are only given carefully screened options to choose from. I was told to stop whining and vote for more tax cuts funded by benefit cuts. Because that's what the anointed candidate supported, and we can't have anyone harming party unity.

I strongly expect our difference of opinions is generational. My generation doesn't have enough people in it to even get a name - that's why we're "Generation X". Marketers could be bothered to study us enough to give us a label, because we weren't relevant to the bottom line. And only the younger half of our small generation leans left.

As a result of that small size, we have extremely small political power. We weren't needed to win, and we wanted things that were inconvenient to the generations that were larger. Be as motivated and educated as you want, but when you're outnumbered 2 to 1 you aren't going to get your needs addressed.

Millennials are large enough to start getting some traction on those issues, but the entrenched party leadership is trying very hard to figure out how to not address them and still win. In the long run, that will no longer be sustainable. But the party will try to keep it going for a while. Using tactics such as "stupid, lazy voters stayed home so we lost". You're making the same argument, just using the positive-sounding inverse.

Voters do not have infinite choices due to the structure of our two-party system. As a result, it is not all up to the voters.

[riqster]

57. Telepathic, you're not.

And your reading between the lines of my post is thus erroneous.

I have made posts in which I excoriated Non-voters, yes. But this was not such a post.

This was a positive post. No need to project your own incorrect interpretation on it.

Sometimes a cigar is just a stinky bundle of burning leaves.

[mountain grammy]

29. More than double the typical turnout.. a great start..

if numbers double again in the next election, wow. Talk about taking your city back, this is how to do it.

[riqster]

31. A great achievement.

Bet it scares the powers that be.

[mountain grammy]

35. You bet it does, which is exactly why it has to be higher.

The city officials of Ferguson had quite a little racket going on there, exploiting the working poor, and it's common all over America. The great masses of the working and non working poor; not represented because they don't vote. Time for that to change.

I think if more than 50% of eligible voters actually voted, the PTB would be shooting us in the streets. Oh wait, they already are! Might as well vote.

[riqster]

37. True. Non-involvement emboldens and enables the PTB.

[DrewFlorida]

36. That is great news. Thank you for posting this!

[riqster]

38. Thanks.

Ferguson voters deserve praise.

[Cryptoad]

39. Yep ,,

that right...... all those ass hole cops that like to shoot first and ask question later. they were all hired by someone who is held accountable to voters in local election.....

Yet 63% of the people in Ferguson could not make the effort to vote...... geeeez

[ChisolmTrailDem]

48. Can felons vote in MO? When it comes to voting in Ferguson, I end up wondering how targeting

blacks for 'special treatment', as discovered by the DOJ, effects the vote. Is what happened in Ferguson typical, or atypical, and how does that effect elections? Rethugs have a whole litany of ways they suppress the vote, jerrymandering districts, voter IDs, etc.

My bigger question is, can we root out the other municipalities and governments around the country that engage in the same injustices that were found by DOJ in Ferguson?

[riqster]

53. Not sure. That varies from state to state.

And you are right: Obstacles are erected to keep "others" from voting, and we need to help each other over those obstacles, and to remove them when possible.

And yes, this success needs to be replicated.

[Rex]

52. Every vote counts. Not voting ends up hurting everyone.

I've tried and sometimes in vain, to get more of the local populace into the voting booths during election years. It seems it has paid off too...more people in the area are showing up to vote in school board elections than ever before.

So 2016 is looking good, still a lot of people out there that simply need a ride to the voting booth. Some don't have a car or means to get there.

[riqster]

54. I hammer away at GOTFV and election integrity for just that reason.

People need to vote, and they deserve access to the polls. We can all help each other.

[uponit7771]

55. AMEN and AMEN!!

[riqster]

56. GOTFV!

[rhett o rick]

58. Well said rigster. nm

[riqster]

59. Thanks Rick.

Signed, Rick.

[lovemydog]

62. Voting does work.

Over and over again, throughout history.

Big k & r.

We must get rid of racist city administrations in every city across the nation. City elections matter a great deal. City council voting matters a great deal.

I'm proud of the people of Ferguson.

I thank all the DUer's who helped inform me of what was happening in Ferguson. You've gotten me more enthused about voting in every election. Especially to carefully study the candidates in local elections.

[riqster]

64. Indeed. Local elections matter.

This has reminded me of their importance as well.

[Egnever]

63. Absolutely!

It's a good day for the community.

[riqster]

65. The"expert" interviewed in the MSM story downplayed the significance.

Part of the Teapubbie vote suppression scam.