Alabama sends message: We are too broke to care about Civil Rights/Voting Rights

[kpete]

Take a look at the 10 Alabama counties with the highest percentage of non-white registered voters. That's Macon, Greene, Sumter, Lowndes, Bullock, Perry, Wilcox, Dallas, Hale, and Montgomery, according to the Alabama Secretary of State's office. Alabama, thanks to its budgetary insanity and inanity, just opted to close driver license bureaus in eight of them. All but Dallas and Montgomery will be closed.

Closed. In a state in which driver licenses or special photo IDs are a requirement for voting.

It's not just a civil rights violation. It is not just a public relations nightmare. It is not just an invitation for worldwide scorn and an alarm bell to the Justice Department. It is an affront to the very notion of justice in a nation where one man one vote is as precious as oxygen. It is a slap in the face to all who believe the stuff we teach the kids about how all are created equal.

Every single county in which blacks make up more than 75 percent of registered voters will see their driver license office closed. Every one.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_sends_message_we_are_t.html

[Starry Messenger]

1. K&R

[Brickbat]

2. K&R

[ReallyIAmAnOptimist]

3. Sounds like an opening to strike down...

Their ID requirement...
They can't have it both ways.
That said, this is pathetic and disgusting.

[malaise]

4. This is institutional racism

on steroids.

[MynameisBlarney]

8. Yet another glaring example

This cannot be allowed to continue.

[malaise]

9. Agreed

[cstanleytech]

31. Possible but regardless the fact is if they cannot or are unable to provide an

easy means of acquiring a legal ID the law requiring them to have one in order to vote should either be struck down by the Court's or the law needs to rewritten so that people can use something else as proof of residence like bills or something similar.

[Jack Rabbit]

55. It is, in fact, Exhibit A

If that state doesn't care about the people's voting rights, then the people shouldn't care about paying taxes in support of injustice directed at them.

[gollygee]

5. I disagree that they did this out of not caring

I think they chose majority African American areas on purpose.

[stillwaiting]

10. Absolutely. No doubt about it. nt

[brer cat]

17. Truth, gollygee.

They no longer use batons, water hoses, and dogs, but they still can and will shut down the AfAm vote.

[libodem]

21. They did it

To make it more difficult to have a photo ID that the polls recognize. It's a really dirty trick.

[jwirr]

40. Just one more way to obstruct the black vote. And given

the makeup of Alabama's government this is no surprise.

[JDPriestly]

50. Of course they did this on purpose.

They never got over losing the Civil War.

It's time for the Justice Department to get serious about voting rights.

This is so obviously wrong, I don't think anyone could argue if the US federal government just opened the offices itself.

We in California faced debt amassed by a series of Republican governors. We elected a Democratic governor, Jerrry Brown and then a Democratic majority in our legislature. And then we voted in a referendum to raise taxes, our own and those of the wealthiest among us. And we pulled ourselves out of the worst financial predicament. (Hear that, Schwarzenegger fans.)

Alabama will never do that, never pull together like that, until it makes amends for its racist past. It will never move into prosperity until the white people in it fully give up those old ideas and subtle attitudes that keep it down, that divide and distract it.

Alabama needs a peace and reconciliation commission on the race and other class issues, but mostly on race, and then maybe it can get on the page and start operating so that it can pay its bills.

[BlueJazz]

6. This is when the Justice department needs to start kicking ass. We (as a country) can't let...

...these bastards start pulling this crap or other states will see how easy it is to screw the poor/voters again.

[MynameisBlarney]

19. There are similar things going on

in other states.

Some more blatant than others.

[Live and Learn]

7. K&R nt

[LiberalArkie]

11. It is not based on wealth as they claimed check out this list in Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_locations_by_per_capita_income

They skip over quit a few counties at the bottom of the list.

[Generic Other]

12. A pictorial history of voting rights in Alabama

[Enthusiast]

13. Kicked and recommended!

This proves the value of that supreme court decision.

[MineralMan]

14. This needs a DOJ investigation and

possible prosecution. It's deliberate interference with the right to vote. Disgusting.

[MoonRiver]

15. Revolting behavior

I do think the jack booted thugs in the South plan to secede. This time we need to LET THEM GO!

[Ford_Prefect]

16. We poorly undeserving red state democrats thank you for your support. It's what we have learned to

expect from 3rd way, triangulating, inside-the-beltway pols.

[MoonRiver]

23. That's a ridiculous statement.

Unfortunately for the good liberals, such as you, in the South, where I was born and raised btw, your state governments are controlled by bigots, who want to disenfranchise any and all who don't vote Neanderthal. Pretending otherwise won't change reality.

[Ford_Prefect]

35. I have watched the "party" harvest votes and cash in North Carolina for over 30 years.

When it mattered to have issues of Civil and Voting rights pursued by DOJ and Congress we were left out in the cold. I have no faith in the central democratic party anymore. Neither do many progressives. We recognize that the only interests they care about are the military bases and banking industry here. The health and well being of 10 million citizens is not really on their radar.

When I hear comments about allowing or encouraging secession I see the desire of the mainstream beltway crowd to avoid a real fight. When we had genuine democrats in congress and the white house there was more committed response to our needs. I can see that triangulation has led to abandoning party principles as well as voters and citizens here.

For Shame.

BTW:

I was born just up the road in Charlottesville,VA. Grew up in Fayetteville, AK and now live near Hillsborough, NC. Having graduated from Chapel Hill I have watched the gradual retreat of the party for some time. I have nothing but contempt for those so willing to compromise what so many fought so hard to establish.

[MoonRiver]

36. I'm not a party insider. I just vote Democratic because that party most closely matches my beliefs.

No party is, or ever will be, perfect. But if you are happier going third party, I have no problem with that. To each his/her own.

[jwirr]

41. So what do you propose to do? Leave all the good Democrats

down south to fend for themselves?

[Ford_Prefect]

51. Evidently I was too vague in referring to triangulating 3rd way party hacks.

I expect to vote for Bernie Sanders.

[jwirr]

52. Me to. And one of the good things in this post is we are

talking about the fact that there is a majority of black people in the census. Soon if we can stop the obstruction these states will not be looking so red. I hope.

[brer cat]

25. Are you aware that over half of the AfAm

population in the US in concentrated in Southern states, and it has been increasing? Do you really have that much room under your big bus? Maybe, just maybe, you could consider helping them out rather than shutting them out.

The Great Migration slowly eased in the 1970s as the North's economic fortunes began to dim and the South's racial climate began to improve. But it wasn't until the 2000 Census, when the South posted its first black population increase in more than a century, that demographers started to really take notice. By 2010, about 57 percent of the nation's African-Americans were living in the South – a higher percentage than at any time in 50 years.

snip

Still, the newcomers are infusing the region with new energy and ideas. Demographer Mr. Frey notes that, while a weak national economy is slowing migration in the United States in general, the flow of people to the South will continue. Among the African-Americans, he says, will be a large number of young, middle-class, college-educated professionals ready to move into neighborhoods that are becoming more integrated. They will be drawn by an idealism about the future as well as the ever-present pull of the past.

"{The South} is home," says Charles Steele, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta. "Even though it's a dark side of your history, you can never forget about it. You always want to make it better."

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/0316/Why-African-Americans-are-moving-back-to-the-South

[MoonRiver]

28. Why are you accusing me of wanting to shut out African Americans? And wha"bus" are you talking about

I am a lifelong liberal who has always supported African Americans.

[brer cat]

45. You seem quite eager to let the south secede.

I'm just reminding you who lives in those states you want to throw out of the country.

The leaders of the civil rights movement could have fled north but they chose to stay in their "heartland" and fight for change at home. The new black families coming to the south are not doing so because they want to live under the rule of racists and bigots. The changing demographics in the south will lead to a power struggle that ultimately the good old white boys will lose. It won't happen overnight any more than the civil rights movement accomplished instant equality, but it will be achieved.

No one knows better than those of us actually living here how difficult it is to overcome the racism that this OP highlights. The civil rights movement succeeded with a lot of help from northern liberals. It would be nice to have support now instead of the constant south-bashing that DUers seem to thrive on.

[MoonRiver]

46. The South isn't going to secede, but if they were to go crazy and do so,

it would be their decision, not mine.

[daleanime]

18. K&R.....

[Calista241]

20. Of course they did this in the middle of College football season

Makes sense to do the controversial stuff when no one is paying attention.

And of course #8 Georgia is playing #13 Alabama this weekend. Might as well make sure nobody hears about it until they need to renew their license.

[Glassunion]

22. Some maps for a visual...

Alabama counties with no DL center...


Alabama's Black Belt...

[Ilsa]

24. Put Alabama first on the list of

southern states looking like Bangladesh if the US were to split up. (Re: Lawrence Wilkerson's speech)

[gademocrat7]

26. K&R!

A travesty.

[Punx]

27. Sounds like there is a need for a change in management there.

Just vote them out.

What? You need a photo id to vote?

OK, just go down to your local office and get one. I'm sure they will make it cheap and easy.

What? Your local driver's office is now closed? Well just go to the next one over. I'm sure Alabama has plenty of inter county public transit. And you have nothing better to do, right?


For people who profess to care so much about democracy they sure aren't interested in everyone voting.

For those of you in Alabama that actually do care about democracy, you have my sympathy.

[SCantiGOP]

29. This won't stand

I can't believe this won't get challenged and overturned in court.
Alabama forgot the prime directive: don't ever be obvious or admit that you are suppressing minority voter.

[mountain grammy]

30. Hey, John Roberts, you jerk, are you listening?

Way past time for Congress to work on the Voting Rights Act. This is blatant bullshit.

[mopinko]

32. claiming this is about money does not wash.

the dmv is a place that TAKES IN MONEY. i dont know the details, but i would assume they pretty much pay for themselves. or they should.
if they think people are gonna keep their licenses up to date if it takes a whole day to do so, they are crazy.

[Stellar]

33. Business as usual?

Still finding ways to keep Black Folk from voting. *smh*

[Baitball Blogger]

34. Alabama needs an inflinction of Civil Rights lawsuits.

We all know what their agenda is all about. It's not like we don't meet up with their favorite sons outside of its boundaries. It's the same ole, same ole good ole boy tactics.

[Stonepounder]

37. The Republicans know they can't win fairly.

Because, the majority of voters in the US are centerist to center-left. So, the Repubs gerrymander, cheat, and work to disenfranchise liberal voters. And the lie and lie and lie.

The problem is that the Democrats don't vocally and vehemently oppose them!

That's why Bernie Sanders is gathering such grass-roots momentum. He is the lone voice speaking truth to power. And the power is NOT in the government, it is in the oligarchs who go out and buy their Congressmen. Congress is a Punch and Judy show. Most of our Congressmen are nothing but hand puppets with big money writing the laws and then telling them how to vote.

The question now is whether we will actually be able to 'take back our country' from the big money interests, or whether it is too late and global oligarchy has already won.

[jwirr]

38. Sounds to me that if nothing can be changed then it is time

for a little old fashion activism. Get the people to the offices on a bus. And I am not talking about the city bus line. I am talking about freedom riders 2016.

Added to that there should be a fund to help those who cannot pay for the ID to get one.

"Change only happens when you organize." Barack Obama

[geek tragedy]

39. Alabama remains a white supremacist shithole. Black folks living there

should be entitled to a refugee rescue program.

[Initech]

42. Another state fucked up by the anti government party.

[dae]

43. I'm sure it's just an unfortunate coincidence.

[pampango]

44. And we are too broke because republican governments cut our funding. Funny how that works.

republicans cut state funding; state closes drivers license bureaus in majority-black counties; fewer minorities are able to vote; more republicans get elected.

You have to admit; it may not be just or democratic (small 'd') or good for the common person, but it does a hell of a job of providing job security for republican politicians.

[Gothmog]

47. The voter ic law needs to go

[vkkv]

48. Oh, right! NO BASHING of the SOUTH... n/t

[jalan48]

49. We keep hearing how the Republican Party is so out of touch it will be extinct in just a few years.

This is how these Neo-Fascists will stay in office even though they are the minority. This is outrageous.

[DFW]

53. I can't believe there has been no law suit and no statement from prominent Democrats on this

In government or out, candidates for President or TV talking heads.

This is EXACTLY how elections are fraudulently decided, and it's happening right out in the open for everyone to see.

Did the alarm clock at DoJ not go off this week or something?

[Eleanors38]

54. All that de jure Jim Crow shit? It's back. To hosts of GD...

and other DU members: I use "Jim Crow" as a reference to the apartheid legal regime in the South. The expression is widely-accepted by historians, political scientists, etc. I have in the past used this expression to describe the defunct gun-ban laws in Chicago, modeled on the laws just alluded to (see: McDonald decision, SCOTUS).

That post was alerted on during someone else's OP about guns, and was hidden 7-0.

The expression in my post title is NOT a post describing gun control or any other legislation in Chicago, Baltimore, NYC, SF as "Jim (large, raucous black bird) laws." Thank you.

[marym625]

56. Jesus Christ on a cheese sandwich!

This is just outright, blatant, racism. How I they continually get away with this shit?

[d_legendary1]

57. I'm pretty sure what they are doing is illegal

A state cannot require people to purchase IDs that no one can obtain without providing the means for people to comply with said law. And fuck that shit about going to the next county to obtain one. Clearly their state gubbermint is creating a problem on fictitious grounds. Someone needs to go to jail for this.

[babylonsister]

58. Recommend. I'm waiting to hear anyone denounce this.

Yep, waiting...