Why does 30 percent of America yield so much power?
September 28th 2007 18:44
I first wrote this in the summer of 2006, but it seems even more important a topic now, with America coming near to the 2008 election cycle, and the problems highlighted only having deepened.
President Bush has an approval rating hovering in the 30% to 37% range, with the Republican controlled congress scoring even lower. He manages to keep his failed policies moving, in spite of an incredible lack of competence at all levels of the Administration. Why? Because of that core support. It might seem like a small number, but this President is confident it will be enough to keep him and his party in power this November. If he can interest them in voting in sufficient numbers, that is.
How can this be, you ask? 30% of the voting age population is more than enough, if they all support him. When only around half of those adults that are of voting age care enough to even bother, 30% percent becomes a majority. The last time more than 60% of those old enough to vote did so was in 1968. And the pathetic excuses run the gamut. "It doesn't matter."
"They are all the same." And perhaps the most pathetic of all, "I'm too busy." Too damn busy to give a few moments over to an exercises that many died to obtain, so that today's lazy asses could have the option? As far as I am concerned, there is no excuse for not voting this November. The country is facing what is likely the most important election in its history this fall-so important that its very future might hang in the balance. At least the future of an America that we would want, and would be proud of. An America that once again could be looked to by the rest of the world for sound leadership, instead of them waiting with baited breath to see what the yahoo in charge might do next.
And what about the 30%? Can we change their minds? Probably not. Most of them will follow the President over the cliff as long as he says he is in favor of a ban on gay marriage, against abortion, and for the pledge. Why do you think these issues are at the forefront of debate in Washington now? With so many desperately important situations around the globe and at home, those are the issues the Republicans want to talk about.
Here are some numbers that support what I am talking about. When it comes to stem cell research, around 70% of Americans favor it. In John Dean's new book "Conservatives without Conscience" points to a study indicating that around 23% of Americans are pure right-wing authoritarian followers, who will blindly follow what they perceive as a strong authority figure. He states that America is in a state of "proto-fascism" or pre fascism, in its formative stages. It's no coincidence that the 23% he reported is close to the numbers of hard core Bush supporters. And the fact that 30% is the approximate number that opposes stem cell research points to the same conclusions. This President claims that the reason he vetoed stem cell research is because, according to propaganda minister Snow, is this: "The simple answer is-he thinks murder is wrong." Well, it is a simple answer. The civilian population of Iraq might have a different view surrounding how the President feels about murder.
In closing, it is imperative that we use good old fashioned math to beat them. 30% is not a majority, if enough people vote. Even if they try to use the same dirty tricks again to swing the vote, it cant' work if we overwhelm them with sheer numbers. Everyone would do well to remember that the Nazi Party wasn't a majority in Germany. Saddam's Baath Party was a minority in Iraq. The screaming Mullahs of Iran are in the minority too. Without a decisive election that will hold this President accountable, we could find America in the same boat.
President Bush has an approval rating hovering in the 30% to 37% range, with the Republican controlled congress scoring even lower. He manages to keep his failed policies moving, in spite of an incredible lack of competence at all levels of the Administration. Why? Because of that core support. It might seem like a small number, but this President is confident it will be enough to keep him and his party in power this November. If he can interest them in voting in sufficient numbers, that is.
How can this be, you ask? 30% of the voting age population is more than enough, if they all support him. When only around half of those adults that are of voting age care enough to even bother, 30% percent becomes a majority. The last time more than 60% of those old enough to vote did so was in 1968. And the pathetic excuses run the gamut. "It doesn't matter."
"They are all the same." And perhaps the most pathetic of all, "I'm too busy." Too damn busy to give a few moments over to an exercises that many died to obtain, so that today's lazy asses could have the option? As far as I am concerned, there is no excuse for not voting this November. The country is facing what is likely the most important election in its history this fall-so important that its very future might hang in the balance. At least the future of an America that we would want, and would be proud of. An America that once again could be looked to by the rest of the world for sound leadership, instead of them waiting with baited breath to see what the yahoo in charge might do next.
And what about the 30%? Can we change their minds? Probably not. Most of them will follow the President over the cliff as long as he says he is in favor of a ban on gay marriage, against abortion, and for the pledge. Why do you think these issues are at the forefront of debate in Washington now? With so many desperately important situations around the globe and at home, those are the issues the Republicans want to talk about.
Here are some numbers that support what I am talking about. When it comes to stem cell research, around 70% of Americans favor it. In John Dean's new book "Conservatives without Conscience" points to a study indicating that around 23% of Americans are pure right-wing authoritarian followers, who will blindly follow what they perceive as a strong authority figure. He states that America is in a state of "proto-fascism" or pre fascism, in its formative stages. It's no coincidence that the 23% he reported is close to the numbers of hard core Bush supporters. And the fact that 30% is the approximate number that opposes stem cell research points to the same conclusions. This President claims that the reason he vetoed stem cell research is because, according to propaganda minister Snow, is this: "The simple answer is-he thinks murder is wrong." Well, it is a simple answer. The civilian population of Iraq might have a different view surrounding how the President feels about murder.
In closing, it is imperative that we use good old fashioned math to beat them. 30% is not a majority, if enough people vote. Even if they try to use the same dirty tricks again to swing the vote, it cant' work if we overwhelm them with sheer numbers. Everyone would do well to remember that the Nazi Party wasn't a majority in Germany. Saddam's Baath Party was a minority in Iraq. The screaming Mullahs of Iran are in the minority too. Without a decisive election that will hold this President accountable, we could find America in the same boat.
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