Unlike most other demographic groups, those old white guys always manage to honor their right to vote. They may devote the shank of their days to hawking and patooeying, polishing and carressing their Buicks, and harrumphing --- cluelessly --- about how the young 'uns have it so easy. No matter. By gum, they're gonna show up to punch that ballot!
This li'l factoid has an impact. In 2010, the last midterm election --- and a census year to boot --- two vital demographic groups stayed home in significant numbers: young voters (18-29) and minorities. These are two of the three key demographic groups most likely to vote Democratic, the other being women.
Here's the data; Young voters represented 18% of those who voted in 2008, as opposed to 11% in 2010. 22% of those who cast their ballots in 2010 were non-white versus 26% in 2008. One more li'l tidbit of datum: 60% of white voters supported Republican congressional candidates in 2010, in contrast to 37% for Democrats.
It's probably a safe bet to assume that the statistical breakdown was similar for state-level elections: gubernatorial and legislative contests. So, because 2010 was a census year, state legislatures --- in most states now dominated by Republicans --- got to rejigger boundaries of congressional districts to favor their candidates.
So, despite the fact that roughly a million more votes nationwide were cast for Democratic candidates, Republicans still managed to retain a significant majority in The House. Recent issue-oriented polls indicate that we are a nation that cherishes humane values. (See previous post). But if the folks who really believe in a caring society stay home during the next midterm election in 2014, their hopes and aspirations won't matter. The Harrumphing Old White Dudes will continue to have their way with us.*
It's not too early to think ahead.
* Oh, by the way, I consider "Harrumphing Old White
Dudes" to be a state of mind that transcends age, gender,
and race (despite my initial, literal description of them).
Among this cast of characters are such "old
fossils" as Mitt Romney, John Boehner, Mitch
McConnell, Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Sarah Palin,
Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, and Allen West ---
as well as those who support(ed) them.
Sarah Palin et al., a list of a confederacy of dunces, if, alas, incomplete. People who don't vote don't really have a voice, in my opinion. But you and I know it takes more than mere casting of one's vote to make a real difference.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about the U.S. as a nation cherishing humane values. Some here surely do, but I'd balk at the notion that they are a majority. If they actually WERE, those values would translate into tangible, more enlightened actions and policies. I don't see it.