There is a huge segment of the population that doesn't vote. Mostly poor people. How do I know this? I was poor once upon a time myself.
When your poor, every minute of every day is consumed with survival. When you finally do get a chance to relax, you just want to have a few cold ones and shoot the breeze with your friends, not talk politics.
Another reason that poor people don't usually vote is they don't trust the system. When you are poor, justice is a rare thing. Since you probably live in a bad neighborhood you are automatically suspected of some type of drug trafficking, or using. I once had the cops follow me for two days. I was clean as a whistle. Ever heard the term DWB? There is a correlating white component... DWP.... Driving While Poor. You are the first pulled over, on the off chance your old beat up car isn't insured because you let it lapse in order to buy groceries. So it's easy to ignore the only real power you have, and distrust it, the power of your vote. I've had numerous friends tell me... "they just put in who they want anyway."
When your poor, usually your church is your only support. The church ladies will bring you food and clothing for your kids, the pastor may help you with utility bills occasionally, and generally help you to get along. It gives you a sense of indebtedness.
Churches will come and give you a ride to church if you can't make it on your own. Some churches will give you a ride to the polls too... with a little pep talk on the way. Which brings me to:
Gay Marriage
I read an amazing thing today:
How Miller's "Faith Balance" proposals will play among voters remains unclear. The state treasurer suggests Kentuckians are placing to much of an emphasis on hot-button social issues.
"In 2004, I traveled to some of the poorest counties in Kentucky -- among the poorest counties in the United States -- to campaign for state legislative candidates," Miller writes. "I ventured into the Appalachian 'hollers' -- valleys of substandard houses and trailers without running water or indoor plumbing -- to talk about educational opportunity and affordable health care. I was met time after time with one question: 'What is your position on gay marriage?'"
http://spirituality.typepad.com/...
So how do we get the poor to vote? And if we do get them to vote,how do we get them to start worry about themselves and their children's futures instead of gay marriage? I've given it some thought during the day today, and I've come to the conclusion that we should address it head on.
We tell them that we will raise minimum wage, get their kids the best education possible, that we want health care available to everyone, and when they raise the spectre of gay marriage, tell them that gay marriage is not an issue they should be worrying about to the detriment of themselves and their families. We have to lay it on the line: republicans won't help you. We will.
We need to canvass poor neighborhoods, and talk to them about voting. Make them aware that they have the power to change the future, and their childrens future.
The hopelessness that is a palpable reality when you are poor doesn't have to exist. It exists because we as a nation allow it. They could be a powerful voice for change, if they would only believe it to be so.