Yesterday,
JLFinch wrote
this diary on the very topic that could potentially have changed the outcome of the 2000 and 2004 elections: voter registration. How much attention did this diary draw? While I cannot say for certain how many actually read it, only 5 comments were posted and it did not draw enough recommends to shake a stick at (yes, I am from the Midwest, where we end sentences with prepositions).
Meanwhile . . .
a plethora of additional Guckert/Gannon diaries, as well as diaries about sexism, the pollster Zogby and even one about Gingrich, among others, drew far more attention, if the posted comments are any reflection. I'm not saying these other stories are without merit and this is no slam on the writers of those diaries. However, I found very curious the lack of interest shown in what is, in my humble opinion, one of the most important ducks to place in a row before 2008: voter registration and, along with it, voting rights.
The point of my diary, in the event that it is not clear (see below) is not simply voter registration or the particular diary that slipped under the radar yesterday. The big issue for me is that I believe we may be more drawn to the sexy conspiracy-theory stories, but be missing the boat on the not-as-sexy but fundamental to a win next time issue of making sure people not only are registered to vote, but are not cheated out of their votes by lengthy lines at the polls, false fliers on arrests at the polling place, etc. . . . problems that could easily be solved if we start working now on voter education and changes to the voting rules. Georgia10 and others have done extensive research on this--are we going to let it go to waste? Maybe I am wrong and many people are quietly working on these issues while dishing over the watercooler about the juicier stories during breaks from that task. But I am worried that I'm not wrong on this.
So, what gives? Why no takers for that practical but oh-so-important diary topic?
Update [2005-2-21 9:39:54 by Lawyer to Capitalists]: In response to comments below, I would like to clarify that this diary is not intended to attack anyone's sense of self worth, nor is it meant to be smug or have a tone that "I know better than you." I apologize if it came across that way. If my tone was overly enthusiastic or strident, it isn't personal to you, it is because I am trying, with all good intentions, to bring people's attention to a topic that involves no sex or violence, but that in my humble opinion is important to our party's success. I am surprised, however, to hear such freakin' sensitivity from people who happily take strident smacks from Armando and others on a daily basis.