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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
The University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily in Charlottesville,VA, offered an excellent treatment on the subject of claims that the New Orleans vote is being purposely whitewashed.
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=26781&pid=1432
Katrina played no race cards. Why should anybody else? Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Tracy Clark-Flory appear to be playing it for all it's worth.
New Orleans is what it is, and anybody on the N.O. voter rolls who wants to vote can do so if they want to.
--
Collin Harkness
How is it possible that we're (New Orleanians!) constantly ignored by the majority of media, except when there's a "story" that's derogatory towards the city in the offing? Just gotta ask that question.
My mother lives overseas, and yet she's able to cast a ballot whenever it's time to vote. So, how, then, is it possible that people moved the whole six hour drive - to Houston, for example - find that they're "disenfranchised"? How is it discriminatory to offer people the opportunity to vote, though they haven't been a resident of the city they're voting in for more than half a year? How is it Not discriminatory to allow them a say on who governs a city that they haven't lived in for more than half a year? Don't you think it gives untoward weight to politicians who are entrenched, rather than the new and responsive candidates who aren't known to refugees, due to their absence?
Those of us who were fortunate enough to return as early as we could have found a twisted world of stress, uncertainty, mismanagement, and complete non-resident ignorance and have been forced to accept disenfranchisement for almost three months - our elections were supposed to be held at the end of Feb. We've been "governed" by those whose ineptitude, and more to the point, bickering led us to and dragged us through the crisis of corruption, unresponsive government, and poor policing that are the blots on the escutcheon of powerful, beautiful, and wonderful New Orleans. I'm very sorry if people who've found their homes destroyed, or their lives upset by the mishandling of emergency services on the part of their country aren't happy that they must mail their ballots, or email, or call the Louisiana Secretary of State (Al Ater, fyi) in order to get info about how to cast their vote, but quite honestly, if they aren't here, and they can't find a way to return, they're residents of where they've landed. That is just a fact.
Texas is going to have an important election for governour that can kick out their Corruptocratic "leader" and put in a real reformer. Since our neighbours in the Lone Star State have shown us so much love, why not return the favour by freeing them from their misery {read Republican cronies of Connecticut Yankee G.W. Bush), while allowing the people of New Orleans who've returned to cast informed votes on the circumstances that affect them daily? It's not the same city, and if we want the good things to return, we must get rid of those who brought us to the dire state we found ourselves in.
The problems with absentee voting will mean that Ray Nagin can claim he was voted out unfairly, instead of voted out by the landslide of opposition he deserves.
Do we really want people who aren't capable of following directions for absentee ballots to be able to vote?
If you're a Katrina victim who's been relocated, wouldn't you most likely have access to some media that would clue you in on the fact that there are going to be elections? I mean, if I was forced out of my city, you'd better believe I'd keep track of what was going on here. If people don't care enough to find out when and how to vote, then I don't feel sorry for them. It's not the government's job to constantly hold people's hand.
Also, while I sympathize with people in wheelchairs, I doubt they are a "significant" portion of the population, as the article suggests. I'm also sure that election officials would assist someone in a wheelchair to enter the building, or would bring ballots outside. I think the ADA issue is a red herring.
P.S. I'm a democrat.
When it can be made easy?
Our Finnish system has pre-voting arranged at a large number of post offices and other places (and consulates and such abroad). During the designated days (usually a week - 10 days) you show up at any "mail voting" place in the country, show your ID, fill in your ballot, seal it in an envelope and give it to the official who in your viewing seals that envelope into another envelope and put it into the pile. Then you sign a slip confirming that you have voted and you are done.
The easiness of it all has meant that since the requirement of giving a reason (which could be "I think I might be out of the county") was skipped (15-20 years ago) more and more people chose to "mail vote" since they can do that anywhere, whereas on election day you can only vote at your designated polling station.
The author suggests that more African-Americans were affected by Katrina than were white residents of New Orleans. True -- for the simple reason that the pre-Katrina population of New Orleans was heavily African-American. However, blacks have not suffered in greater proportion.
Neighborhoods "ravaged" by Katrina include Lakeview, which was almost exclusively white. Additionally, the article rests on the premise that most evacuees are out of state. Many are, but the majority are resident (temporarily, I hope) within other areas of Louisiana where voting stations have been provided.
Yes, some voting places are inappropriate. Yes, the eletion will be difficult. But the alternative of waiting until conditions are perfect is not plausible. Many New Orleanians (white and black) are bewildered by the (often external) concerns re voting. The problems associated with absentee voting and/or traveling to a polling place pale in comparison with the problems associated with the storm.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
