Carrot and stick

This very interesting article presents a problem that I see little to no discussion of. And it's not the problem you're thinking about.

Younger Blacks Tell Democrats to Take Notice
By LYNETTE CLEMETSON

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The debate had become a familiar one for LaShannon Spencer. As director of political affairs for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, Ms. Spencer, 30, is charged with taking the pulse of voters and keeping them connected to the party.

But at Cajun's Wharf, a restaurant and bar on the banks of the Arkansas River that is popular with young professionals, Ms. Spencer's political pitch was met with skepticism.

"Democrats just assume my political affiliation, based on my ZIP code or voting precinct," said Khayyam Eddings, a 31-year-old labor lawyer, referring to his predominantly black neighborhood. He was one of three African-American men engaged with Ms. Spencer in an animated discussion. "I don't cast my ballot based on learned behavior."

Mr. Eddings's comments were emblematic of what some Democratic strategists fear may be a growing problem: The party is perilously out of touch with a large swath of black voters — those 18 to 35 years old who grew up after the groundbreaking years of the civil rights movement. It is a group too important and complex to ignore, many strategists caution, when analysts are predicting another close election.

Democrats have traditionally counted on more than 90 percent of the black vote. Blacks 18 to 35 make up about 40 percent of the black voting-age population, but turnout among young blacks was so low in the 2000 elections that they made up only 2 percent of the entire vote.

The disengagement of young Americans in general and young Black folks in particular from the political process gets a lot of airing. The problem I want to discuss is why the Black vote is taken for granted by both parties and what can be done about it.

…A 32-year-old lawyer, a friend of the other two who did not want his name used because he is in state politics, said: "I question whether the party sees us at all. First they calculate who they do not want" to alienate. "Then they decide on acceptable losses. We seem to fall into the acceptable losses."

Yes. Exactly. And you know why? It's because you aren't registering on the activist axis of the political compass.

Unlike older blacks, many of whom vote consistently because they remember a time when they could not, younger blacks are more prone to sit out an election if no candidate grabs their interest.

In other words, Blacks are all carrot and no stick. We're either voting for a candidate we think will benefit us or staying at home because from our perspective there's literally no difference between the two (see yesterday's Political metadimensions on how it can be seen as such). Meanwhile, younger Black party member-types think their threatened lack of participation makes them all stick and no carrot…an assumption that's just flat wrong. Democrats benefit from greater Black participation, yes. And it would seriously make a difference in a tight race. But by not participating you don't benefit their opposition you merely remove the need to consider you at all. If Republicans don't make a play for your vote then Democrats won't either because it simplifies the political calculus. You are neither carrot nor stick.

"Not only do I not see myself as part of the base," Nnamdi Thompson, a 30-year-old investment banker, told Ms. Spencer at the restaurant, "I wish the Democratic Party would stop seeing me as part of its base. We have more power as voters if they have to come and court us."

This is too passive a position to take. You let events determine your power rather than creating it yourself.

The only time Democrats or Republicans "have to come and get you" is when they feel the need, which decision will be based on their viewpoint, not ours. From that perspective, we have all the power of a sledgehammer…others bring great force to bear by wielding us as a tool. We do not own that force if it only comes to bear on another's need.

To understand how to fix that, we must understand what it means to own something. Ownership is not the right to use something, it is the right to deny use of it to others while using it yourself.

Think about that carefully.

We can not use that force haphazardly, either. Those who suggest that voting Republican will gain us leverage are right, but timing is critical. Right now Republican extremists rule and supporting them is foolish because their policies will ultimately damage all Americans. We just catch it in the neck first, is all.

Here's a metaphor for the choice between voting Democrat, Republican, or not at all. Let's say you're in a locked room that's empty save for a sword, and a filthy, excrement-encrusted towel. You know the door will be unlocked sooner or later, at least for a time. And you accidentally cut yourself deeply on the sword. Do you
a - bind the wound with the filthy towel? (vote Democrat)
b - plug the wound with the edge of the sword? - (vote Republican)
c - bleed to death? (don't vote at all)

No brainer.

Posted by Prometheus 6 on August 8, 2003 - 9:29am :: Race and Identity
 
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