Do the math

On the other hand, Juan Williams makes a seriously valid point: that Black folks could be the key to the White House if we turn out in sufficient numbers. And given that national political deadlock, those numbers don't even have to be that large (though I REALLY hope they are).

One of my favorite books, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper by John Allen Paulos explains there are situations in which folks who think they have voting power actually don't:

…consider a corporation with four stockholders holding, respectively, 27 percent, 26 percent, 25 percent and 22 percent of the stock. Again, a simple majority is needed to pass any measure. In this case, any two of the first three stockholders can pass a measure whereas the last stockholder’s vote is never crucial to any outcome. (When the last stockholder’s 22 percent is added to any one of the first three stockholders’ percentages, the sum is less than 51 percent and any larger coalition of stockholders doesn’t require the last stockholder’s 22 percent.)

but the same sort of consideration can show there are situations where folks who think they have no voting power actually do. And in my opinion, the upcoming presidential election is one of them.

The country is not only polarized, but evenly divided—we all know that. Last numbers I saw said something like 45% progressive, 45% regressive Republican. These are hard-core positions. Now, what would happen to that balance if large numbers of Black folks voted against those they feel are actively hostile to their interest?

Think about it.

WE CAN TIP THE BALANCE.

Posted by Prometheus 6 on June 16, 2004 - 8:46am :: Politics
 
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Of course we can Malcom X said it 40 years ago and its still true. Unfortunetly we have sold out our right to vote to the democrats who do nothing for us. (Public school: nuff said)

Even Jesse Jackson said it, if Kerry wants to win get a black vice president

From Malcolm X 40 years ago

" As they see these new political trends, it's possible for them to see that every time there's an election the races are so close that they have to have a recount. They had to recount in Massachusetts to see who was going to be governor, it was so close. It was the same way in Rhode Island, in Minnesota, and in many other parts of the country. And the same with Kennedy and Nixon when they ran for president. It was so close they had to count all over again. Well, what does this mean? It means that when white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House and who's going to be in the dog house.

But we never learned the lesson. Its time for a change. The black vote must stop selling out Black America by giving away the milk for free."

Mission statement from my blog

"Mission Statement:

Since the Democrats have failed in their mission to respect and protect their strongest supporters and ignored the black vote I have decided to vote for Bush in the following Election. For me the decision is very easy I live in NYC and NY always goes democrat so my vote is effectively useless in a presidential election. Unfortunately the sick feeling I get when I consider voting republican means that I am not a swing voter and thus elected officials ignore my needs. Over the next few months I will be investigating and sharing why Blacks should vote for Bush in 2004."

Posted by  Scott (not verified) on June 16, 2004 - 5:19pm.

Push a mandate. A big sweeping victory to show all of America is ready to advance. Republicans are status-quo, always have been so.

Posted by  Mr.Murder (not verified) on June 18, 2004 - 11:02pm.