Beginning after the 2008 elections, sections of the Republican Party went about moving legislation in various states to address allegations of voter fraud. The potential for voter fraud is less than the potential of being hit by lightning. Nevertheless, playing to racist fears on the parts of many Whites (of African Americans and immigrants), the right-wing was able to invent a problem where none existed. They convinced many people that there needed to be more stringent requirements to vote, steps that tend to disenfranchise people of color, youth and senior citizens. In the 2012 elections African-Americans and Latinos revolted against this effort and turned out in force. But showing up in one election is not enough. The aim of the political Right is to beat us down.
The future is also at stake. The political Right fears the demographic changes in this country. But they also fear real discussions about economic inequality, the environmental crisis, the rights of women, and, actually, the role of government. Their most articulate spokespeople openly talk about shrinking government which will mean that many things that you and I take for granted will disappear, such as social security, food safety inspections, fair tax systems, and a reasonable discussion about what to do about climate change. The right-wing ends up reminding me of the child bully who seeks to intimidate others and will only stop when we stand up to them. At that moment we come to realize that they are nothing more than pathetic cowards.
So, there you have it. We can sit home and pretend that the Nov. 4 elections don’t mean anything, or we can get to the polls and make it clear that we have no interest in giving up on the future or giving up on our right to make a statement. The choice really is ours.
(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the host of The Global African on Telesur-English. He is a racial justice, labor and global justice writer and activist. Follow him on Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.)
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