red onion

I participated in a rather frustrating exchange with a right-wing fascist today on the Daily Kos commentary. Whew, it is important to know how these people think, which I blogged on a little before I visited Daily Kos today, concidentally. Also, An Unenviable Situation has some excellent comments on the psychology of fascism (on Tuesday, July 22, although he is always a good read). I had this brief exchange with a Daily Kos supporter.

> >Elizabeth...Most of us here in DailyKos are with you. I am guessing you are a Dean-er, too, because none of the other wannabes are proposing programs and policies that are alternatives to the current regime. They only protest and condemn -- rightly so -- the actions and inactions of the current regime.
> >
> > Somehow,we have to find ways to concentrate on the Alternatives -- what are we going to do to get rid of these people who are stealing the country? And then, what needs to be done to correct the damage that is being done to us daily?

My reply:

charlton,

Actually, I support Kucinich for president, as his beliefs most closely resemble my own regarding many issues. I will however, vote for Dean, if he is the party nomination. In fact, I would be willing to support Kerry and Gephardt, Edwards...you get my drift. The most important goal is regime change, here at home. Thank you for your support. I thought it was very helpfull for Sally Jennings to comment today. We really do need to see and understand how these people think, although I honestly believe she is a minority in this country. Through deception, her kind have gained the upper hand. Most people, like my own sisters, simply don't take the time to think about the issues, and have their heads buried in the sands. They are most prone to be influenced by sound bites. I am struggling to find a way to reach these kinds of people, rather than the Sally Jennings, who are probably lost to us and may never change.

elizabeth,

Reaching for the Uninvolved is a smart move.
>
>The Dean campaign, for example, is mounting a massive registration drive on college campuses. How these people finally vote, as long as it's not for Dubya (aka to me as Boy George) doesn't really matter. Dr. Dean will be able to make the strongest case that he should be the nominee. He's going to do very well in the early primaries, especially in Iowa and New England, much better than the "conventional wisdom" (i.e. the media) is yet prepared to admit.
>
>Another large contingent of the Univolved is in the Darker Nations, black and brown. Any ideas about how to reach into these groups? This may differ in different parts of the country. I am in the Kansas City area. Here we are in many ways an older-type Southern city. Less progressive than e.g. Atlanta or Raleigh-Durham, in my opinion. No legal segregation, but strickly demarcated Black and Hispanic enclaves. Where are you located, Elizabeth?
>
>Though you are for Kucinich now, I appreciate your openness to backing another eventually.
>
>. Please look at www.deanforamerica.com to see what Dr. Dean is saying and doing.

My reply:

charlton,

I suppose the only way to reach to the brown and dark skins is to find a way to go into the neighborhoods and reach. In my state of Louisiana, the democratic party is sponsoring voter registration drives beginning in August. It is my belief that we can deliver the state of Louisiana to the democratic party in 2004. I hope to organize supporters from the campaigns of all of the democratic candidates here in New Orleans and hold registration drives in various neighborhoods where we can reach the most people. It is especially imperative to reach out to minorities, because many don't have the internet access that we do, hence, face- to- face reach-outs are vitally important.

The concept of reach-outs can be difficult in communities where the dividing line between black and white is strict. Here in New Orleans, while neighborhoods can be black or white, we have many mixed neighborhoods as well, although a short drive outside of the city and I'm sure the state would begin to look more like Kansas. I suggest recruiting black and white volunteers for these efforts.

Also, can a personal commitment be made to reach out to minority voters after the election? Is it get their vote now and forget about them later? We have to find ways to continue to reach out to each other beyond this election. In my view, this election is about changing the way that we conduct democracy in this country. We must find a way to participate directly in the practice of democracy, and encourage others to do so, as a counter to the fascists who would force their will upon us. And we know what that 'will' means: the looting of our treasury, the oppression of the working poor and middle classes, and war for the sake of power and profit.

What about the churches in your area, including churches with minority members as a majority? Perhaps they would be interested in co-sponsoring voter registration drives in their neighborhoods, at their churches? The churches here that have agreed to participate in the democratic party sponsored drives do not want campaign literature handed out. That doesn't mean though, that volunteers still aren't needed, or that drives can't be held in other venues where campaign literature could be available. We are limited only by the extent of our imagination. Good luck with this. Let's get out the vote.