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One thing I learned as a volunteer working to get out a progressive vote in Canada is that this effort isn't as essential for the right-wing reactionary political parties as it is for the left-wing progressive cause. However the left-wing progressive cause is labelled or mislabelled -- it's that easy for the rich to buy a name. Hell, right under our noses they bought out the name "Liberal" here in BC, and laughed - it's that easy for the political right to do it.
So I don't pay any heed to false distinctions between big 'L' and little 'l' "liberals", or "conservatives", or put any credence in these descriptions. They don't distinguish a damn thing. Can anyone say what the difference is between "neo-liberal" and "neo-conservative", without inventing idiotic fine-points? I judge political parties on what they do, not how they're named.
Oops, I went on a tear. Back to my subject. What I learned is that when overlaying maps for 1. Likely to vote (% turnout for population of the district) 2. Income (average for population of district) 3. Voter preference (progressive left vs. reactionary right) there were HUGE overlaps. These overlaps were NORMAL. higher income <-> more likely to vote <-> reactionary right party lower income <-> less likely to vote <-> progressive left party
By "lower income" I mean the ordinary working family. I don't mean the homeless. In other words, the whatever colored or situated working folk are the progressive base, whatever the MSM might say otherwise - and the ONLY thing that splits this base is religious fundamentalism.
Of course, my experience is from work in a medium size city, Vancouver B.C., soon to be host of the 2010 olympics (it's just across the border, so y'all gotta come!).
Oh yah, back to my subject!! In this circumstance, up front and personal get out the vote drives are absolutely critical. This is why I'm very heartened (looking across the border) at Obama's campaign. He and his campaign clearly understands that THIS and ONLY THIS is the way a "50 state strategy" can work, and it's the only way a progressive program can both win and establish itself in this crazy age. I'm ecstatic that he's directly debating the notion of religion vs the kind of "fundamentalism" or "extremism" that characterizes right-wing politics, and terrorist politics.
I'm very much hoping that the Obama campaign is just getting the fuse lit. That the 200K throng in Germany is like an opening act to what's going to happen in the US Aug 25-8 and forward. I want to see something happen in the US that'll be the envy of all the world.
It's odd, but I'm almost starting to EXPECT it!
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