Political Pay It Forward - How to get the impoverished to vote?

[mandyky]

This thread mixes ideas from 2 other threads -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=111&topic_id=31215&mesg_id=31215

Would a "Pay It Forward" movement work in real life? (still active)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2133113#2147532

Canvassing today - what an eye opener and jaw dropper!

Troy, NH. Must have talked to 100 people. We had 5 questions: 1) are you likely to vote in the November presidential election; 2) what are the two biggest issues that concern you; 3) on a scale of 1 to 5,how likely are you to vote for Kerry; 4) how likely are you to vote for Bush; 5) how likely are you to vote for Nader.

The neighborhoods we canvassed were predominately lower middle class, working people, we also covered some subsidized housing.

ALMOST 50% of the people we canvassed said that they had never voted and did not intend to vote. Many of them said this with great pride, a few with real anger. Some said that their vote didn't matter anyway.

I was floored by this! These are the people who have the most to gain or lose and they have no faith in this democracy. I don't know how we reach these folks!

BTW, of the people who were registered to vote, no one wanted Nader and Kerry had a slight edge, a very slight edge.

(in archives)

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I think we need to concentrate on the young people and highschool students who might be able to get their parents more involved.

We also need to get local Dem parties to get local city and county officials to go out canvassing with volunteers.

Democratic elected officials need to hold job fairs for regular people who only have high school educations.

Let's put together an information sheet to hand out to young adults that puts Democratic sites and a brief how to set up email accounts for people too poor to have a computer who might be interested in info via their schools and public libraries.

Maybe local Democratic groups could open food banks at a local "liberal church" or get Habitat for Humanity to build a house in their neighborhoods. Much like Dean Corps do.

[bread_and_roses]

1. I've been watching this drop

Why? Because Democrats have abandoned this demographic?

Those of us who do voter registration or GOTV in low-income and poverty level and below areas have little to offer in term of "why you should vote" to this demographic.

After all, it was Democrat Bill Clinton who supported and signed the viscious "welfare reform" that has caused such hardship among the very poor, particularly poor single mothers.

When this group says "why should I vote?" they have a point.

If Democrats could motivate this demographic, there would be no question of who would win this November.

[ulysses]

2. right. if we want the poor to vote,

we have to give them a reason. A strong, absolute break from the DLC/Clinton strategy on welfare would be a fine starting point.

[mandyky]

3. I am glad someone brought up the DLC

And honestly, I think I am one of the few Dems who does not want to see Hillary run for prez due to this DLC republican lite faction that is just as guilty of hurting poor people as the GOP.

Parts of Bowling for Columbine really lay out how Clinton's welfare cuts hurt the working poor. I still think Bill Clinton was a good president, and I am still a Democrat, but my patience is wearing thin.

[ulysses]

6. you can generally rely on me

to bring up the DLC. :evilgrin:

Bill Clinton is a masterful politician and, in many ways, I'll agree that he was a good president, but I haven't forgiven him for the welfare reform law.

[AirAmFan]

23. Besides welfare 'reform', skyrocketing incarceration rates are

another issue on which Democrats have 'sacrificed' low income people in their move tho the right over the past generation. African-American men are EIGHT TIMES as likely to be incarcerated as caucasians at any point in time. In many poor communities, a MAJORITY of African-American men have been or will be under criminal justice supervision at some point in their lives.

And then you have states like Florida where conviction of a 'felony' impacts directly on minority men's ability to register to vote.

Like welfare 'reform', this is another issue where Democrats, even under Bill Clinton, have sold out the poor and keep quiet about matters of desperate concern to them. The only time Dem pols 'go there' is every second autumn, at election time.

[bread_and_roses]

4. A kick for the poor

Which is pretty apt, come to think of it. I guess re-fighting the primaries is more important.

[mandyky]

8. Refighting the primaries? you mean talking about the DLC?

The DLC keeps dragging our party right and hurting the poor people.
If you mean the pink tutu comment, that is what we called the Dems, like Gephardt and others who voted for the war resolution, log before the primaries geared up.

[bread_and_roses]

11. No, I meant the general indifference to poverty issues

...while threads that re-hash the primaries seem to get a lot of play. I wasn't responding to your post. I agree re: DLC.

[mandyky]

12. Oh, I see!! LOL

I reread what you said and I guess I misinterpreted before. :)

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

5. I don't think so

"...These are the people who have the most to gain or lose and they have no faith in this democracy. I don't know how we reach these folks!"

Unfortunately they're not as stupid as you are idealistic.

The rich have the most to gain and the middle have most to lose, which is exactly the reason you're trying to swindle them out of their votes. They know damned well their situation isn't going to improve no matter who wins the White House, so what motivation do they have to go along with the charade that it will?

Tell me, which party intends to impose a minimum wage people can actually live on? Which party insists that health care, education, and job training aren't "entitlements" but fundamental social rights? Which party even acknowledges the problem of hunger, let alone intends to address the tragedy of homelessness?

Whether they vote or not, and regardless of who they vote for if they do, nothing is going to change for them except the name of the President. You're much better off trying to mobilize the votes of a constituency that actually has a stake in the outcome.

[mandyky]

9. The comment you reference was from the Canvasing post

I agree with you many Dems are too idealistic and do not realize how hard it is to keep your head above water for the poor. And they have been burnt by politicians in the past, no wonder they don't vote.

[skygazer]

7. Struggling people don't have time for anger

It's tough enough living one day at a time and dealing with the enormous effort it takes to do so. I know - I've been there. For me, I was raised in an upper middle class home that was VERY political so I had the background to think of the vote as a weapon.

Many people though, have been in this rut for generations. They don't see much of a difference in their lives no matter who is in office. The day to day task of being poor takes up all your time and energy and it's difficult to see changes in the political climate. You still have to wait in line at the welfare or unemployment office and answer humiliating and demeaning questions. You still have to juggle between paying the light bill and buying food.

How do you reach these people? Tough question. The best things to do, I think, would be to hand pick the issues that DO have an affect on their lives. Health care is a big one, also educational issues and job opportunity. But it's a hard sell because they know their lives aren't going to change much.

[blondeatlast]

14. This is something that really needs to be addressed.

I live in a working class neighborhood and I've really seen the effects of voter apathy here.

I can't get my neighbors to care.

I think a lot of it has to do with the attack on the unions. Even the unions are reaching beyond their memberships now, though, and I think a Kerry presidency might strengthen their resolve.

[snyder]

16. It's Because the Democrats Aren't Helping

Look, the Democratic Party talks a good game about helping the working poor but they don't deliver the goods. Kerry wants to raise the minimum wage to what, $7 an hour, by 2007? That's so f'in timid it doesn't even deserve to be in a platform. If the Democratic Party wants to get working people jazzed, it might start by delivering something meaningful. Money is always appreciated.

[blondeatlast]

17. "They???"

I take it you are a Green, then?

Which is okay by me, btw.

[snyder]

21. Shit No I'm Not A Green

I'm an old-school kick-em-in-the-nuts and deliver the goods Democrat. Like we used to be, before we became too hoity-toity for our own damn good.

[mandyky]

10. Anyone have any ideas beyond these?

I think we need to concentrate on the young people and highschool students who might be able to get their parents more involved.

We also need to get local Dem parties to get local city and county officials to go out canvassing with volunteers.

Democratic elected officials need to hold job fairs for regular people who only have high school educations.

Let's put together an information sheet to hand out to young adults that puts Democratic sites and a brief how to set up email accounts for people too poor to have a computer who might be interested in info via their schools and public libraries.

Maybe local Democratic groups could open food banks at a local "liberal church" or get Habitat for Humanity to build a house in their neighborhoods. Much like Dean Corps do.

We better help the poor before we become their peers.

[blondeatlast]

15. There seems to be a movement among Hip-Hop culture to

encourage urban youth to vote.

That MoveOn ad was astonishingly good. I had chills.

I love your ideas, by the way. Reaching the poor wiill be most effective on a local level, but a coordinated effort through the party would be a real winner for us.

[snyder]

22. The Hip-Hop Ad Is A Joke

If you want to get more black people to give enough of a shit to vote, the Democrats need to do two things:

1. Raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour, and make sure everyone knows that it's The Democratic Party that did it

2. Push for touch-tone voting so all those people with two fulltime jobs can get to the polls

[snyder]

13. Want The Poor to Vote?

How about doing anything for them? Announce that the Democrats want to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour. For teenagers in high school, reserve $3 an hour to a college savings fund that will be matched by the government. The Republicans will go batshit to oppose it, and the Democrats should do some real class-baiting when it happens. Institute touch-tone telephone voting so poor people can actually get to the polls, and then watch the Democrats win the biggest election victories in 60 years.

[roseBudd]

18. My technique to motivate the poor is...

I am not sticking to the usual script. I do not ask any questions about prior voting history or registration or who they would vote for.

I walk up to people on the street with a clipboard filled with voter registration forms. If they are very young I ask them if they are 18 yet, if so then I ask if they need a registration form.

If they are not young I simply say while showing them the voter forms, "Are you with us on Nov. 2 to send that man back to Texas?" Because I target traditional Dem base I am getting about 98% agreement. I then ask if they need a form. If they say yes I give them registration forms. I answer questions about filling them out but I do not treat them like children by filling them out for them.

No heavy editorializing, just "He's got to go, and you think things are bad now, see how bad thye would be if he had 4 more years.

I target secular hip youth, African Americans and gays.

i've only been blown off bt skateboarders. Apparently they are too cool.

I think come Nov. 2 the people I have attempted to motivate with a little humor will remember this encounter and be more likey to vote. I realize I have no way of knowing this, but I think it is different enough to jolt some of the apathy.

Yesterday at my poor urban grocery store I canvassed the gypsy cab drivers. They were all registered but one man took several apps because he is going to make his nephews fill them out and drive them to the polls Nov. 2.

I gave out 4 apps to new voters while waiting for my carryout order near campus.

I live in the swing state of Ohio.

Rosebud

[mandyky]

19. WTG Rosebud!

Howard Dean and Joe Trippi had the idea - besides going after swing voters, we HAVE to bring in NEW voters, especially young voters (eg highschool and college students). Young voters also make a great grassroot volunteer resource!

[mzmolly]

20. My sisters said that her friends feel this way. Some of them are fellow

Head Start teachers, who risk not having jobs if Bush is re-elected.

Here is what she said:

1. They don't vote because they don't think the candidates are that much different (in other words they are not politically educated about how THEY will be - have been effected by policy)

2. They don't vote because they don't trust that their votes will be properly counted. They think the system is dishonest.

Now, if we can show people how policy effects THEM and indicate that Kerry/Edwards are working to keep this election honest, we might make some headway.