Suppression Depression: Vote Early or Lose Out?

October 25th, 2008

If you’re going to vote, and you are offered the opportunity, vote early. Election day promises to be mayhem.

Early voting turnout is setting records, and in some locations people are already queuing for hours. Some polling stations may not be able to handle the large numbers on election day and would have to turn people away, which some suggest is a form of voter suppression. And there will be a lot of unhappy people around if that happens.

Rumors of voter suppression and accusations of election fraud have been getting a surprising amount of press in the mainstream media. I’m watching just such a report on CNN as I write this. The word is out, and Internet watchdogs like The Brad Blog monitor the topic daily and get thousands of hits. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is outspoken on the subject, and along with Greg Palast recently co-authored an eye-opening article about it in Rolling Stone. They cited this now famous quote from Paul Weyrich, which says it all: “I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of the people. They never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.”

Please watch this five minute Youtube video, about the truth about ACORN.

Even if you do make it to the polls, there is vast speculation regarding the accuracy of electronic voting machines. In many states there will not even be a paper trail, so a recount would be next to impossible. Not long ago I posted links to the movie Hacking Democracy. It’s well worth a watch. It will be interesting to see any significant result from grassroots movements like Video the Vote and Steal Back Your Vote.

Because so many more people are better informed this time around, some believe if the blues lose, there could be rioting in the streets. Maybe that’s why They brought back that military unit for homeland duty under the aegis of NorthCom, something never before attempted, even ruffling feathers at the ACLU.

But being informed has many levels. The masquerade runs deep. I can see how there are issues to be argued, but behind the scenes the same machine is running the show. This radical article boldly even goes so far as to argue against participating whatsoever.

As it looks to me, things have been going pretty much exactly as planned for the powers-that-be, including the timing of and response to the ‘economic crisis.’ Whatever happens I imagine They will be well prepared to take advantage of the situation.

Take note of the upcoming global summit convening next month to deal with the economic crisis. Whoever ends up being the next president (assuming all goes well between now and inauguration day), will be taking a role in a play already in progress. Come 2009, there could be quite a few “changes” indeed.

I’m under no illusions. But I still can’t wait to see what happens in the next act.

The best leader

follows the will of the people.