Re: [pf] Nader on The Connection today (NPR)

by Kaleopono

22 December 2000 22:47 UTC

Jill wrote on the 18th in response to Sharon's probing questioning:

>     First off, my take on low voter turnout is the election system.  I am
> hoping that when we get a better system that turnout will be better.
>     Second, the only turn out figures I have heard are maybe a percentage
or
> two above normal, and I think they were lower than in some other
> presidential elections.  Is that what others have heard?  Certainly not
what
> we all had hoped or even "felt" on election day.   Most people didn't feel
> like they had a choice to turn out to vote for Nader, as we live in a two
> party system.
>                     Jill
>
> > Did Nader's campaign boost voter turnout as many claimed it would? I
can't
> > find any final numbers; I don't recall hearing that turnout was up this
> > year. I'm wondering why, if so many of the non-voters were just waiting
> for
> > a candidate they could get behind, they didn't respond to Michael
Moore's
> > exhortations to turn out for Nader.
> >
> > Sharon


Nader was a minority candidate who was kept out of the mainstream media
spotlight as much as possible by the two parties whose "gentleman's
agreement" controlled the rules of the televised debates and almost
certainly the rest of the campaign as well.  The strategy of neutralization
was very effective.  Under these circumstances, Nader could not possibly
drive a significant increase in voter turnout.

The two major candidates were deliberately positioned at either side of the
thoroughly researched, analyzed, and very well-known (to them) demographic
center by a sophisticated media manipulation infrastructure that covered the
bet for the financial and corporate interests represented by skilled,
top-level executives with virtually unlimited resources at their disposal
who truly do manage and run the show from behind the scenes.  The
cliff-hanger election results are evidence that the "C average" point in the
body politic has been found.  Yawn.  Ho-hum.  How...ordinary.

This is a fabulous graduate school case example of managerial accomplishment
to eliminate surprise!  No wonder voter turnout is anemic.  Where is the
vision and the passion and the fire these dangerous and urgent times ought
to be calling forth?  Nader is trying, but him alone is not enough.

Kaleopono