From: nyxfer%panix.com@UMCVMB.missouri.edu (N.Y. Transfer)
Subject: NEWS:Why None-of-the-Above Wins Primaries
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Missouri
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@UMCVMB.missouri.edu>
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 19:52:40 GMT


Via The NY Transfer News Service ~ All the News that Doesn't Fit

Why `None of the Above' is winning in primaries

By David Perez

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted
if source is cited.)

What's the real story behind all the hoopla over this year's U.S.
presidential elections?

This year more than ever, most people are completely turned off
by the presidential candidates as well as the whole electoral
process. Take for instance what happened in the April 7 New York
primary.

Reportedly, the top news was that big-money-backed Arkansas Gov.
Bill Clinton won the Democratic Party primary. But the genuine
news was buried in the back pages. According to reports from the
polling stations, only 27 percent of New York state's enrolled
Democrats--those who are registered for that party--voted in
the primary.

When you count all eligible voters in the state--even those not
registered for a particular party--the rate of participation in
the primary goes down to 7 percent.

The media have been declaring for almost two weeks that the New
York primary was one of the more important and decisive contests,
particularly for the Democratic Party. It was drummed into the
people that the future of the Democratic Party, and practically
the entire fate of the nation, rested on how New Yorkers voted.
Especially for those who want to beat Bush, this was the time to
decide who they wanted--Clinton, Brown, or maybe even a
resurrected Tsongas.

And what happened? A whopping 93 percent stayed home.

In the Republican primary, which Bush won--the fix is already in
for his nomination--voter turnout was also down. The truth is
most people are more disaffected, disheartened and disenchanted
than ever with those running for president. This includes a
demagogue like former California Gov. Edmund "Jerry" Brown. The
fact that he has attracted something of a following among poor
and working people is mainly due to the workers' desire to
protest the status quo. It has little if anything to do with
actually liking Brown's program.

Still, all in all, the bourgeois elections are proving to be one
of the most unrepresentative and undemocratic games in town.
That's what the April 7 primary showed. But it's not just New
York.

Record lows everywhere

"The voters aren't voting." So read the headline of an April 6
New York Times editorial. In it, the editors lamented the fact
that all over the country voter turnout for the 1992 presidential
primaries is at one of its lowest points ever. According to the
Times, so far average voter turnout for the primaries is even
lower than in 1988, when only 22.5 percent of the eligible
electorate voted.

In other words, almost 80 percent of the voters are not
participating in the electoral process. In Connecticut, the Times
revealed, the turnout "was that state's lowest ever--10.5 percent
of the voting age population."

It's an incredible indictment of bourgeois electoral politics.
And this figure doesn't include the millions who are not eligible
to vote--prisoners, the homeless, the undocumented and youths not
yet 18 years old.

The Times admitted: "The message is clear: Token turnouts are
picking this year's nominees. The fall-off in voting lends
alarming support to a feeling that America's political leadership
has no following."

That's certainly an understatement.

Lesser evil less effective

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, many in the progressive and
union movement are still trying to rally the workers and
oppressed into the elections. Some have even gone beyond the
"lesser evil" argument and are saying that Jerry Brown is
actually "good" and will make a difference.

These elements are finding, however, that poor and working people
are not buying it. The masses are saying that all these
politicians are crooks who in the long run all break their
promises and side with the rich anyway.

It is a classic example of leaders being out of touch with the
masses. In fact, this happens every time a presidential election
takes place in the U.S. Historically, primary turnouts are always
lower than the general election. But even when November rolls
around, at most only half the eligible voters bother pulling the
lever.

There has never in the history of this country been a president
who received the vote of the majority of the voter population.
The figure is closer to only 20 percent.

This is one reason it is no exaggeration to say that the
president, Congress, et al, are truly unrepresentative of the
people. The whole electoral process should be declared
illegitimate due to lack of interest and participation.

Bourgeois democracy in the U.S. is a sham. A real representative
body is needed.

                               ###

This article originally appeared in Workers World newspaper. A
10-week trial subscription is available for $2. A year's
subscription costs $15. Makes checks payable to Workers World,
and send to 46 W. 21 St., New York, NY 10010.Phone (212)
255-0352. You may contact Workers World editors on New York
Transfer or PeaceNet at "workers."

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