Changing minds is not easy.
It’s all well and good to talk about fundraising, and how much money candidates have. It is only half the equation in my estimation. I am thrilled with the fundraising here in the 5th Congressional District race. However, Democrats need to change a lot of minds for a Democrat to be elected President, Congressman, Senator or Governor.
There is a general misconception that the 5th District is unwinnable, due to Virgil Goode’s hold on the District and the history here. I do not agree with that, although it would make things a lot easier for Democrats in this district. No campaigns, no fundraising, you get the idea.
There are lots of problems disseminating information in the district. Overall, there is one of the lowest usages of the internet in the entire state. Poverty and illiteracy are higher than average here. The district itself is huge, encompassing a land mass area the size of some states.
The biggest job we have of changing minds is that people sometimes vote the way they do because they know nothing different. Families vote one way sometimes. Also, the attitude is out there that it doesn’t matter if we vote or not, and/or ‘they’re all crooks anyway’. I would much rather know for myself what the character of someone is without Chris Mathews or any of the pundits or talking heads telling me what to think.
I want to see for myself what the differences are in candidates, what they stand for or against, their voting record if they have one, and their comportment in the community. Better the crook you know, if you insist on thinking that way.
I don’t know how successful voter registration drives will be this summer and fall. If Pennsylvania and Texas are any indication, there should be more people voting this fall. As I write this, I am wondering what the special problems would be if 70-80% of registered voters came out on Election Day . It would be bedlam.
I guess what I am saying in my own rambling way, is that people should have gotten the idea by now that things are totally messed up in government. If they vote their self-interest, maybe things will change for the better.
I don’t care who you vote for, just vote.
Look at you, playing with fire