Lately the news people on television have gotten in the habit of calling every election, anywhere in the country, a "Super Tuesday" kind of election. One of the problems with having several networks broadcasting news 24 hours a day is that nearly everything is subject to outrageous hyperbole. Oh well, they have to do something to keep us coming back for more; and exaggeration is a time-tested method that works pretty well. But, Tuesday November 8th, 2011 ranks as a really Super Tuesday election.
By all measures this year's election was an off, off year election. There were no Congressional races- no Senate races- no big offices up for grabs to capture our attention. But several races and ballot initiatives around the country made this last election one to remember. This election is the beginning of the tide turning in favor of the people. In my view this wasn't an election about political parties (though one party in particular got a pretty good comeuppances)- it was about people finally standing up and saying what kind of country this should be. Let me give you a rundown of the people's election.
The big story was the Ohio vote that sought to repeal a law enacted this year by the Ohio legislature, which was proposed and supported by Republican Governor Kasich. Kasich is a very conservative, new in office, governor who campaigned on jobs but immediately set out to eliminate public employee's jobs by removing their collective bargaining rights. The new law included teachers, police officers and firefighters. (you know, the real villians of our society!) Ohioans collected twice the number of signatures needed for the referendum to repeal this law- and on election day voted to restore collective bargaining rights by over a 2-to-1 margin. This was an incredibly significant vote! This was Kasich's signature issue and it was soundly rejected. In a recent poll, Ohioans would not vote to re-elect him if they had the chance, again by a 2-to-1 margin. This is a case of major "buyer's regret".
In Maine, citizens there collected well over the required number of signatures to put a ballot measure up for a vote that would repeal a 2011 law disallowing same-day voter registration. Ultra conservative Governor Paul LaPage pushed through a bill that would have significantly suppressed access to voting. The bill narrowly passed the legislature's vote and became law in June. Mainers said NO! The vote overwhelmingly repealed the law and returned more voter access to Maine citizens. Mainers rightly rejected this phony issue of voter fraud influencing elections. This issue is coming up in a number of states- all, curiously, controlled by Republicans. They claim that voter fraud is a huge issue, but can't seem to cite a single election effected by this "rash of voter fraud". The new measures we're seeing always target young voters, students, minorities and the elderly.(i.e. traditionally Democratic voters) Also curious is that all recently enacted laws on this subject seek to limit access to voting, instead of promoting more participation in our democracy. I predict this issue will become a major point of discussion in the coming year
In Mississippi voters soundly rejected an Initiative that would have granted legal "person-hood" to a fertilized human ovum. The vote was basically 60/40 against this Initiative in what is the most socially conservative state in the union. Why? Mostly because voters there realized a vote for the Initiative would not only outlaw legal abortion, it would outlaw almost all forms of artificial birth control. This would have nearly entirely removed every woman's right to control her own reproductive life. Some very radical religious folks wanted this very thing- but even in Mississippi the people rejected this measure as going way too far. I always find it interesting the conservatives will argue to the death for smaller government- and at the same time want government totally involved in policing our sex lives and reproductive decisions. Imagine how big the government would have to be for that ambitious mission.
And, finally in Arizona there was a recall election of Republican State Senate Leader Russell Pearce. Among other things Pearce was seen as the face of the legislation that created Arizona's horrible immigration law. This law allows police racial stereotyping and undo seizure practices. It is being struck down piece by piece in the court system. Voters said, we want you out. Pearce had other problems too, but his authorship of the immigration law was the focus of his defeat, even at the hands of another conservative Republican.
Let's not forget what started it all. Wisconsin! Another beginner, right-wing Republican Governor teamed up with the Koch brothers and decided to abolish collective bargaining rights for teachers. In March, the Capital building was taken over by the citizens for weeks. Democratic legislators boycotted the capital, left the state, and the nation finally saw the real conservative agenda at work. And we didn't like it. The law did go into effect but in August enough Republican legislators were recalled over this issue that Gov. Scott Walker no longer has his Republican majority in the State Senate. Now there is a very robust effort to recall Walker himself. His approval rating is now around 35% and things look bad for him. The new state Senate will obviously rectify this law during the next session.
It seems the entire conservative platform was rejected by the people, all over the country, in one fell swoop. Think about this- these votes took place in northeastern state, Maine- southern state, Mississippi- midwestern state, Ohio- and western state, Arizona. That's every section of the country. It's interesting that in each case the losing side outspent the winning side. This begins to restore my faith in the people to overcome the rich and the powerful. People said no to destroying the working people who make up the middle class- by supporting hard-won rights of workers. They said no to suppressing the right of the people to heard at the ballot box. They said no to ultra-religious right-wing politicians who would reach into our lives to control the most intimate parts of our being. They said no to those who would strip the humanity anyway from people based in the color of their skin.
I really believe we are at a crossroads in this country. When I look at the really Super Tuesday we had, I see hope that we are turning into a better country. When I see people march in the Occupy Movement to stand for the 99% of us, then I'm heartened. When I see our President finally taking his message to the people and away from the dysfunction of Congress, I believe things might just improve. I believe it because the people are standing up against the power of money and greed- and its starting to work.
Thanks for looking in.
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