reflections on american public opinion

[Sam Pawlett]

Depending on the district, 50-70% of the American people don't vote. I
suspect that a higher percentage of non-voters live in poorer areas. Are
these voting patterns any different at the state and civic level? The
president and elected officials are in no way representative of the
majority. Not that one can blame non-voters or that there is anyone to
vote for, but this suggests widespread dissatisfaction with the
political system. It also suggests a highly dysfunction political system
and political culture. A sense, perhaps, that there is noone on the
ballot who will faithfully represent their interests (or is this naive
and rationalistic?).  Who are these people and what do they think? Prima
facie, this would be the constitency a popular movement or nascent left
party  aims at organizing. Surely, not all of these people are
militiamen defending thiemselves from Fu Manchu or are
anarcho-capitalists? Or are they just paranoid from watching too much
Alfred Hitchcock?  The militia movement, overwhelming working class,
suggests that some form of injustice is sensed and felt. This injustice
has to be properly cultivated with a solid analysis of contemporary
political economy, structures of power and given expression in
appropriate organizational forms. These forms will be worked out largely
through practice and struggle.

Is this all pie-in-the sky?

Sam Pawlett