WHAT'S UP WITH SOUTHERN POLITICAL DOMINANCE?

*disclaimer* NS was born and raised in the south so this is not rooted in anti-southern sentiment.

No problem, NS. I was born in the South, too. I don't have a problem with the South, I have a problem with the Confederacy.

Negrospiritual:

My take is that it is all about political power; whether the 'lever' is economic, or social standing.

This was the case in each of the circumstances you listed.

Neither economics nor social standing can be sustained without political power.

Control of the vote of African American-Americans is the name of America's game.

And...we, African American-Americans, underwrite or endorse, it.

The evidence is current with the most recent request by 'us' to continue the protections of the Voting Rights Act,...but only temporarily.

Not to belabor this, but...

There is prevailing argument supported by 'us' that there is no difference 'after all', it only requires reauthorization.

Well...the House of Representatives disagreed in 1982 after two failures in trying to correct the problem (1970, 1975).

The recommended to the Senate in its passage of the extension that the 'special provisions' be made PERMANENT.

This puts the kibosh to even the argument that requesting permanence would 'anger' Congress resulting in a constitutional challenge.

The 'Southern Political Dominance' extends to the mentality we have taught each other true to the profile delineated by The DeGruy-Leary Effect.

What's up with that????

PEACE

Jim Chester

quote:

It seems that since the revolutionary war, the southern states have had an undue influence on the way american government is run. A major factor in the build up to the civil war was the advantage that southern, agricultural economies gave slaveowners in terms of representation and political dominance. The south nearly destroyed the union by forming the confederacy and the dixiecrats nearly derailed civil rights legislation. Even in recent political events the south's influence is still felt. We rarely elect a president who is not southern or who doesn't offer a southern running mate. The whole red state/blue state thing is mostly a southern split. Efforts to end affirmative action or repeal advances gained by minorities mostly come from southern politicians. The south is for the most part the poorest, least educated, least tech savvy, least progressive part of the nation, yet it has had a stranglehold on american politics for over 200 years. What's up with that? Can it be changed? Should it be changed?

Just goes to show that race based politics is live and well in this country. The more powerful members of our government are mostly always from the south and most still carry those old southern attitudes.

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:
It seems that since the revolutionary war, the southern states have had an undue influence on the way american government is run. A major factor in the build up to the civil war was the advantage that southern, agricultural economies gave slaveowners in terms of representation and political dominance. The south nearly destroyed the union by forming the confederacy and the dixiecrats nearly derailed civil rights legislation. Even in recent political events the south's influence is still felt. We rarely elect a president who is not southern or who doesn't offer a southern running mate. The whole red state/blue state thing is mostly a southern split. Efforts to end affirmative action or repeal advances gained by minorities mostly come from southern politicians. The south is for the most part the poorest, least educated, least tech savvy, least progressive part of the nation, yet it has had a stranglehold on american politics for over 200 years. What's up with that? Can it be changed? Should it be changed?

I think in recent times the south has been the "proving ground" for much of the coalesencence of the Republican party and its cultural base of conservative doctrine. And they come out and vote their cultural convictions, something I think we as AfAms don't do enough of.

Your history is on point. Add to it Nixon's "law and order" campaign of '68; Reagan's "State's Rights" of 1980, believed by many to be subliminal code messages for racial politics which were well received in that region.
Demographic shifts in recent years have further enhanced the region's political dominance at state/national levels. In presidential elections Republicans typically begin with a 70-75 electoral college vote headstart (southern states) toward the needed 270, giving Democrats an uphill strugle to overcome

I think President Clinton carried Georgia in 92, and Florida in 96 (besides his native Arkansas). Save those examples, it's been a minute since Democrats have carried any of these states, which further supports the premise of your point.

Nationally, the country is center/right in its thinking and the southern region is a key player in that.

The 'South' IS the foundation of the Republican Party.

It used to be money.

And of course, the 'Religious Right'.

Both of which are strategically aligned to negate the power of the African American-American vote.

Occasionally, I feel a (slight) urge to apologize for my 'narrow focus', but no matter how you 'shake this bag', it comes out as repression of the 'black' vote.

PEACE

Jim Chester

Negrospiritual ...

After living down here for the last decade, what I've seen is basically what Truthseeker and Mr. Chester are saying (sidstepping his "narrow focus" ). Basically, there's a lot of "big business" folk down here ... those who run the oil, gas, electricity, etc. who always have and always will have the political clout in this country. They are all (and always) Conservatives, regardless of what the party is called at the time, and they control the government hands down.

Also, the stronghold of the Conservative Christian base shores up any holes in the political Conservative base. Together they are able to pull together the votes of the majority of the white folks down here. They're influence is strong and the powers-that-be know that either group could murder a candidates political career if they crossed the wrong line.

quote:

Originally posted by EbonyRose:
Negrospiritual ...

After living down here for the last decade, what I've seen is basically what Truthseeker and Mr. Chester are saying (sidstepping his "narrow focus" ). Basically, there's a lot of "big business" folk down here ... those who run the oil, gas, electricity, etc. who always have and always will have the political clout in this country. They are all (and always) Conservatives, regardless of what the party is called at the time, and they control the government hands down.

Also, the stronghold of the Conservative Christian base shores up any holes in the political Conservative base. Together they are able to pull together the votes of the majority of the white folks down here. They're influence is strong and the powers-that-be know that either group could murder a candidates political career if they crossed the wrong line.

just a note: I should have written What's Up with White Southern Political Dominance?

that aside

It's hard to believe that so-called liberal progressive regions of the country like california, new york, east coast are content to allow the country's major decisions/policies/laws to be made by, ummm, errr, crackers?

Well, think the "content" part is more about being lazy about politics and the Dems are weak wimps and have no idea how to battle such a political beast!! They are too busy trying to be "nice" about politics and refuse to fight fire with fire ... and, by consequence, they get run over like so much roadkill!

Secondly, White folks and Conservatives have always cheated to win whenever there was any good chance of losing ground. They are ruthless and without conscious. And will do (and have done) whatever it takes to keep their status.

Hi ER, longtime no post...

I don't think these people are lazy. I think whites allow southern dominance of political issues because they're all in alignment on major issues and it's convenient to let southern whites look like country bumpkins or backward hicks by outwardly expressing such sentiments.

in other words, Chic, well educated, progressive, techno savvy, my best friends are black, whites

covertly hold the same views as

double first name, double first cousin, F-150 driving, gun club member, from the "new south"...

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:
Hi ER, longtime no post...

I don't think these people are lazy. I think whites allow southern dominance of political issues because they're all in alignment on major issues and it's convenient to let southern whites look like country bumpkins or backward hicks by outwardly expressing such sentiments.

in other words, Chic, well educated, progressive, techno savvy, my best friends are black, whites

covertly hold the same views as

double first name, double first cousin, F-150 driving, gun club member, from the "new south"...

Yeah, you got that right!

Do Democrats need the New South?

interesting analysis of southern politics...enjoy

"There is also an argument that the South, with its higher poverty rates and relatively greater dependence on federal social programs, may need the Democratic Party as much as the Democrats need the South. The political irony of the party realignment is that many white Southerners, who have benefited disproportionately from the help of the federal government, are effectively delivering themselves into the hands of Republican leaders who malign the federal government and are closely allied with giant corporations."

found this particularly interesting...the same behavior found in black conservatives

ie
supporting policies in direct opposition to your own best interest.

I think whites allow southern dominance of political issues because they're all in alignment on major issues and it's convenient...---negrospiritual

There is 'quiet endorsement' from the 'top and the bottom'.

Historically, those at the top of the power structure stood silent while their minions did the 'dirty work'.

Their silence WAS endorsement...permission...authority.

Those on the bottom say nothing because the 'work' being done sustains their lifestyle.

Both the 'top' and the 'bottom' are therefore, when questioned, able to to say, 'Who me??? My hands are clean'.

Example: Reparations.

'Not me. I didn't do nuthin'.'

PEACE

Jim Chester

speaking of the southern strategy

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:
The south is for the most part the poorest, least educated, least tech savvy, least progressive part of the nation, yet it has had a stranglehold on american politics for over 200 years. What's up with that? Can it be changed? Should it be changed?

Your getting really close to answer your own question. I found my answer and it's a WHITE GOD DECREE (official law based on ATTITUDE of WHITE GOD in the MAKING) and what has taken place thus far is no accident. The SOUTH and the NATION with US in IT is like your said.
Especially the LEAST EDUCATED.

reprinted excerpt:
"Though political commentators may feel more comfortable blaming Democrats for "losing" the South, the fault could more fairly be spread around. It would include the Republican leadership that has built its political base in the South through more than a quarter century of a cynical "Southern Strategy" that exploited the painful Southern legacy of racial discrimination.

The fault also could be shared by Southern whites who long have found reasons – whether cultural or religious – to discriminate against vulnerable members of society. For many years, African-Americans were the chief targets of this bigotry. Today, much of the conservative outrage is directed at gays.

In both cases, the perpetrators of this discrimination have somehow managed to twist the reality to make themselves the "real" victims, either because liberal outsiders were destroying the Southern way of life on race or because liberals were pushing a "homosexual agenda" in defiance of "the Biblical world view."

As long as many white Southerners hold to the righteousness of their discrimination against others, there is only so much the Democratic Party can do – or should do – to win back the South."

race baiting politics alive and well in the south! _