Machinations in Microcosm

On Wednesday, the TruthOut site had a fascinating article entitled"Lose Your House, Lose Your Vote." The gist: Republicans in Macomb County, Michigan (Detroit area) are using foreclosure lists in an attempt to disqualify voters who are listed on it. The justification is that 'foreclosed' people have no proof of residence within the voting district and, so, they no longer have a provable right to vote there; no one is suggesting that the people did not legally register to vote at some point. The real reason (not stated by the article): people who have been foreclosed are more likely to be black than white, poor than wealthy, outraged by Bush's handling of the economy rather than pleased with it. In short, foreclosed people in the Detroit area are likely to vote en masse for the Democrats. If successful, the number skewing by the Republicans could be significant; in July, one household in every 285 in Macombe (or 1,834 families) went into foreclosure. If you assume a modest 2 voters per household, that's close to 4,000 voters who could be neutralized from July alone.

Moreover, the GOP tactic is not isolated to Michigan. TruthOut explains,"In Ohio, Doug Preisse, director of elections in Franklin County (around the city of Columbus) and the chair of the local GOP, told The Columbus Dispatch that he has not ruled out challenging voters before the election due to foreclosure-related address issues."

I call the article fascinating because the heart-and-soul of this election is proceeding at the grassroots leve and the machinations in microcosm by both Republicans and Democrats reveal its true face. Besides which, I have taken a firm stand with myself: I am NOT sickened; I am NOT outraged; I am officially amused and bemused. That stance makes the morning coffee sit more easily on my stomach.