Blah, Blah, Demographics, Blah

And now, for some cubism... For the past month, I've been incubating a lengthy rant about how this year's mayoral election has adopted the usual demographic traits...this lengthy ramble is not it, BTW. Overall, I think that in this age of communication, demographics takes on a reduced -- or even inverse -- factor in electoral politics. So, I extend a middle finger to the New York Times, for this garbage article which reeks of that special brand of Yankee bigotry. Sunday's Debate Demographic politics may be deprecated, but still has some supporters, and the traditions festered just under the surface during Sunday's debate. Kasim Reed jumped on the bandwagon, and may have jumped the shark, by claiming Mary Norwood is a Republican. Around these parts, "Republican" is synonymous with "Klan", so that argument is basically a repackaged race card, which plays to fears of any rational person. Surprisingly (or not), Norwood invited such a criticism, by repackaging the same illegitimate "services" argument of the Plantation movement. This should have set off alarm bells all over the electorate, and could end up costing her a runoff. This, of course, would require an actual discussion of the subject, instead of the allegation-flinging of current days. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures I feel the establishment desperation, exhibited in the "race memo" earlier this year, carried over into Atlanta PD's recent raid on Atlanta Eagle, timed shortly after Kyle Keyser's entry into the race. To review: the bust arrested several dancers for dancing in their underwear without a stripping permit, but involved no drug arrests. In a club. In Atlanta. This raid was so blatantly political, it's comical. It was an attempt (of which impacts remain to be seen) to create a new minority block of intown gay people and gentrifiers, as carved from Norwood's likely supporters. Reaping What one Has Sown As I see it, this election is as much about removing the poison of demographic politics from our government. Amid the talk of 'critical junctures', 'crossroads', and other platitudes, there is the unstated fact that the "patronage system", and perceptions of same, allowed the Plantation movement to happen in the first place. Those responsible for this result must be identified and held accountable, if we are to rebuild this city as anything more than a bookend.

posted at: 08:52 | permanent link to this entry

Today's topic for discussion is:

Frank Warren (Postsecret) is in town today, and will be speaking at GSU from 3-5.

posted at: 07:43 | permanent link to this entry