04-08-2009, 05:42 PM
So, I received this email as part of a general email forwarding today
Now, being the sceptic that I am, I did some fact checking and could have seimply replied to this email with a link to the Snope Fact Checker, which found that the assertions were mostly false (and falsely attributed to Olson):
<a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/athenian.asp'>Fact Checker</a>
But I couldn't just to that. People don't want to be given proof of falsehood. They want people to sway their hearts and minds. So I sent a reply to all, which I rarely do:
Quote:Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the Presidential election:
Number of States won
by: Democrats: 19Â Â Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won
by: Democrats: 580,000Â Â Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won
by: Democrats: 127 million  Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won
by: Democrats: 13.2Â Republicans: 2.1
Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler 's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty-million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then we can say good-bye to the USA in fewer than five years. If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message.
If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.
Now, being the sceptic that I am, I did some fact checking and could have seimply replied to this email with a link to the Snope Fact Checker, which found that the assertions were mostly false (and falsely attributed to Olson):
<a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/athenian.asp'>Fact Checker</a>
But I couldn't just to that. People don't want to be given proof of falsehood. They want people to sway their hearts and minds. So I sent a reply to all, which I rarely do:
Quote:First, let?s remember that it is Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University, not Hemline University. I suppose Hemline U is most concerned with either teaching sewing or railing about the return of the miniskirt.Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Second, remember, he didn't write any of this.
Secondly, these figures come from an age-old debate in the U.S. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson formed the first two political parties in the U.S. based, in part, on the dichotomy of urban, mercantile (later industrial) America and a rural, agricultural America. The author is merely restating the old prejudices of rural America in his assertions and statistics, which are all gussied up because he is a law professor. The trouble is the author is making assertions not based on any real expertise.
His main allegation is, in point of fact, untrue. "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..." Not only does this assertion ignore the significant percentage of those in the rural area who receive government assistance in subsidized housing, food stamps, and welfare, but it also ignores the large and significant number of taxpayers and homeowners from the cities of the United States. His assertion reminds me of the old comments Pate Phillips would make in the Illinois General Assembly of the ?tax-eaters of Chicago? and the ?taxpayers of downstate.? Great political rhetoric, but one look at the tax rolls and tax revenues of Illinois counter Philips? assertion. Ah, it?s always fun to repeat the Big Lie, right?
The remainder of these statistics are a good illustration in the cardinal rule of statistics: Figures lie and liars figure. Does he give, in any of his accounts, the margin of victory for each county? In some, I am sure the margin was rather large; in others, it ran very close. For square mileage, does he indicate population density? Wow, the Republican map shows almost 2 million more square miles, but if the population density is, say, 50 people per square mile, that?s not that telling of a statistic, is it?
However, what is chilling is the large number of Americans who would believe such assertions and statistics. During the 2008 election Sarah Palin would state that rural America is the ?Real America?, denigrating the urban areas as some kind of fake America, I suppose. Nice. I guess the U.S. isn?t my country then, Governor Palin.
Let?s take these assertions to a logical end, shall we? ?Taxpayers v. those living off various forms of government welfare?. Evidently the ?Taxpayer? is valued as more of the citizen than those receiving government assistance. Fair enough. Therefore, the taxpayer should have greater rights and privileges. In fact, perhaps it is the ?taxpayer? who should have the vote, or perhaps a greater proportion of the vote. Why not give the taxpayer two votes and those on assistance a single vote. After all, if you want to disenfranchise people, be my guest. Of course, I will point their anger to you so be prepared.
Now then, one must define government assistance. Did you receive a loan, backed by the U.S govenrment for college, university or trade school? I'm sorry; until that loan is paid off, you may not vote. Receive any subsidy for your small business? Well, now, you also may not vote. Farmers, receive Department of Agriculture
monies to support your income? Ooops, you can't vote either. Do we count Social Security? Sure, if you receive more than you paid in, sorry, that's living off the taxpayer. You can't vote. Ah, let's rid the roles of those people who live off the blood, sweat, and tears of the taxpayer, shall we?
Or, perhaps we might take a different, historical approach. Land ownership. We can always bring property qualifications into play. It?s very simple. Let each state determine a minimal property requirement for voters or, for those who do not own property, but earn a certain income. That would solve these qualms to be sure. Besides, there?s an historical precedent for this!
Wait! Both those suggestions fly in the face of a 222 year trend in this country of expanding the definition of ?citizen?, of expanding voting rights, of expanding civil rights. From adult white upper and middle class males to all adult white males to all adult males to all adults, regardless of gender, to all those over the age of 18. Is this author, and those who agree with him, seriously suggesting that we roll back the clock on who is to vote?
I, myself, am always chilled when people like this and Governor Palin speak of ?Real Americans?. Whenever people begin to exclude others as ?Others?, it becomes easier and easier to divide a society, easier and easier to consider others as less than that of the ?majority? group. If you are part of the majority, that may seem fine, but it is not. It is, frankly, un-American and stands against everything this country believes in morally, philosophically, and politically. Recall the words Martin Neimoller:
"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn?t speak up because I wasn?t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn?t speak up because I wasn?t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn?t speak up because I wasn?t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."
Is that, truly, what this author wants? I hope not. Perhaps he, and others like him, should consider the potential results of what they may seem to wish.
I am the milkman of human kindness
And I will bring an extra pint -- B. Bragg
Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. -- Grover Cleveland
When the laws are used to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society -- the farmers, mechanics, and laborers -- who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government -- Andrew Jackson
"Capitalism takes no prisoners and kills competition where it can." -- Vince Cable
And I will bring an extra pint -- B. Bragg
Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. -- Grover Cleveland
When the laws are used to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society -- the farmers, mechanics, and laborers -- who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government -- Andrew Jackson
"Capitalism takes no prisoners and kills competition where it can." -- Vince Cable
