Jackson Free Press

They call you "sorry." "Lazy." "Apathetic." Or, worse: "Dumb." At the same time, they treat you like an idiot. They don't talk about anything that matters much to you. They make fun of your music, and your baggy pants, or maybe your tattoo, or even your compassion. Or, they come speak at your church while they leave their lapel pins in their SUV's ash tray. They then expect you to turn out and vote for them. If you don't, you're "sorry."

Why in tarheel would you possibly go vote for these people? Yes, you say, there is a tragic history of many of us not having the right to vote—African Americans, immigrants, women, felons—but that doesn't mean that people who don't care about us and who spend millions of dollars running stupid, hateful television ads deserve your time and your vote. Why bother if you have to hold your nose with one hand and touch the voting screen with the other?

You're right. But you're also wrong.

You're right that many candidates suck. Most of them are so worried about someone using a sound bite to make them appear slightly more "liberal," and thus offensive to some hateful rural chick in Kemper County, that they don't bother to say anything worth hearing. Nothing. Nada. And often they're the ones who actually believe in something other than selling out the state, and its jobs, to the highest bidder. It's ugly out there.

But—and please stay with me here—you're wrong that your vote for a lesser evil doesn't matter. And here's why: It's not because that lesser evil is necessarily going to do anything worth a damn over the next four years. It's because future candidates—the ones with a daring voice and progressive ideas and the willingness to talk to, not at, you and me—simply won't materialize if we don't vote now. That is, if we stay home next week, we are jinxing the next several elections. We are ensuring that, once again, we're going to have multiple Tweedle-Dee-Tweedle-Dum options when it's time to vote again, and why bother then, either?

Your vote matters for the future. The intricacies of today's political machinery and polling and funding and all that jazz all lead to one thing: the candidates are vying for the voting pool that's already there. That is, if you don't vote, and join other like-minded people to start building your own loud voting bloc, then no one is going to give a crap what you think. The pollsters won't care about you. The candidates won't. The parties won't. And, certainly, no one will step up to deal with your issues.

It's not as backward as it sounds, really. It makes sense that true democracy, true freedom, starts with people. The candidates should respond to us, not the other way around. If we—Jackson Free Press readers and every friend and family member we can harass to the polls—turn out en masse, we will be the force to be reckoned with in the next election. Chew on that for a minute.

The funny thing is, Jackson is already the most powerful force in the state—if we choose to flex our muscle. Starting with this issue, the JFP is printing 18,000 issues that go to every zip code in the Jackson metro area. Our Mississippi College readership audit found that an average of 2.9 people read every issue of the JFP (in some college dorms, 10 or more people share the same copy!). Do the math: that's 52,200 readers. At least 500,000 Mississippians are expected to vote Nov. 4; that means that JFP readers can account for 10 percent of the vote if each of us turns out. And that doesn't count all our friends and family.

OK, that's unscientific. And, no, not all JFP readers will vote for the same candidates. We have some dedicated conservative readers, for instance, and this publication is known for its progressive stances. But, just consider the possibilities, especially if some of the elections, like the governor's race, turn out to be as close as they're expected to be. (Incidentally, note that two-thirds of the respondents to The Clarion-Ledger/Associated Press poll just published were over age 35. Half of our readers—26,100 voters—are under 35. For the record.)

Now, allow me to appeal to you based on history and a bit of emotion. We all know that Mississippi is an odd nut to crack; I don't think I've ever met a Mississippian, of any race, who does not love this state, at least deep down—from the most sarcastic expatriate to rapper David Banner (who votes, by the way). It may take a while to reclaim your love for the state, and you may have grown up in Detroit or Chicago or Cleveland and then made your way to where your people helped build this state. But you're a Mississippian at heart, and that's why you're back here.

This common pride is where our history should matter, even the painful parts—no, especially the painful parts. It is hard for black and white Mississippians alike, not to mention Native Americans, to take a deep breath and look at where we've been, so we can more clearly figure out where we're going. But we must.

Where my people in Neshoba County have been, for instance, is caught in a web of trying to stop many of their neighbors from voting. When I was born in 1961, no blacks voted in Neshoba County, not because they had something to better to do, or because they were "sorry," but because my people didn't let them. We, like the rest of the state, had imposed heavy poll taxes and literacy tests to keep other people from competing for our small piece of the pie.

One of the questions that local blacks were asked when they approached the Neshoba County courthouse to try to register was: "How many bubbles in a bar of soap?" White Mississippians actually sat behind the table, and swallowed their own humanity long enough to ask that question of people they knew. And the people who couldn't answer it then had to slink away in defeat, their votes un-cast, their voices unheard. Just about everyone believed Mississippi could never change, it would never be integrated, certainly never more progressive. No one believed multi-racial alliances could ever be formed here.

Until.

The power of the people, the power of hope, the power of the vote is nowhere more strong than right here in Mississippi. This state is the most vivid example of what an alliance of dedicated people, especially young ones, can do to change their world into a better place.

Yes, I sound hokey when I say this, and those 10 dudes out there who like to make fun of anything positive and hopeful are rolling their eyes right now. But this plea is for the rest of you: Vote on Nov. 4. Mail your absentee ballot by Nov. 1. Drive back to your home county on Tuesday. Vote against the past and against soap bubbles and race cards and hateful images and people who want to keep us mired in division and apathy for their own benefit. If each of you will do that, I make you a promise.

They will never again call you "sorry."

Donna Ladd is the editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press.

Previous Comments

ID

68692

Comment

Amen to everyone voting - go vote! You shouldn't complain about who's in office if you don't exercise your right to vote.

Author

Fielding

Date

2003-10-30T16:08:16-06:00

ID

68693

Comment

Donna. You Rock.

Author

Kate

Date

2003-10-30T16:49:11-06:00

ID

68694

Comment

New Jackson Free Presses are always like christmas, but this one is amazing. (And I have yet to see a physical copy...) Donna, your editorials always amaze me. The way you put things into words is a true gift. I was already on fire about next Tuesday, but this made me stand up. I'm about to start emailing and calling folks and hell, maybe even going door to door. This sham of a governor's race shouldn't be happening, and WE will ensure that it doesn't again. Let's get out the vote like never before. And vote Donna Ladd for governor in 2008!!

Author

Jay

Date

2003-10-30T17:22:28-06:00

ID

68695

Comment

Aw shucks, Jay. You just like that red and green cover. Fa la, la, la, la. ;-D Seriously, thank you for your kind comments. They mean so much.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-30T17:36:11-06:00

ID

68696

Comment

Hmmm...you may be onto something, Jay. Governor Ladd. Has a ncie ring to it.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-30T21:34:14-06:00

ID

68697

Comment

Alright, get back. Don't y'all have deadlines or cocktails to finish or something?! 8-| (that's a glare. ) I'm outta here ...

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-30T21:40:26-06:00

ID

68698

Comment

I had my cocktails already! :-) That's why I'm still working on my stories--past the deadlines!

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-30T21:42:56-06:00

ID

68699

Comment

Ms. Ladd in your column (which was pretty damn good, btw) you wrote: "Youíre right that many candidates suck. Most of them are so worried about someone using a sound bite to make them appear slightly more "liberal," and thus offensive to some hateful rural chick in Kemper County, that they donít bother to say anything worth hearing. Nothing. Nada. And often theyíre the ones who actually believe in something other than selling out the state, and its jobs, to the highest bidder. Itís ugly out there." What you are describing is the sophistry associated with a representative system. Plato talks about this is the Republic. It is for this very reason, because no one will know what is true and what is not, societies degenerate into plutocracy, oligarchy, and despotism (and, since you described your home county circa 1961, then I think you know that our society has had the full run of degenerations). For this very reason, the democratic/representative system is flawed! It does not work because government does not govern, rather the governmental representatives just try to stay in power. With all this in mind, then why vote? Why kow-tow to the same broken system? Basically, I vote so I can complain. No other reason. I spend alot of my votes writing in my dog's name, or Deuce McAllister. The whole thing is an excercise in futility! Now tell me I'm wrong. Give me some hope for the system.

Author

Diogenes

Date

2003-10-31T14:11:15-06:00

ID

68700

Comment

Donna, I enjoyed this column a great deal. It was strong and assertive yet compassionate. I just wish the JFP would and could get more coverage and a response from the suits about this article and ones like it.

Author

Fry

Date

2003-10-31T20:56:55-06:00

ID

68701

Comment

Great article, Donna, True, a lot of politicians just plain suck. However, people need to know that the profound statesmen/women have always been an exception to the rule. By keeping on voting for the lesser of the evils, they are ensuring that the next FDR will have a chance to come to power. In practice, Dio is probably right when he says democracies eventually devolve into oligarchies and such because representatives usually work to stay in power. However, I think he is a little needlessly pessimistic. Throughout history, great nations declined mainly because they became less and less responsive to the needs of their people (Rome is the primary example I can think of). Today, we have a firm tradition of the common citizen voting in elections. All this does is switch the ultimate onus onto WE THE PEOPLE (to be cliched about it). If this country falls into ruin, it'll be the people's fault - not necessarily the politicians (though the latter certainly will play their part)

Author

Philip

Date

2003-11-01T02:41:43-06:00

ID

68702

Comment

I was up at 6 am, thanks to my daughhter, with a Halloween hangover. Chugging coffee and reading the CL and then the JFP, all I have to say is, Donna, don't run for governor. Keep running this paper. The community that's been pulled together through the mere existence of the JFP is incredible. I'll quit being a blog hog, and go play with my kids now. Anyone need about 20 lbs of extra candy? We *so* don't need the sugar!

Author

Kate

Date

2003-11-01T13:35:24-06:00

ID

68703

Comment

Kate, don't worry. I'm a newspaper editor, and I'm not going anywhere. It doesn't get any better than this, and that includes the challenges. [Sound effect: Heels clicking together three times ... "There's no place ..."] I hear you about the blogging addiction. Personally, I am playing with the kitties and pulling out my fall clothes while Todd is off golfing with his Dad. It's wonderfully peaceful right now, if I can manage not to walk by the computer! ;-D Ciao, Bella.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-11-01T13:47:14-06:00

ID

68704

Comment

I wish there was an award that you could receive. Both you and your paper analyzes subject matters that I like to refer to as barber shop talk. That is where people are speaking freely, voicing their opinions and concerns over several issues that the mainstream press simply are scared to address. I hate the term politically correct but I love the word: truth and that is what the JFP specializes in. It is a joy to read the truth for a change.

Author

Fry

Date

2003-11-01T17:45:30-06:00

ID

68705

Comment

...but is the hateful rural chick in Kemper County cute? ;)

Author

Poet

Date

2003-11-05T13:24:13-06:00

ID

68706

Comment

ROFL @ Poet's comment. This did make me think. I have been 100% fed up with politics. Damned if you do and damned if you don't, kind of thing. There isn't anyone, currently, slated to run for pres that I could imagine supporting. Makes you want to bang your head into a wall sometimes.

Author

Heather

Date

2006-01-13T16:46:57-06:00

ID

68707

Comment

There isn't anyone, currently, slated to run for pres that I could imagine supporting. What really tickles me right now is how hard people these days are focusing on who will be running in the next election. We still have two years to go, and we are already looking forward to getting someone else in there. Desperate times...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-01-13T23:23:33-06:00

ID

68708

Comment

LOL! LW, I had not even realized I was doing it until you said that. I even LIKE Bush, though not as much as I did during his first term. I just spend a ton of time around people who discuss who runs next.

Author

Heather

Date

2006-01-14T09:05:12-06:00