Blocks

Since we’re in the midst of a presidential election, it’s time to remind ourselves that presidential campaigns are not general appeals to the whole electorate, but are instead the sometimes complex matter of assembling blocks of voters.

Candidates talk about the ideal of all of us united as Americans. After all, our national motto has long been considered to be E Pluribus Unum, which means “Out of many, one”. In 1956, “In God We Trust” was formally adopted as the national motto, but the old one still appears on The Great Seal of the United States and has been used on our currency. While it is a nice ideal to speak of us as “One” it hasn’t exactly been the reality.

Human beings are tribal in nature. We self-identify according to race, religion, political affiliation, sports teams, language, place of origin, and many more identifiers. Naturally, we instinctively think of folks from other tribes to be somehow less than we are. George Bernard Shaw was particularly perceptive when he said, “Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature.”

Even if we know better we don’t really think others are on the same level as ourselves. Remember the old line in the song “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, “but he can’t be a man cause he doesn’t smoke the same cigarettes as me”? No matter how open minded we are, we still do it. I know Denver Bronco fans are superior to all others and, certainly we can all agree, anyone who eats pineapple on pizza is seriously deranged.

But, back to politics, the reason political parties change over time is simple. When party leaders see a particular block predictably votes for the other party, they start figuring out how they can appeal to them, without alienating their other blocks. That’s why Ronald Reagan went to the Neshoba County Fairgrounds in Mississippi on August 3, 1980 to deliver his “States Rights” speech. The “solid South” had for many years voted reliably Democratic. With that speech, the Republican Party began making inroads so today, that same block is fairly reliably Republican. The voters translated “States Rights” to be in accord with their particular biases and wishes. It was highly successful.

The Democrats have long relied on the labor unions to provide reliable voters and their policies reflect their need to maintain their hold on that block of supporters.

The question for each of us as we decide who we vote for is twofold, first of all, does the pandering to my particular block actually serve the needs of the greatest number of citizens? Sometimes, serving our particular block isn’t good for the whole country.

Secondly, are we blindly following our voting habits even though our needs are no longer served by those catering to our supposed block. I might like to identify with millionaires and billionaires, but laws which cater to them don’t do a single thing for me.

Honest self-reflection is necessary sometimes.