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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCould It Be Time To Deny White Men The Franchise? (The Right to Vote)
Could It Be Time To Deny White Men The Franchise?
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/shelley-garland/could-it-be-time-to-deny-white-men-the-franchise_a_22036640/
Some of the biggest blows to the progressive cause in the past year have often been due to the votes of white men. If white men were not allowed to vote, it is unlikely that the United Kingdom would be leaving the European Union, it is unlikely that Donald Trump would now be the President of the United States, and it is unlikely that the Democratic Alliance would now be governing four of South Africa's biggest cities.
If white men no longer had the vote, the progressive cause would be strengthened. It would not be necessary to deny white men indefinitely the denial of the vote to white men for 20 years (just less than a generation) would go some way to seeing a decline in the influence of reactionary and neo-liberal ideology in the world. The influence of reckless white males were one of the primary reasons that led to the Great Recession which began in 2008. This would also strike a blow against toxic white masculinity, one that is long needed.
At the same time, a denial of the franchise to white men, could see a redistribution of global assets to their rightful owners. After all, white men have used the imposition of Western legal systems around the world to reinforce modern capitalism. A period of twenty years without white men in the world's parliaments and voting booths will allow legislation to be passed which could see the world's wealth far more equitably shared. The violence of white male wealth and income inequality will be a thing of the past.
Some may argue that this is unfair. Let's be clear, it may be unfair, but a moratorium on the franchise for white males for a period of between 20 and 30 years is a small price to pay for the pain inflicted by white males on others, particularly those with black, female-identifying bodies. In addition, white men should not be stripped of their other rights, and this withholding of the franchise should only be a temporary measure, as the world rights the wrongs of the past.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/shelley-garland/could-it-be-time-to-deny-white-men-the-franchise_a_22036640/
Interesting article as far as a thought exercise and her reasoning isn't wrong but the solution is kind of out there (I wouldn't ever advocate for anything like this in reality nor would it ever actually happen for good reason). Raises a bunch of questions in my mind just thinking about the practicality:
- How do you determine who is "white"? Many Hispanics/Latinos are technically "white" as far as race is concerned, that would disenfranchise them.
- DNA testing to determine race for voting? What would the threshold be?
- Could white men then self-identify as women in order to vote?
- Would people be able to self-identify as a different race like Rachel Dolezal has attempted to do by saying she now "self-identifies" as a black woman?
- What about the millions of white liberal males,, are they included in this hypothetical ban as well?
The Big Ragu
(75 posts)Orrex
(63,224 posts)Then white males will be simply outnumbered by a host of other demographic subsets, and their (variously) destructive impact will be reduced.
get the red out
(13,468 posts)I love that idea.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)and gerrymandering.
But I do like your point. Well done.
Orrex
(63,224 posts)Plenty of ways to disenfranchise voters when you've already mastered gerrymandering.
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)Amishman
(5,559 posts)The long term solution is more people voting, not less
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)that nonsense in GD.
mythology
(9,527 posts)And stupid for that matter.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Shelley Garland is an activist and a feminist and is currently completing an MA degree in philosophy. When shes not gagging at South Africas unique brand of rainbow politics, shes working on ways to smash the patriarchy.
LOL-
GO NEW WAVE MILLENNIAL!
Kentonio
(4,377 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)is sort of like watching a full grown adult finally realize there is no Easter Bunny.
tazkcmo
(7,300 posts)What the hell, give it a shot. Have fun with it.
burnbaby
(685 posts)right?
Igel
(35,356 posts)Yields wrong conclusions.
T implies F is F.
Dr. Strange
(25,923 posts)Yowza.