There is this graphic doing the rounds on Facebook showing what the US electoral map would look like if only white men had the franchise.
Well no. That isn’t what the electoral map would have looked like – that shows how white men voted at the last election given the choices and policy platforms available to them. (Strictly speaking given the most states have a winner take all electoral college system – that shows how a majority of white men in each state voted given the choices and policy platforms available to them.) That does not, however, show how those same men would have voted in a white male only electoral system. Political parties shape their campaigns with the voting population in mind so the Democrats and Republicans would have offered a different combination of candidates and/or policies to appeal to that particular electorate.
The thing that the graphic does indicate is that white males (as a group or even a sub-group) are not the median voter in the US. That last sentence seems somewhat clumsy – the median voter is not a white male.
Can I assume that if only black men voted it would be 100% blue?
Fleeced
12 Nov 12 at 11:38 am
What would it have looked like if only people who are alive with photo ID had voted?
Kel
12 Nov 12 at 11:45 am
Dat ain’t no assump’n Brotha Fleeced. Yo.
H B Bear
12 Nov 12 at 11:48 am
What does it look like if only men vote?
We have suffered a good deal for women’s suffrage. Time to end the madness.
Infidel tiger
12 Nov 12 at 11:49 am
When you say “men”, IT do you mean to include beta-males in that?
Gab
12 Nov 12 at 11:49 am
A lot of white men are not on the side of white men. That would include actors, celebrities, professors, bureaucrats, journalists, judges, wall street traders and important people.
Now, which side are working men on?
Jannie
12 Nov 12 at 11:50 am
“If only white men voted”
Ah, the good ol’ days.
Jarrah
12 Nov 12 at 11:52 am
Funny coincidence that beneficiaries of affirmative action favoured Obama.
Fleeced
12 Nov 12 at 11:52 am
In one sense, it is surprising that the Democrats would win the white male vote in any states at all.
It is also notable that of the 5 states where Obama carried the white male vote, most of them are states with relatively fewer minorities (blacks and hispanics), with the possible exception of Massachusetts. They are largely white liberal enclaves.
Monkey's Uncle
12 Nov 12 at 12:01 pm
Hardly surprising that white men (predominantly straight and Christian) vote for the party that, on a social policy level, protects their interests at the expense of all others. Hardly disappointing either.
Like it or not, the United States, by and large, votes on social policy lines. It’s been this way since the Democrats turned anti-Segregationist in the 1940s. Economic policy is convoluted and confusing for most voters. The conservative social positions of the Republicans are one of the primary reasons President Obama has become the first president in history to be re-elected with an unemployment rate over 7%.
Also, the concept of a ‘median voter’ is an over-simplification of mythical proportions, and fundamentally ignores the complexity of the electoral system.
Loony Lefty
12 Nov 12 at 12:06 pm
Perhaps he means only white male land-owners should be able to vote
That’s true, but it is indicative of the demographic that the current Republican policies appeal to. As you say political parties will craft their policies to the people who can/will vote.
Chris
12 Nov 12 at 12:07 pm
If only white men could vote, the Dems would probably still be able to win many, if not the majority, of states.
They would simply go back to the policies of the old South and become the party of white racism once more, while they would still be able to target support from working class whites by promoting class warfare and the politics of envy.
Monkey's Uncle
12 Nov 12 at 12:08 pm
This is a really depressing graphic. It shows that the USA is just as racist a society as it was in the middle of last century and before. No progress whatsoever.
hammygar
12 Nov 12 at 12:08 pm
Turning18 seems a stupid qualification to allow someone a vote. The system needs an overhaul.
Infidel tiger
12 Nov 12 at 12:11 pm
When you say “men”, IT do you mean to include beta-males in that?
Gab
12 Nov 12 at 11:49 am
Are you an alpha-male, Gab?
The Beer Whisperer
12 Nov 12 at 12:16 pm
Gosh, how dreadful that would be-
-no more health nazis on the public payroll
-why should I pay for your kids?
-your Mum can’t afford a hip replacement. Then you pay for it.
-can’t make ends meet on that menial job? Try giving up ciggies and pokies!
-I reserve the right to insult those whom I deem to deserve it.
I’m pretty sure that’s both racist and misogynist.
Eddystone
12 Nov 12 at 12:18 pm
Most of us saw a post based upon demographics.
Interesting to see chich posters could hear a dog whistle around a regressive political viewpoint.
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:20 pm
This is a really depressing graphic. It shows that the USA is just as racist a society as it was in the middle of last century and before. No progress whatsoever.
hammygar
12 Nov 12 at 12:08 pm
So 50-60 years ago when the KKK was all the rage, and the majority of white men worked in industry and mostly voted Democrat on that basis, America was less racist? Methinks your conclusion is bollocks.
The Beer Whisperer
12 Nov 12 at 12:21 pm
That contributor has no interest in advancing dialog and the blog suffers whenever he gives his input to a post from the contributors.
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:23 pm
“I’m pretty sure that’s both racist and misogynist.”
Eddystone, I do hope you had the Macquarie Dictionary updated before you said that.
The Beer Whisperer
12 Nov 12 at 12:24 pm
A bold assumption. The GOP don’t seem to be learning that lesson.
m0nty
12 Nov 12 at 12:24 pm
If only white men had the vote, the Democrats would still be able to win by implementing policies such as forcing health insurers to subsidise the cost of condoms, while they could still target first time voters with advertisements telling them “you want to do it with a great guy”.
Monkey's Uncle
12 Nov 12 at 12:27 pm
Imagine a map showing the hypothetical outcome if only people who have paid over $100,000 in taxes; had served their country for over 12 months in any capacity and who had passed courses in civics, classical economics, politics, world and American history would look like.
No. Actually imagine the polices offered to such an electorate.
Ooh Honey Honey
12 Nov 12 at 12:31 pm
As in, if only those were allowed to vote.
(And no franchise for people who write run-on sentences)
Ooh Honey Honey
12 Nov 12 at 12:32 pm
A bold assumption
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:33 pm
Try $100
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:34 pm
Its a great intellectual leap to conclude democracy is stuffed. Even if it is, what going to replace it?
Restricted franchise works when you are opening up democracy, not when you are closing it down.
I think the discussion should be about what sort of dictatorship you prefer. The Nazi and Communist versions are not very appealing, nor were the Puritans (17C Greens). Last half decent dictator we had was the Virgin Queen, and like Julia Gillard, she had a problem with Catholics.
Jannie
12 Nov 12 at 12:35 pm
For those who wish to test M0nty’s Chris Matthews type crap under the light of truth:
Susana Martinez
Artur Davis
Ted Cruz
We could post so many more but the Cat will only allow a post with a max of 3 links.
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:40 pm
Heh, so lets go all starship troopers and only those who have served 20 years in the military can vote. No exceptions. Might as well disenfranchise as many people as you can.
Chris
12 Nov 12 at 12:43 pm
Thanks for the token effort at parading tokens, Token. Here, have a token on my appreciation. Keep on tokin’!
m0nty
12 Nov 12 at 12:46 pm
M0nty, how do you keep the hate and envy going while your poor logic is crashing around you?
Token
12 Nov 12 at 12:57 pm
True. And the black vote is even more concentrated than white votes, suggesting blacks or more racist than whites, by the ‘logic’. So much for the Great Society.
The Democrats and the Left are consciously racist, and they think its justified, because whites are so bad. Their anti white racism is accepted for the time being by the bleeding heart whites in their own ranks. But the guilt and self loathing of the young ‘progressives’ will evaporate quickly, as they are justifiably victimised for being stupid and wealthy.
Jannie
12 Nov 12 at 1:11 pm
Posting wiki pages of three minority GOP candidates does not prove your point.
m0nty
12 Nov 12 at 1:13 pm
Come on Token, feel the love.
Ooh Honey Honey
12 Nov 12 at 1:20 pm
Not to your closed mind. Anyone else reading the post will get that your snarky comments are based upon ignorance.
____________________
OHH, I do.
M0nty is the type of yapper who finds meaning in life by sinking his teeth into the leg of the nearest passer by. We all know the best way to deal with them is a swift and well placed boot.
Token
12 Nov 12 at 1:30 pm
Ernie called on his free Obama phone.
Said to say this graphic is outrageous. Also pleaded for free cookies.
C.L.
12 Nov 12 at 1:33 pm
What is it with the right and violence?
m0nty
12 Nov 12 at 1:43 pm
We only use in allegory.
Why is it that the Left needs to use it in real life?
Token
12 Nov 12 at 1:51 pm
Allegory, yeah right.
m0nty
12 Nov 12 at 1:53 pm
Maybe the undergraduates at Fakebook could explain the how this has happened before without their racist, ageist and sexist qualifiers:
Electoral College votes in 1980:
Republicans 489
Democrats 49
…in 1985:
Republicans 525
Democrats 13
If it happened before it can happen again…but only if the GOP is willing to put up a candidate with the fortitude and appeal of a Ronald Reagan type over the pathetic liberal joke that was Mitt Romney.
Major Elvis Newton
12 Nov 12 at 1:55 pm
White women are probably the median voter these days.
Sleetmute
12 Nov 12 at 2:12 pm
That map would be totally RED if only white men and intelligent women were allowed to vote.
Anne
12 Nov 12 at 2:19 pm
The big spending Reagan is not a model to recommend for these times.
He is the template for turning the GOP away from a limited government/realistic foreign policy into the big spending/idealistic foreign policy disaster.
Scapula
12 Nov 12 at 2:40 pm
So white men are unintelligent, Anne?
Scapula
12 Nov 12 at 2:42 pm
Democrat Party icon Robert Byrd approves of this graph.
C.L.
12 Nov 12 at 2:44 pm
I’m curious about the motivation to create such a chart.
SteveC
12 Nov 12 at 2:59 pm
Ditto.
C.L.
12 Nov 12 at 3:12 pm
You need to go back and study sets and logic Scapula.
Anne
12 Nov 12 at 3:16 pm
If only the Founding Fathers’ wishes were strictly obeyed, only white men would be on the roll now!!!!!!!!!!
However Uncle Sam aint what it used to be; more like USSAV – Union of Socialist States of Amerigo Vespucci.
amcoz
12 Nov 12 at 3:22 pm
“Amerigo Vespucci”
It’s a myth that America got its name from Amerigo.
Jarrah
12 Nov 12 at 3:29 pm
“Amerigo Vespucci”
It’s a myth that America got its name from Amerigo.
Jarrah
12 Nov 12 at 3:29 pm
Go on then Jarrah….
Anne
12 Nov 12 at 3:34 pm
If only the Constitution were obeyed, America would only enter all wars with Congressional approval (like the rich white guys wanted).
Scapula
12 Nov 12 at 3:40 pm
http://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/surgery/america.html
That comprehensive article concludes that there’s no good evidence to suggest any particular origin. The reason I personally doubt the Amerigo origin is because it was his first name.
That’s why we have Bolivia and not Simonia, Colombia and not Cristofia, the Cook Islands not the James Islands, Rhodesia not Cecilia, etc.
Jarrah
12 Nov 12 at 3:44 pm
Renaissance Italians were commonly identified by their first names as their last names frequently indicated their place of origin. Eg Leonardo (Da Vinci).
Anne
12 Nov 12 at 3:49 pm
Jarrah, how do you explain Chad?
Infidel tiger
12 Nov 12 at 3:50 pm
The ‘largesse’ voting bloc is blue.
stackja
12 Nov 12 at 4:05 pm
That was named after the Sheik From Scrubby Creek.
C.L.
12 Nov 12 at 4:06 pm
Actually he needs to get lost
Jc
12 Nov 12 at 4:09 pm
A Yank bloke who owned a Yacht, ex West Point, Boston law firm trophy wife.
Built a time machine and went to the 1885 conference in Berlin on the colonisation of Africa. Boom, like that, first one there. No bullshit mate.
.
12 Nov 12 at 4:12 pm
Joe the Trader speaks without swearing!
Scapula
12 Nov 12 at 4:13 pm
This is worth reading. White voters might lean to voting GOP, but they seemed to also lean towards not turning up at all:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/11/08/the_case_of_the_missing_white_voters_116106-2.html
John Mc
12 Nov 12 at 4:30 pm
Last Tuesday saw a paradigm shift in the tone of America’s political conversation with a deeper and more eager embrace of progressive politics and into the expanding bosom of big Government at the expense of small government, freedom and self-determination.
Amidst the obvious division and disenfranchisement between the red and blue states, I’d like someone to explain to me why – during this “Asian Century” – the USA could not split like the former USSR into a federation of autonomous subjects (states) much like modern day Russia and potentially along racial and/or religious lines?
Major Elvis Newton
12 Nov 12 at 4:33 pm
It should happen but not just yet
Jc
12 Nov 12 at 4:36 pm
Bob
Fuck off. I’ve had enough of your useless blabbering
Jc
12 Nov 12 at 4:38 pm
So get rid of white men, then you won’t have a democracy to pull these silly stunts with.
Harold
12 Nov 12 at 4:43 pm
What a load of racist tosh that map is.
Mk50 of Brisbane
12 Nov 12 at 6:07 pm
Jarrah, map making didn’t define Nth America until well after South America, which was originally named ‘America’.
amcoz
12 Nov 12 at 7:43 pm
What’s the point of this graphic?
Oh come on
12 Nov 12 at 8:30 pm
Here’s a good exit poll.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4r91byGOJo/UKDGN5NI9CI/AAAAAAAAAe4/T9y45_3Yh3M/s1600/Exit_poll2.png
JC
12 Nov 12 at 9:18 pm
“Jarrah, map making didn’t define Nth America until well after South America, which was originally named ‘America’.”
Yes, I know. Your point?
Jarrah
12 Nov 12 at 9:46 pm
That is a good exit poll JC.
The obvious point of the graphic Sinc posted was to create division by attacking white males.
This is the “post racial” society the Demoncrats are creating to create a permanent majority.
What you can see looking at the stats to the 47% mark is it is the married and successful who are really being attacked by this attack.
I do hope that all the beta-male lefties who are white males realise that they will be collateral damage.
Token
12 Nov 12 at 10:34 pm