What Lies Under The Stone of Indiana Politics?

 Long ago, decades even, I was looking at the turn-out rates of Indiana elections, particularly those of Madison County. We were known even then of poor voter turnout; it has gotten worse since then. What has changed for me is that I no longer study voting records.

What I concluded then was there were a number of people who were being ignored by Indiana's political parties. From that came a further conclusion: Indiana's political parties did not care about why people were not voting, so long as enough adherents came out to vote for their candidates. I had read by then Walter Karp's Indispensable Enemies. What I decided was that Indiana's low turn-out proved Karp's theory that our parties were oligarchic collaborators. Adopting policies that might attract non-voters would upset this collaboration.

I came to this conclusion even though I was also aware of the idea that people were not voting against the status quo because they agreed with the status quo. If I recall correctly, I first heard this idea on William F. Buckley Jr's The Firing Line. I did not quite buy that idea, and time has kept giving me evidence of its incorrect assumption. Last year, I talked with a fellow employee, a man about my age, but unlike me a pot head. I asked him why he was not voting since the Democrats might legalize marijuana, he said it would make no difference since everyone knew this was a Republican state. 

Times may be changing. 

New Indiana polls show Hoosiers losing faith in both parties — and their own leaders (News From The States)

Tuesday’s North Star survey additionally showed about half of Hoosier voters said they are “dissatisfied” with the choices of candidates available in Indiana elections — including 26% of Republicans, 71% of Democrats and 61% of independents.

Both state parties were viewed more negatively than positively. Just 33% view the Indiana Republican Party favorably (45% unfavorable), and 25% view the Indiana Democratic Party favorably (43% unfavorable).

Nearly 70% of survey respondents further said the two-party system “leaves out the views of too many people,” compared with just 21% who think it does a good job representing most Hoosiers.

I do not recall seeing how the survey was conducted. That is, it may be true this is a Republican state if the poll did balance those with a party affiliation with those who have none. Nor do I recall seeing a breakdown of how those with political affiliations viewed their parties. I would have liked to see on what issues Hoosiers base their approval or disapproval. It seems to have been generic Republican and Democrat rather than Republican and Democrat issues.

However, the following left me thinking there is a deep dissatisfaction with Republican officeholders in Indiana, which has to include those who vote Republican.

For example, Trump drew a 47% favorable rating overall, and a 78% favorable rating among Republicans, while Braun posted 32% favorable overall, with 53% of Republican respondents favorable.

The Indiana Legislature was viewed favorably 29% of all respondents, and 48% by Republicans; Morales was viewed favorably by 9% of all respondents, and 14% by Republicans; Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith was viewed favorably by 9% of all respondents, and 16% by Republicans; former Gov. Eric Holcomb was viewed favorably by 36% of all respondents, and 49% by Republicans; U.S. Sen. Todd Young was viewed favorably by 27% of all respondents, and 46% by Republicans; and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks was viewed favorably by 21% of all respondents, and 37% by Republican 

Indiana Democrats may think they are in the same collaborationist environment of earlier years. They are wrong. Trumpists define the Democrat Party as terrorists; the game they play is thermonuclear war. What we need is a party that will fight, not claim themselves as fighters as is the usual humbug of our modern candidates, by pushing forward for a change to our Indiana business-as-usual.

sch 10/15