After another long (though important) fund drive at KPFK, our Pacifica Radio Network flagship station here in Los Angeles, we’re finally able to open the phones to hear from listeners on today’s BradCast. [Audio link follows below.]
It’s been a harrowing and deadly week — and weekend — filled with Rightwing hate and hate mongering (coincidentally, one week before Election Day for the most important election most of us have ever lived through). So, today we kick open the phones to callers on all of the above to get a sense of where things stand at this point and to help answer a bunch of questions about the crucial midterms.
Listeners ring in with questions about reported voting problems and voter suppression around the country and failing voting machines. Also, we discuss what voters can do beyond voting to participate in democracy over the next week or so.
And then there’s the caller who rang in to explain why he says he has never voted, and doesn’t plan to this year either. As you might imagine, both I, and a whole bunch of callers, have a few thoughts for that guy on today’s program. Enjoy!…
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[audio:http://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_BradFriedman_WeekOfHate_WeekBeforeElection_Callers_102918.mp3]
(Snail mail support to “Brad Friedman, 7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594 Los Angeles, CA 90028” always welcome too!)
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This is going to be a week to watch closely (Will The Military Become The Police? – 12).
Brad,
Hate to break it to you, but “Peter” was trolling you. He called ready to yank your chain. He openly claims that he has no informed opinion and that this is cause for him not to vote. He spoke that assertion quite clearly. He is quite informed because he admits to listening to your show, and yet he called to clearly articulate that he is not informed enough to vote.
The clue: “Peter” was not defensive of his alleged ignorance. He never claimed that his ignorance was a virtue (as conservatives, say, often do) and that as such it SHOULD entitle him to claim that he is not an elitist snob. Rather, he suggested that he was unworthy of the right to vote.
Now, seriously. Who makes a case like that? Usually, when ignorance is used a justification it is one deployed to keep OTHERS out of the voting booth because “THEY” are ignorant. Ignorance is almost always accusation, it is very rarely used as a defense (unless one wants to be a climate change denier).
“Peter” probably already voted early and had time on his hands for a bit o’ fun. He’s probably giggling right now.
As for me, I consider myself informed and I did canvassing for the NY Democratic candidate to replace Republican Lee Zeldin here for eastern Long Island’s District 1. I also did mailer stamping and phone bank work.
Don’t fall for pranksters like “Peter”. At least the right-wing trolls, who often REALLY ARE ignorant, get out to the polls. When they call take note of how they defend their position and then line that up with the one from “Peter”.
Donald –
I don’t disagree with you at all. 🙂 I think the call, and response to it, were instructive nonetheless.