Monday, September 13, 2004

Trailer parks and voter turnout

Trailer parks in Florida constitute poverty in America, according to this Toronto Sun article.
In the wake of hurricanes Charley and Frances, outsiders got a glimpse of the ramshackle trailer parks that hundreds of thousands of Floridians call home. What was as shocking as the devastation was the fact that so many Americans live in such abject poverty.

AND,
It is hard to reconcile images of glitzy political conventions and dilapidated trailer parks; global economic might and slapdash fiscal policy; flag-draped military coffins and puerile attack ads.

Maybe that is why the U.S. has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the developed world.

It's lack of affordable housing. Logic leading from trailer parks to low voter turnout. Talk about puerile connectivity. For one, people own mobile homes so they are owners, however, the connection we are supposed to make are that they are poor, therefore, black, therefore unlikely to vote. Hence, a poor turnout. It wouldn't make a difference if you told the writer that most of the trailer parks are full of mobile homes that are A) not mobile, and B) cost $90,000 and more, and are, C) holiday homes for the most part, secondary residences, or retirement residences. Few poor people live full-time in trailer parks in Florida. For one, it takes capital to own a mobile home, and two, the recreational vehicle parks cost a fortune even on a short-term basis. That's the problem with bias - it is unconvinced by reality. Besides, it's such a good excuse to hate the U.S.

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