• • • • « Portland Observer, August 3, 1983, Page 9 American Politics (Continuad from Paga Column there » u no meaningful difference between the two cAwaia^»^, that an uniuccewful black challenge in the general election would do more to advance their interests in the long run. This is not to suggest that the m ajority o f the black electorate is ready to form either an all-black or multiracial liberal-left political party; the avenues for meaningful reform within the existing two party system have not yet been exhausted. It is clear, however, that the actual political behavior o f black workers and the poor implies a far greater sophistication than that exhibited by the N A A C P leadership and by those who cling to the idealistic notion that loyalty to white Democratic Party leaders transcends black elec­ toral independence. When properly mobilized, the black electorate will turn out in massive numbers to sup­ port any candidates who advance their economic, social and political interests, and w ill block those Democrats and Republicans alike who betray those interests. Oiven the actual class status o f blacks as a group, this means in practice that blacks form a decisive bloc for a uniquely American version o f social democracy. W hat we are now witnessing is a fundamental, and indeed, long overdue shift in the American politi­ cal system. There have been others. The 1896 election between W illiam Jennings Bryan and W illiam M cKinley established the Republi­ cans as the dominant political party for the next thirty-five years, buried Southern and Western Populism, and created the basis for the Solid Democratic South and Jim Crow. The elections o f 1932 and 1936 created the New Deal coalition, which in turn began the long and difficult process o f restoring a black voice in public policy. Despite initial appearances, 1980 was no watershed electoral year, but 1984 may well be. Nevertheless, there were some inter­ esting and perhaps ominous devel­ opments in the Carter-Reagan race. Over 90 percent o f all black voters supported Carter, while only 33 percent o f all whites supported him. F ifty six percent o f all whites voted for Reagan, and in many Southern states (except Georgia) whites voted nearly two to one for the C alifornia Republican. Beyond the election o f 1984, i f the current m obilization o f black voter registration continues, the weight o f the black electorate will have a major position within the future viability o f the Democratic Party, and within the public policies o f the national government. The black voter w ill be the central com­ ponent in transcending the lim ita­ tions o f New Deal liberalism. W e must actively campaign for those progressives who advocate a program which goes beyond the old liberalism, both inside the Demo­ cratic Party primaries (against Democratic centrists and conserva­ tives) and in general elections (against Republicans) we cannot transform the system simply by working on the inside alone, A ll ‘ ‘outside** challenges which raise the issues o f racism, sexism, poverty and powerlessness must occur simul­ taneously with electoral work — teach-ins, demonstrations, neigh­ borhood organizing, civil disobedi­ ence, and every form o f nonelectoral protest. The vision which should guide both aspects o f inside-outside work is the goal o f Human equality and greater democracy: guaranteed health care, full employment, uni­ versal education, decent public housing, work-place democracy, a non-sexist and anti-racist society, and massive reductions in national spending for the mechanisms o f war, foreign intervention and U.S. corporate dom ination o f the Third W orld. O ur ability to overturn the historical limitations o f our political consciousness, and our optimism in the capacity o f blacks, poor people, women and labor to mobilize them­ selves both within the electoral sys­ tem and outside o f it, may deter­ mine the future course o f American politics and society. KILLS FLEASJICKS! NAACP moves to King Center The Portland Branch o f the N a­ tional Association for the Advance­ ment o f Colored People (N A A C P ) has moved from 2732 N . W illiams Avenue where they have been for about twenty years to the King Neighborhood Facility at 4813 N .E . Seventh. “ W e appointed a search committee early this year consisting o f H arry W ard, a former president; M arian Scott, our Secretary; and C .C . McCorvey, our Treasurer,” Hazel G . Hays, President of the Branch stated. " T h e Branch has considered moving for some time, even before I became President. When the King Neighborhood Facility, which is managed by James Loving, let us know that they would remodel this spring to make space for more community organizations, our Committee recommended that we take the opportunity to move there.” The Portland N A A C P Federal Credit Union is remaining at 2732 N . W illiams Avenue. The new m ail­ ing address o f the Portland N A A C P u P .O . Box 11367. Portland O R 97211. The telephone is the same: 284-7722. The Portland N A A C P Federal Credit Union also has re­ tained its number — 281-7744. O r e g o n ia n s s a v e m illio n g a llo n s o f o il YOU July marked the five-year anni­ versary o f Oregon's Used OU Re­ cycling Program. The 1977 Oregon Legislature directed the Department o f Environmental Quality to start the program in 1978 to promote the recycling of used motor oil. In the five years o f the program, Oregonians who change their own oil have recycled over one million gallons o f used oil at collection depots around the state. CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! JUST $10 WILL HELP FEED THE HUNGRY CHILDREN OF EAST AFRICA YOU M A Y DONATED ANY A M O UNT □ $40 □$20 “ Do-it-yourself oil changers” can find out (he location o f the nearest used oil collection depot by calling the D E Q Recycling Inform ation Service toll-free at I -800-432-4011. In the Portland area, residents can call 224-3353. 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