C M C M Y K Y K GRIPPINGGRIPPING VICTORYVICTORY North Bend wins 37-20, B1 TV LISTINGS D4 brought to you by Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 theworldlink.com I $1.50 Election 2012 Grandson of Powers’ To vote or not to vote founder I Non-voters outnumber to speak Why do we have Republicans, Democrats Party of apathy Democratic Non-voters Republican (only) 2 parties? BY GAIL ELBER Party Party The U.S. is unusual because two parties The World BY DANIEL SIMMONS-RITCHIE dominate most levels of government. Other The World countries, particularly in Europe, use systems Around 1890, somewhere in that better cater to the formation of multiple rural Minnesota, 13-year-old They’re busy, frustrated, or parties. Albert Powers was fed up with his just plain angry. And this Political researchers Steffen Schmidt, Mark father and stepmother. November, more than 20,000 69,456,897 80,632,506 59,934,814 Shelley, and Barbara Bardes cite four main Had he been more content with are expected to walk among us in Based on votes cast in the 2008 general election. reasons why two parties dominate America: his lot, the city of Powers might Coos County. Non-voters represent people eligible to vote but didn’t. Winner takes-all: In some countries (par- never have come They are the American non- Note: Does not include to be. SOURCE: FEC and IIDEA votes cast for minor ticularly parliamentary governments), repre- voter: the nation’s most com- By Jeff Trionfante and Daniel Simmon-Ritchie, The World parties. sentation is proportional to votes cast for each Albert’s grand- mon political animal. party. For instance, in Sweden, a party that son, Al Powers, Among Coos County resi- Percentage of voter turnout receives 20 percent of votes gets 20 percent of recently visited dents old enough to vote, 38 per- the seats in the legislature. Minnesota to do cent didn’t participate in the during general elections based In the U.S., candidates run for single dis- some research on 2008 presidential election. on voting age population tricts, and the candidate with the most votes his grandfather’s They weren’t alone. Nation- wins that district. Candidates that finish second early years. On ally, 80 million eligible voters Coos County or third get nothing. Oct. 14, he’ll give Al Powers Oregon shunned? the system. If those 70 Under this system, voters tend to shun candi- a presentation in Powers founder’s non-voters represented a vot- United States dates representing smaller parties because Myrtle Point, grandson ? hosted by the ing bloc, it would be bigger than 60 only major parties are considered viable win- the Democratic or Republican % ners. Coquille Valley Genealogy Club, that will explore the youth of the parties. 50 The U.S.’s “winner takes all” principle is On Nov. 6, the ranks of the amplified in presidential elections. In 48 states, talented man who played a vital role in the founding of Powers. non-voter are expected to swell. 40 the candidate who receives the most votes in the state wins that state. David Paleologos, director of the Young entrepreneur Suffolk University Political The state then casts all of its Electoral 30 Young Albert took off for the Research Center in Boston, 2000* 2002 2004* 2006 2008* 2010 College votes to that candidate. This system expects 90 to 95 million people makes it difficult for third-party candidates to city lights of Hibbings, where he won’t vote. *Presidential elections compete nationally. got a job driving teams pulling He says that’s a troubling Coos County figures were calculated by comparing population Socialization: Given that the majority of sleds for a logging outfit. estimate data from Portland State University with Coos County In Minnesota, trees were felled trend for American democracy. election records. Oregon and U.S. turnout data is sourced from Americans identify as Republican or Democrat, “This problem isn’t going to George Mason University. children usually learn to identify themselves and bucked in the winter, loaded go away,”Paleologos said. ? that way too. onto sleds and hauled by teams of “And the numbers are going to By Jeff Trionfante and Daniel Simmon-Ritchie, The World “This generates a built-in mechanism to per- horses to a frozen river, where they be startling this November when petuate a two-party system,” Schmidt, Shelley were dumped on the ice. we see who could have voted but and Bardes write. When the ice broke up in the didn’t.” Who is the non-voter? In addition, those who strive for social spring, the logs floated down- change usually choose to run as Democrat or stream — in some cases, all the Who is the non-?voter? Young Lower income Republican because they view it as the only way to the Mississippi River,where 72% are under 43% have incomes less sawmills captured them. Paleologos says the non-voter 50 years old. than $30,000 per year. realistic way to enact change. comes in all shapes and sizes, but ?Rules favor two parties: U.S. electoral Albert prospered, building up laws favor the dominance of only two parties. his own logging company com- there are some common traits. Less educated White “There’s a higher probability 60% have not 49% 51% 59% are White, For instance, each state requires third-party plete with its own railroad. Timber gone beyond Men Women non-Hispanic. 21% candidates to collect a certain number of sig- baron Charles Axel Smith recog- that the non-voter is younger, is high school. are Hispanic. less educated and has a lower ? natures to appear on the ballot. The Democrat nized Albert’s enterprise and income,”he said. Single Protestant and Republican parties do not have this 59% are not 44% are Protestant, requirement. Why don’t they vote? Accord- married. 25% are Catholic. SEE POWERS | A10 ing to a survey that Paleologos History: After 200 years of the two-party Frustrated and angry Left leaning system, it has become difficult for many conducted in August, the top 50% are frustrated with 54% would vote Democratic, the government. 19% say 30% would vote Republican Americans to imagine an alternative. reason is that non-voters are too they are angry. if they were to vote. busy. Source: “American Government and Politics 2-year-old child Today 2008-2009 Brief Edition.” Lori Simmons Rose falls into SOURCE: PEW Research Center, 2010 that camp. The North Bend By Jeff Trionfante and Daniel Simmon-Ritchie, The World found in home woman cares for her grandson who suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition that requires con- self as a conservative. His of meth subject stant care. group advocates for limited government and the free-mar- How do I register? “When I’ve been home when THE WORLD ballots have arrived, I have a cou- ket system. If you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years old or Am I registered? ple times filled them out and sent About seven years ago, Noor- A women was arrested Friday older, and reside in Oregon, you can vote them in,” she said. “But most of lander began voting for candi- If you’re not sure, you can check by vis- after police found methampheta- in the Nov. 6 general election. the time I’m in the hospital.” dates who represented the Con- iting https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/ mine, heroin and a 2-year-old But Paleologos’ survey reveals stitution Party of Oregon. The The last day to register is Oct. 16. If vr/showVoterSearch.do?lang=eng&source= you aren’t registered, there are three child in an apartment she was in. a more striking reason people party was better aligned with SOS way to do so: Shaydeen Marie Fields, 22, of don’t vote. his views than the Republican I Register online at Coquille, was charged with pos- Among the non-voters he Party. I have a problem! session of methamphetamine, However, after three years, he https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/r If you have questions or concerns, you surveyed, only 32 percent said egister.do?lang=eng&source=SOS reckless endangerment and child the Democratic or Republican re-registered as a Republican. should contact the Coos County election neglect after the South Coast I Register in-person at your local office (541-396-7600 or party does the job of represent- “I came to the conclusion DMV or the election office in Coquille Interagency Narcotics Team [email protected]). ing American political views. that you couldn’t get anyone (address below). (SCINT) and the Coquille Police A majority, 53 percent, said a elected in a third party,”he said. I Download a registration form Department found drugs in the third party or multiple parties Noorlander considers the (http://oregonvotes.org/doc/publica- Key dates apartment on the 200 block of would improve the political Republican party the lesser of tions/forms/500_nvra/SEL500.pdf), print I Today — Ballots mailed to long-term West Central Avenue. system. two evils, but not by a great the form, fill it out, and mail it to: absent electors (overseas and military). Child Protective Services placed ? I Oct. 8 — Ballots mailed to out-of- margin. He believes Democrat Terri Turi the 2-year-old child in protective Where’s my party? and Republican candidates are Coos County Clerk state voters. services. Steve Noorlander, president beholden to a small group of Coos County Courthouse ?I Oct. 16 — Voter registration deadline. Another man was arrested on a of the Coos County chapter of corporations and special 250 N.