timemachineyeah

drives me up a wall living in a very very red district, like “no democrat is ever going to win any local election, let alone a real leftist” district, like “our school board members ran on who was the most anti-mask” red, like “I pass white supremacist signs on the way to buy weed” red

and being in the local leftist community and the guy who runs the anarchist book club and the lady who helps keep the warming shelters open and the people who marched on city hall when a local business was getting death threats for having a drag show are all members of a discord and we get on this discord and have frank discussions about how best to vote

the people who do the protests and the mutual aid and all the real work

going “okay, they’re both fascists, but this one lacks ambition and seems happy to just glide in the position” or “they both suck, but this one can be reasoned with if you frame it patriotically enough” like we don’t even have a democrat to vote for. we know what a vote is. we know what we hope accomplish with it. we know what it can do, and we know what it can’t.

and going from those discussions to here where people think that your vote is some kind of fucking??? enabling maneuver??? as if someone isn’t going to end up in that seat regardless of what you do???

we didn’t build this system, we just live in it. we’re just trying to survive. a vote isn’t a statement of your values, it’s not an endorsement, it’s not a marriage contract, it’s a strategic play you make to keep alive.

the biggest mistake I see leftists making is overestimating their own popularity. “well but everyone would be leftist if they just-” no, stop, 1) you can’t possibly know that 2) everyone will not just

    • Delphia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      106·
      9 个月前

      But this solution doesnt kill any billionaires, install linux, implement communism or defund the police! It accomplishes nothing!

      • Worx@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        24·
        9 个月前

        I heard that when you install Linux for the first time, a billionaire dies. The only way to stop this is for a right-winger to clap three times and say “I believe in the free market”

      • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
        6·
        9 个月前

        Goddam you sound so insufferable. You love your ineffective, status-quo, compromise-with-naked-fascists, liberal Democrats, and you want me to love them too. They don’t fucking represent me or my values. If I vote for them, my concerns are ignored until the next campaign when I’m told my concerns are unrealistic fantasies and that while there is certainly no hope of improving things, they can get worse more slowly than with the Republicans.

        Democrats are a failure as a party in opposition to conservatism (or even fascism!). Why is it so much to expect for party leaders to show some fucking leadership? Do politics. Have a vision and do more than pretend to fight for it. Make room in the party for the left if you want our votes.

        • FractalsInfinite@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          7·
          9 个月前

          You do realize that the previous commenter was joking right?

          At the end of the day, people have no option but to vote for the lesser of two evils, hense why people need to “Do politics” and create better parties or infiltrate existing ones and improve them from the inside. For those who can’t do that, voting to minimize harm is the best many can do. By not voting, you choose to let the status quo remain the same or worse, regress.

          • Delphia@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            9 个月前

            No no no… dont correct them.

            Nothing makes me happier than someone missing the point so hard they prove it.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
            3·
            9 个月前

            Yeah I get that they were “joking”. What has voting for Democrats gotten us besides " the status quo… or worse"? This is the point. You guys are the ones who have it backwards. Politicians have to “sell” themselves to the electorate. Democrats don’t even try to do that, which is precisely why someone like Trump can come along and win elections.

    • Honytawk@lemmy.zipEnglish
      22·
      9 个月前

      Why? I don’t live in an undemocratic country with only 2 parties.

      Why should I need to read it?

      • spujb@lemmy.cafeOPEnglish
        33·
        9 个月前

        why are you commenting if you self admittedly don’t care to read the post or understand its context. what ur doing is tantamount to trolling and super annoying.

      • kokopelli@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        9 个月前

        Only those unfortunate enough to be living the “American dream” need to.

        Did I mention I want to move to Europe

    • fishos@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      9 个月前

      You only hear this argument pop up when they’re admitting their candidate is shit but it’s the only choice you have besides the other guy.

      THIS ISNT A REAL CHOICE AND WE NEED TO STOP PRETENDING IT IS. This is literally how the system maintains it’s 2 party nature.

      Yes, you should vote. And vote for who you actually believe in and who you think will actually make a difference, not just the “safe bet”. It’s a prisoners dilemma and we’re all too afraid to make the right move.

        • fishos@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          9 个月前

          Oh I read it. It’s a load of crap. “Leftists” are part of the broken system too. US “liberals” are still conservatives in most other nations.

          Voting “just to survive” is voting to keep the system intact. But keep arguing how you’re not part of the problem while voting for the current ruling class that keeps it entrenched.

          You can say whatever you want. Doesnt make it true. And requoting it thinking that’s sufficient to change someone’s mind shows how out of touch you are with discourse as well. Just keep shouting the same thing over and over and eventually it’ll be true. Sound familiar?