“It’s not perfect, therefore it’s useless, and because it is, I’m going to vote for the worse alternative. Don’t make me explain my reasoning further.”
The idea that all politicians are corrupt and conniving bastards is mainly a right-wing fiction. They assume everybody acts exactly like they themselves do
Uh, what? Where did I say to use hopes and prayers? And I do improve the world, regularly. It’s small ways, but that’s kind of the point: it all adds up…
Apathy is absolutely the problem, but “just” getting out there and voting means replacing them with whatever new asshats the existing donor class selects for you. Actual change is going to require voting, and then getting back out there the next day (and every day thereafter) to hold their feet to the fire through direct action, strikes, organizing, protests, call campaigns, and every other tool at our disposal. Pretending otherwise is almost as much of a disservice as the "voting changes nothing argument.
That said, there is a way of not voting that DOES make a difference. Politicians DO pay attention to the differences between votes for various party members on the same ballot. So if you really can’t stomach voting for someone, voting for down (or up) ballot races and leaving that one office blank tells them their policies are unpopular with voting members of “their own” party - and that WILL scare them in a way that low turnout won’t.
You say that like most Americans wouldn’t support doing literally anything that would lower gas prices. The problem is trying to make everyone happy.
I mean, most people I know bring up gas prices before they bring up climate change, if at all. I try to remind these people that while the president/Congress can take actions to increase drilling there are many of us in the US that would prefer they didn’t.
I usually then make it clear how obviously easy it is for me to say that as someone that works from home and isn’t as impacted by gas prices; context is always important.
at least until after the election
Yes, yes, we know… All politicians are corrupt and bad, both sides are the same, don’t vote, everything sucks, nothing matters, etc.
Or you could have just the tiniest bit of hope and diligence to improve the world…
“It’s not perfect, therefore it’s useless, and because it is, I’m going to vote for the worse alternative. Don’t make me explain my reasoning further.”
The idea that all politicians are corrupt and conniving bastards is mainly a right-wing fiction. They assume everybody acts exactly like they themselves do
That, and if you’re not on their side, they want you to be screwed out of your vote and rights, or apathetic because you feel it is all hopeless.
Ah yes, don’t be realistic the solution is “thoughts and prayers”.
Or you could get mad about it and go do something to improve the world…
Uh, what? Where did I say to use hopes and prayers? And I do improve the world, regularly. It’s small ways, but that’s kind of the point: it all adds up…
People just have to get out there and vote these asshats out. Apathy is why these losers get voted in in the first place.
Apathy is absolutely the problem, but “just” getting out there and voting means replacing them with whatever new asshats the existing donor class selects for you. Actual change is going to require voting, and then getting back out there the next day (and every day thereafter) to hold their feet to the fire through direct action, strikes, organizing, protests, call campaigns, and every other tool at our disposal. Pretending otherwise is almost as much of a disservice as the "voting changes nothing argument.
That said, there is a way of not voting that DOES make a difference. Politicians DO pay attention to the differences between votes for various party members on the same ballot. So if you really can’t stomach voting for someone, voting for down (or up) ballot races and leaving that one office blank tells them their policies are unpopular with voting members of “their own” party - and that WILL scare them in a way that low turnout won’t.
THANK you. We need election reform, but at least it’s not like Russia, North Korea, etc here…
You’re on a Netherlands based instance but you live in the USA? My family is Dutch.
Yep.
Jealous!
Don’t be. I have one of those last names with “van” in it so it always causes problems everywhere because of the space!
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You say that like most Americans wouldn’t support doing literally anything that would lower gas prices. The problem is trying to make everyone happy.
I mean, most people I know bring up gas prices before they bring up climate change, if at all. I try to remind these people that while the president/Congress can take actions to increase drilling there are many of us in the US that would prefer they didn’t.
I usually then make it clear how obviously easy it is for me to say that as someone that works from home and isn’t as impacted by gas prices; context is always important.