Let me start by saying that I think this will split people and some might agree but I think enough on here disagree that it qualifies for this community. I should also give a caveat that I’m not 100% sure all of this applies to the GOP structure, so I’m using the Dems as an example.
People often think that, since the two major parties in US politics don’t perfectly reflect their views, they shouldn’t waste time getting involved in politics. But who picks political candidates and platforms? The DNC picks nationwide candidates but endorsements are typically done at state and local levels. Local committeepeople who set local agendas and endorse candidates are just random people like you and me (state ones are slightly higher profile). If you want to shift a party in a different direction, join it and be part of the change. Most of the time, the committeepeople run unopposed at the local level and with minor opposition at the state level. Endorsements are powerful and hinge on an even smaller number of votes than local elections. And even within the local committees, there will often be a small-ish vetting committee that recommends endorsements to the full committee. Especially in primaries, a lot of people just vote for the endorsed candidates.
You might be thinking “but there’s a third party that better matches my views, should I join them instead?” I would say no in most situations. The political reality is that we have a 2 party system with first past the post voting that ensures those 2 parties stay in power. Even if, for example, the Green party won a decent chunk of house seats, they’d have to form a coalition with the Democrats to get a speaker in power that supports their mutual views and a middle-ground agenda.
Tl;dr: if you’re worried about a political party not matching your views 100%, join it and change the party.
Local and state politics often go unnoticed but they hold a lot of power. They just don’t get the media attention that national level stuff does. Good to start there if you get involved.
More people should be involved in political contradiction and conversation. Then they should bring it to the utterly corrupt (to the point of being ideologically useless) parties.
Agree people should be more involved. 100% right that we can and should change the system ftom within.
There are powerful forces that suppress this. The poor are way too busy just trying to survive. The shrinking middle class is distracted by the “bread and circuses” stuff (like the culture war). Or just trying to grapple with their kids’ futures.
The people in control know exactly what they are doing.
It will be evolution or revolution. It always is.
Been saying this for years.
Also, instead of not voting, you can work for good candidates even if they don’t live in your area. You can make donate to them, or make phone calls.
NYC Mayor Ed Koch had a good line. “If you agree with me 51% of the time, vote for me. If you agree with me 100%v of the time, see a psychiatrist.”
For the record, I agree with everything you’re saying.
As a mod, I have to say “Rule 1: No Politics”.
That said, I’m going to allow this as long as it remains civil and discussion are in good faith. That that said, other mods of the community may disagree and remove it.
I should probably read the rules before posting, huh? That being said, I tried to keep the phrasing so it could apply to either party and just used the Democrats as an example.
Yeah, I got that from the post, and I appreciate it. Which is why I’ve chosen to leave it up. It’s certainly an unpopular opinion based on the types of comments I’ve seen elsewhere, it’s not calling out anything specifically, and the message is important.
If you want to edit it to be more generic, that’d be cool. Otherwise, I’m just gonna watch to make sure the discussions/comments don’t go off the rails. When the new mod team took over, we all agreed we should leave politics at the door since it’s everywhere and sometimes you just need a reprieve.
Not sure where the line is for that, exactly, but I’m willing to allow some generic, good-faith discussion once in a while. May need to chat with the other mods to see how they feel about it.
Done!
