And I’m being serious. I feel like there might be an argument there, I just don’t understand it. Can someone please “steelman” that argument for me?

  • huquad@lemmy.mlEnglish
    205·
    6 days ago

    It’s the trolley problem. You see a trolley about to kill 5 people. You can pull a lever (vote) and make the trolley only kill 1. In this case, that 1 person is also in the lineup of 5. This distinction makes it obvious the only option is to pull the lever (vote).

    • Cyrus Draegur@lemm.eeEnglish
      102·
      6 days ago

      They mistakenly believe that by pulling the lever they are complicit in the trolley. That by interacting with the trolley on the trolley’s terms, they are consenting to the trolley’s actions.

      I used to believe that too once… Once.

      I was disabused of that notion before 2012, but sadly not enough people were.

      • huquad@lemmy.mlEnglish
        12·
        6 days ago

        Inaction is also an action. You’re always playing the game, might as well learn the rules.

    • gerryflap@feddit.nl
      32·
      6 days ago

      I agree that people should’ve voted, but I disagree with this one-dimensional line of thinking. I can see the argument that by voting for the democrats their current behaviour and this fucked up system as a whole is warranted. It’s not as simple as “why not vote, it costs you nothing”. By voting this horrible “democracy” is legitimised and the democrats and the system will not change their approach. The US deserves a democracy that actually allows for representation instead of this duopoly of garbage and more garbage

      • huquad@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        5 days ago

        Not voting doesn’t do anything but make you feel better about yourself. No one in power cares that you didn’t vote. They actually love low voter turnout because it’s an easier demographic to hit

        • gerryflap@feddit.nl
          11·
          2 days ago

          I disagree. The margins seem thin enough that people fed up with either party can absolutely ruin them in the swing states. If you were to disagree with one of the parties, you could absolutely give them a signal by not voting. Preferably such a person would also make very clear why they refuse to vote for a party, because otherwise it’s indeed just lazy and empty.

          Again, I think that people who do so are shooting themselves (and everyone else) in the foot. But I can see their motivation.