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.
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…
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.
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!
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.