I've been debating to myself whether or not voting for a third party candidate (Either PSL's de la Cruz or Green's West, regardless of my criticisms for both) would be the most "effective" use of my time in election season this year. The argument for "not" is that maybe voting at all is bad because it legitimizes this system, even if a third party candidate getting a record turnout would grab more attention (and piss off Blue MAGA cultists) than simply not going since it's not like abysmal turnouts, even by this country's historical standards, are newsworthy at this point. So I guess I have to ask how you people rationalize voting or not this year?
I fully understand that this is more symbolic than anything else and won't materially affect change for a while but it's still something to think about.
If my lack of vote can destroy the US, then it's my obligation not to vote. However, if the vote of a single election cycle can destroy a country, then it has already proven itself a failure, and its destruction is an inevitable formality.
Lesser evil is still evil, reducing harm is not harm reduction, and it has always been the responsibility of politicians to earn the votes of their constituency. The DNC isn't taking the election seriously, so why should I?