Because who needs to thoughtfully engage with arguments about the utility of electoralism, when you can smugly make a bingo card, and pretend that you won?

  • Dessa [she/her]
    ·
    8 months ago

    "We exist in a 2 party system! Be realistic!"

    • ReadFanon [any, any]
      ·
      edit-2
      8 months ago

      "Okay, if that's the case then the most realistic thing I can do is a protest vote against Biden and for the GOP because that way I'm making the effect of my vote on the Democratic party have at least double the impact.

      If the Dems want my vote they have to earn it but until that happens not only are they losing one vote but they're getting one vote for the opposing party.

      I will encourage other voters to engage in protest voting this way so we can form a bloc to affect change in the most realistic and pragmatic way under this system. We will lobby for change and hold the entire system hostage in the same way that the Dems and their supporters are attempting to hold us hostage. Turnabout play is fair.

      Thank you for helping me to understand that voting is powerful and how it's crucial to democracy."

      • idkmybffjoeysteel [he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        Honestly the most success I have ever had arguing with libs has been because I threaten to use my single vote against them specifically out of spite.

        • ReadFanon [any, any]
          ·
          8 months ago

          I mean I'm not even an Amerikkkan and I wouldn't actually advocate for voting for Trump but if someone forced me to go to the polls and they supervised me in the booth so I couldn't spoil my ballot then I'd probably vote Trump in protest. But that's really outside of the realms of possibility because we're talking about a situation where it would be:

          • No option to not vote

          • No option not to cast a blank or spoilt ballot

          • No option to vote for a viable socialist candidate

          So we're really talking about something that's the second-last option that I'd take rather than my first one.

          If someone started organising an actual protest vote for the GOP in order to hold the DNC hostage I'd laugh about it because that's exactly what the Dems deserve and I'd wish them well but ultimately I just don't see electoralism as a viable strategy, that one included (especially because the DNC knows that a strong Trump means a strong upswing in donations to the Democratic party).

          If it was the time when Bernie was in with a chance or if there were mass strikes or a general strike that was happening and there was a candidate who was significantly more willing to compromise with the strike action then I'd revise my position but under the current circumstances, nah.