Idk I'd argue votes do matter because even though they don't actually provide any substantial change, they help create the idea of a mandate for the people who receive the votes. For instance, more votes for a fascist candidate or party emboldens the far-right. And inversely, the fewer votes socialist parties receive the more marginal they seem.
The revolution will never be won at the ballot box but it's important for socialists to demonstrate that they exist, to stand and be counted. And it's also important to sway people away from liberals and fascists.
While I do agree they can, in a small way, help create that idea. There are multiple western voting systems where even undeniably winning the popular vote does not win or lead to mass discontent for failing to be governed by the actually mandated parties. If people aren't even reacting to that, winning a lot of votes is never going to mean that much.
Idk I'd argue votes do matter because even though they don't actually provide any substantial change, they help create the idea of a mandate for the people who receive the votes. For instance, more votes for a fascist candidate or party emboldens the far-right. And inversely, the fewer votes socialist parties receive the more marginal they seem.
The revolution will never be won at the ballot box but it's important for socialists to demonstrate that they exist, to stand and be counted. And it's also important to sway people away from liberals and fascists.
https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch07.htm
You're right but you also aren't really the "Bert" here.
While I do agree they can, in a small way, help create that idea. There are multiple western voting systems where even undeniably winning the popular vote does not win or lead to mass discontent for failing to be governed by the actually mandated parties. If people aren't even reacting to that, winning a lot of votes is never going to mean that much.