voting is completely pointless. why do we even argue at this point when it just gives neoliberal ghouls more space to spread their ideology? we should be criticizing the idea of voting as a concept without the presence of a leftist party as a viable option, the hope in the electoral system has become a kind of false consciousness. it was only able to make change as long as people were implicitly backing up their beliefs with the threat of direct action, and as long as the looming threat of communism kept the bourgeoisie from diving off the deep end entirely. And now they are, and without a proper opposition nothing will matter. We need to be emphasizing this and attacking their positions of supporting voting in general as a primary form of action, not just who they're voting for. Yes, we should vote for PSL and such, but mostly as part of creating the image of a strong leftist power base, not because we think it's possible to actually get electoral concessions from the bourgoisie
Because that's an extremely easy position to argue against; It's the strawman of leftist attitudes on elections that liberals constantly pretend we have. Voting is incredibly easy for the vast majority of us, so we may as well vote third party to voice the popularity of leftism.
I don't think EelBolshevikism was saying "you must not vote". You can criticise the idea of voting as effectively pointless, and still vote PSL for the tiniest mind bogglingly little almost-nothing it will achieve.
I do think it's important not to concede to any argument that voting in the current system is important in any meaningful way.
We should not compromise the validity of our arguments with hyperbole. We should state what is correct and not exceed those bounds for the sake of rhetorical effect.
I am not using hyperbole, voting is almost entirely pointless (right now) if the purpose is to get someone into office. It is absolutely a useful tool as a part of bolstering the power and status of actual leftist organizations. I should have clarified that more and it is misleading the way I said it, I'm sorry
voting is completely pointless. why do we even argue at this point when it just gives neoliberal ghouls more space to spread their ideology? we should be criticizing the idea of voting as a concept without the presence of a leftist party as a viable option, the hope in the electoral system has become a kind of false consciousness. it was only able to make change as long as people were implicitly backing up their beliefs with the threat of direct action, and as long as the looming threat of communism kept the bourgeoisie from diving off the deep end entirely. And now they are, and without a proper opposition nothing will matter. We need to be emphasizing this and attacking their positions of supporting voting in general as a primary form of action, not just who they're voting for. Yes, we should vote for PSL and such, but mostly as part of creating the image of a strong leftist power base, not because we think it's possible to actually get electoral concessions from the bourgoisie
I'm not against voting, I'm against elections in liberal "democracy". There's a very big difference, imo.
Because that's an extremely easy position to argue against; It's the strawman of leftist attitudes on elections that liberals constantly pretend we have. Voting is incredibly easy for the vast majority of us, so we may as well vote third party to voice the popularity of leftism.
I don't think EelBolshevikism was saying "you must not vote". You can criticise the idea of voting as effectively pointless, and still vote PSL for the tiniest mind bogglingly little almost-nothing it will achieve.
I do think it's important not to concede to any argument that voting in the current system is important in any meaningful way.
We should not compromise the validity of our arguments with hyperbole. We should state what is correct and not exceed those bounds for the sake of rhetorical effect.
I am not using hyperbole, voting is almost entirely pointless (right now) if the purpose is to get someone into office. It is absolutely a useful tool as a part of bolstering the power and status of actual leftist organizations. I should have clarified that more and it is misleading the way I said it, I'm sorry