There's been a lot of memes going around, but I genuinely have a question. If PSL were on the ballot, I would obviously vote for them. However, they're write-in only in my state. Would writing in PSL have the same effect, or could the vote more easily be invalid or ignored.
In other words, is it better to vote for Greens if PSL is write-in only?
EDIT: THANKS FOR INPUT! I've decided to write in Hilary Clinton, have a wonderful day!
But really probably writing in PSL. Elections don't matter too much though, so I'm ever in an area where PSL is active, I'll make sure to join (which has been the plan for a while). Thanks again!
The fact that we're talking about and debating this is the point of running a candidate. The Party and it's members have to flex their organizational muscles and work towards building the scaffolding for a truly meaningful and truly revolutionary party in the future; and running a campaign to highlight for many how much of a scam the elections are has been extremely effective in the past and continues to now be extremely effective in putting the PSL at the forefront of conversation for anti-imperialist movements.
We won't win, we just have a great excuse to talk to people at a point when they're having their lack of meaningful governing power highlighted by the genocide and the election.
Thanks for your responses but, thinking about it further, I'm still not convinced this is a good strategy. Not that my opinion matters much and I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think starting with multiple, failed, impossible Presidential campaigns is the way to go about doing this. They should be focused on doing local campaigns, in my opinion. It would do a lot more to get people "talking about" PSL.
We're "talking about" PSL because this is a niche Communist website, I assure you almost no one outside radical circles is "talking about" PSL.
I understand where you're coming from, but I should highlight that branches of the PSL do participate in local struggles, I can even speak for local struggles here where we've made headway; and a huge part of the PSL's notoriety at this point is due to various branch's participation in and headlining of local pro-Palestinian struggle. However, I should share that being on the ground itself the presidential campaign has been a great way to connect with people outside of "radical circles", even ignoring the organizational and strategic benefits that it's brought.
By running a campaign which shows how bankrupt both candidates are, we're not only clearing the way for future growth (ala the periods of major upheavel between the two parties like the rise of the Populist Party) but also highlighting to regular working people how our system has fundamental contradictions with common sense humanity and how it needs to be corrected. People really aren't stupid, they're able to see when they're being played, and this campaign and what it ultimately highlights as the solution is effective for just those people who realize they're being played. This is outreach to the majority of people, with the benefit of spurring discussion among people who would be amenable to working with or within a well organized party structure.
If you're interested in more justifications for this policy by the party, an article is available here on Liberation School. I think ultimately even if we end up disagreeing on this, the results will show for themselves whether this contributed towards building a nationwide anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist party and movement in the United States.
Oh, okay, good to know about the local campaigns! That's really my only critique, I don't really see a big problem running a Presidential campaign if they're also doing local campaigns. I've asked about this before but no one responded so I figured it wasn't happening. So, they are running for local offices too?
Also, just out of curiosity if you happen to know, is PSL doing outreach for the Presidential campaign outside of areas with current chapters or only in areas where there is a current chapter?
Thanks again for your responses! It does help but sorry for the questions. (I did read the article but what you said was more convincing.)