• queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    11 days ago

    If voting matters, if this is a democracy, then non-votes matter too.

    So which is it? Is this a functioning democracy, where refusing to vote unless certain demands are met can be used as leverage? Or is this a kleptocracy where you must vote for the fascism lite party if you don’t want the fascism delux party to win?

    • trafficnab@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      11 days ago

      Non-votes literally do not matter, mathematically it’s the same as if you had two votes and you gave one each to both candidates. Parties cannot appeal to you as a non-voter because they have no idea what you want, the only way they can is if you vote in primaries for your candidates of choice so they can see the sorts of things their constituents value. Only don’t vote if you truly don’t care whether we have “fascism or fascism-lite”, because if you would prefer one then not voting only helps the other win.

      Again, general elections are about harm reduction, sometimes you have to be an adult, grit your teeth, and choose between two bad choices because one is clearly the better option. We’ll have to eliminate FPTP first if we want anything different.

      • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        11 days ago

        By refusing to vote unless my demands are met I can exert pressure on Democrats. You, by voting blue no matter who and no matter what, literally have no impact on Democrats. How else do you think we push them left?

        Also, genocide isn’t harm reduction.

        You’re an enabler. This genocide is on your head, blue no matter who’s have made it impossible to convince Biden to stop.

        • trafficnab@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          11 days ago

          If that’s what you have to tell yourself when you and others like you not voting enables Donald Trump and the GOPs super genocide on the Palestinian people, I’m sure their spirits will rest well in their mass graves knowing that you really stuck it to the Democrats

          I for one will be trying to save lives come November

          • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            edit-2
            11 days ago

            There might not be anyone left alive in Gaza by November because you refuse to pressure Biden. You are an enabler.

            • trafficnab@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              10 days ago

              You are cutting off your nose to spite your face, your selfishness and inability to move past your moral grandstanding on this single issue will guaranteed cause untold suffering across the globe (especially to domestic minorities) should the Republicans gain more power

              More dead Ukrainians, more dead Gazans, more dead women, more dead LGBT, and if they get their way, the death of American democracy as we know it

              • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                edit-2
                10 days ago

                There might not be any people left in Gaza by November thanks to your support for genocide. You are an enabler.