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submitted 2 months ago by Confidant6198@lemmy.ml to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[-] Nougat@fedia.io 87 points 2 months ago

Turns out, if you're further left than either realistic candidate (because FPTP), it makes it really easy to figure out who you should vote for. "I wonder if I should vote for the person who's not left enough for my liking, or the one is so far beyond that as to be the diametric opposite of left. Whatever shall I do?"

[-] unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml 32 points 2 months ago

Well, the electoral college isn't actually FPTP, it's even worse than that.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 14 points 2 months ago

You’re not wrong. I was keeping it simple.

[-] basmati@lemmus.org 22 points 2 months ago

Both candidates fall under the latter category. An AG that was a prosecutor with a history of perpetuating the war on drugs and arguing in court innocent men should stay imprisoned because prison labor is good for the economy, who was also vice president to one of the most right wing men ever elected?

That's literally the state half of the fascist alignment of corporate and state power.

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[-] lengau@midwest.social 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yeah, the "you're voting for genocide" argument is also ridiculous, as the choices essentially boil down to:

🔲 One genocide (with a potential of partial mitigation)
🔲 2+ genocides (and the one being even worse)
🔲 Don't care (in green)
🔲 Don't care (in yellow)

etc.

Genocide is bad. That should not be a controversial statement. I will use my vote to choose the least genocide that it has the power to choose, and I will use my other energy to advocate for less (and hopefully zero) genocide.

You don't have to like that fact. I certainly don't like it. But this is exactly what harm reduction looks like.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 26 points 2 months ago

This is just a monstrous reframing of a bipartisan genocide. Voting dem or voting rep is a vote for genocide, full stop, because they support the same genocide to the same magnitude, materially. Pretending Dems are better because genocide makes some of their voterbase sad is wrong.

I will use my vote to choose the least genocide that it has the power to choose

Then vote Greens or PSL.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 18 points 2 months ago

Then vote Greens or PSL.

Sorry, I'm not going to vote "don't care" on genocide no matter how many faux leftists pretend it's the morally superior option.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 months ago

It's morally superior to vote for genocide but pretend your flavor of genocide isn't the exact same as the other flavor of genocide.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Look, if you don't care about LGBT folks, women who need abortions, asylum seekers, etc. you can pull that "don't care" lever. But "I care about making a symbolic, but ultimately toothless, gesture about Palestine more than I care about the lives of thousands, possibly millions of others" is what voting third-party is telling the system right now. If that makes you feel morally superior, we're at an impasse because I don't know how to explain to someone that an action to save lives is more powerful than an unrealistic gesture about saving even more lives, but which will realistically increase the amount of death and suffering.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 18 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Is there a red line for you in the sand, or would you vote for Hitler if 101% Hitler was running? When do you abandon hope in the Democrats, if being genocidal Imperialists doing nothing to help marginalized groups, and are running to the right of Trump in 2016 with respect to immigration, doesn't?

[-] lengau@midwest.social 14 points 2 months ago

That's a non-sequitur, because that's not what's happening by any means. But thanks for ceding the point that you're okay feeling morally superior by doing something that'll get more people killed.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 months ago

So either there's no red line, or genocide doesn't matter if it's against Muslims for you.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 10 points 2 months ago

Yes yes, we all see the rhetorical trap you're trying to deploy. It's not exactly subtle.

Meanwhile in the real world, in most of the US there is no realistic alternative to the red/blue dichotomy, and so while we're actually building that alternative we have to choose between those two. At the national level and in most (possibly all) senate/house races, that's the reality of the situation. You either work with the coalition you think is less evil and try to convince them to be even less evil, or you admit that you're okay with the more evil option if it gives you a feeling of moral superiority.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 14 points 2 months ago

Meanwhile in the real world, in most of the US there is no realistic alternative to the red/blue dichotomy, and so while we're actually building that alternative we have to choose between those two.

You aren't building the alternative, you're arguing against building the alternative. You support the status quo.

You either work with the coalition you think is less evil and try to convince them to be even less evil, or you admit that you're okay with the more evil option if it gives you a feeling of moral superiority

Correct, you're doing the latter while I'm doing the former. Trying to work with Socialists and build a good party is better than sitting on your hands and giving the genocidal imperialists the keys forever.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"Building an alternative" doesn't happen in the ballot box. It happens everywhere else.

It happens by getting a better voting system rather than FPTP, for which I'm doing actual, active advocacy. (Are you?)

It happens by working at a grassroots level to get people with better opinions elected, all the way down to local judges, city council members and library boards, where I, once again, am active. (Are you?)

It happens by getting involved in politics at a local level and building a movement. I'm doing that. (Are you?) It doesn't happen by throwing a tantrum in the voting booth.

The fascists know this. The fascists use this to their advantage. And the fascists would absolutely love for there to be 10 competing leftist parties acting as a spoiler effect for liberals. Because as bad as liberals are, fascists are worse.

Throwing out a "no u" when I point out how the things you are doing are paving the way for fascists is not a good argument unless your goal is to actually get fascists into power. And I will choose liberalism over fascism, because that's the harm reduction path to leftism, whereas letting the fascists win is the harm maximisation path.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"Building an alternative" doesn't happen in the ballot box. It happens everywhere else.

Mostly correct, actually, it's just important to highlight how unimportant the ballot box is.

It happens by getting a better voting system rather than FPTP, for which I'm doing actual, active advocacy. (Are you?)

No, because that's silly, and won't fix anything. Only revolution can.

It happens by working at a grassroots level to get people with better opinions elected, all the way down to local judges, city council members and library boards, where I, once again, am active. (Are you?)

Ah, the old "out of sight, out of mind" approach! Certainly won't be sufficient.

It happens by getting involved in politics at a local level and building a movement. I'm doing that. (Are you?) It doesn't happen by throwing a tantrum in the voting booth.

Yep, I am checking out my local chapters of FRSO and PSL and am going to sign on with one of them. They are DemCent, so I can't join both.

The fascists know this. The fascists use this to their advantage. And the fascists would absolutely love for there to be 10 competing leftist parties acting as a spoiler effect for liberals. Because as bad as liberals are, fascists are worse.

Fascism is Capitalism in decay, you can't separate liberalism over time from fascism. Fascism isn't an idea, but a defensive response to leftism.

Throwing out a "no u" when I point out how the things you are doing are paving the way for fascists is not a good argument unless your goal is to actually get fascists into power. And I will choose liberalism over fascism, because that's the harm reduction path to leftism, whereas letting the fascists win is the harm maximisation path.

You say this while saying you help perpetuate liberalism, paving the way for fascism, lmao

[-] lengau@midwest.social 9 points 2 months ago

That's a lot of text to say "Yes, I want the fascist to win."

Making things worse isn't going to accelerate the revolution. It's going to make things worse and kill the most vulnerable in our society - the ones who would most benefit from a revolution. If you truly want a socialist revolution, you need to have enough people on your side. And having those people be dead is counterproductive.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 months ago

That's a lot of text to say "Yes, I want the fascist to win."

In other words, you can't actually respond to my points so you'll misrepresent them. Typical liberalism.

Making things worse isn't going to accelerate the revolution.

Never said it would, that's why I am trying to do what I can before liberals speedrun America into fascism.

It's going to make things worse and kill the most vulnerable in our society - the ones who would most benefit from a revolution. If you truly want a socialist revolution, you need to have enough people on your side. And having those people be dead is counterproductive.

Yep, the Dems and Reps both are killing marginalized people, both domestically and abroad, so we have to abandon them and cease support for their genocide and imperialism

[-] lengau@midwest.social 7 points 2 months ago

You're talking in circles and fundamentally missing the point that neither voting third-party nor not voting isn't going to make things better. It's only going to make things worse.

The ballot box is for harm reduction, and equivocating the level of evil of two candidates only ever helps the more evil option.

If you want to make your first actual point, feel free to do so. If you want to keep repeating the very talking points that got us the situation that allowed for this genocide in the first place, don't bother.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago

You're talking in circles and fundamentally missing the point that neither voting third-party nor not voting isn't going to make things better. It's only going to make things worse.

Things are getting worse if either the Dems or Reps win, Third Party is the only chance electorally.

The ballot box is for harm reduction, and equivocating the level of evil of two candidates only ever helps the more evil option.

Pretending equal evils are different based on vibes alone isn't harm reduction, it's harm acceleration.

If you want to make your first actual point, feel free to do so. If you want to keep repeating the very talking points that got us the situation that allowed for this genocide in the first place, don't bother.

If you want to make your first actual point, feel free to do so. If you want to keep repeating the very talking points that got us the situation that allowed for this genocide in the first place, don't bother.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago

In the above comment, we see the following:

  • Repetition of the same debunked talking points
  • Equivocation of the two major parties (which, as I've already mentioned, only helps the more evil of the two)
  • "no u"

It really insults the intelligence of those reading to think that they won't see through this.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago
  • Repetition of the same debunked talking points

Which of my points have you "debunked?" Lol

  • Equivocation of the two major parties (which, as I've already mentioned, only helps the more evil of the two)

You've been whitewashing genocide and fascism, without meaningfully backing yourself up.

  • "no u"

You insulted me directly, while leaving yourself wide open. You started directly insulting because you had no points other than claiming that genocide isn't that bad if the Dems do it.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago

Which of my points have you “debunked?” Lol

I haven't had to, as all you've done so far is repeat already-debunked, faux-leftist points that enable fascists.

You’ve been whitewashing genocide and fascism, without meaningfully backing yourself up.

Ahh, more accusations. Genocide is bad. Fascism is bad. Thus my question: why are you advocating for actions that will lead to more genocide and fascism?

You started directly insulting because you had no points other than claiming that genocide isn’t that bad if the Dems do it.

Lying about what I've said in a written forum isn't effective. Once again, and in larger font:

Genocide is always bad, and more genocide is worse.

So why are you advocating for actions that fall in the "more genocide" camp?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 months ago

I haven't had to, as all you've done so far is repeat already-debunked, faux-leftist points that enable fascists.

In other words, you can't, so you call them "faux-leftist."

Ahh, more accusations. Genocide is bad. Fascism is bad. Thus my question: why are you advocating for actions that will lead to more genocide and fascism?

How would my actions lead to more genocide and fascism? Where do you think they come from?

Lying about what I've said in a written forum isn't effective. Once again, and in larger font:

Genocide is always bad, and more genocide is worse.

So why are you advocating for actions that fall in the "more genocide" camp?

Explain where the genocide is coming from, and how what I am advocating for leads to "more genocide." You keep repeating baseless assertions.

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[-] Tiltinyall@beehaw.org 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There's no red line that Americans can VOTE on. We don't get to vote on how America goes to war, period. You really want to frame this in the context that your actually doing something other than undermining a fair election. You've gone way past the red line in your support of Trump.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago

Sure there is, you can vote Green or PSL. If you disapprove of the Democrats but will never not vote for them, you're the same as the rabid supporters of Zionism that vote for the Dems, materially. Are you looking to join a Leftist party, try to destabilize the system and establish Socialism? If not, it seems like you're just supporting the status quo and not lifting a finger no matter how bad it gets.

No, I don't support Trump, that's why I support leftist candidates and advocate for people to abandon the Dems and Reps.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 8 points 2 months ago

you can vote Green or PSL

You sure can if you believe that making an insignificant point in a ballot box is worth more than the actual lives of people who would die because of a Trump administration but not under a Harris one. But if you want to make an actual difference. the ballot box is one of the very few times you need to hold your nose and do the uncomfortable thing of choosing liberalism over fascism.

But if you're okay with fascism, sure. Go and make your vote a spoiler that helps the fascists win. I'm sure the people who die because doctors who were scared to provide medically necessary abortions will be grateful that you did the morally superior, but entirely ineffective, thing.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago

You sure can if you believe that making an insignificant point in a ballot box is worth more than the actual lives of people who would die because of a Trump administration but not under a Harris one. But if you want to make an actual difference. the ballot box is one of the very few times you need to hold your nose and do the uncomfortable thing of choosing liberalism over fascism.

You can vote for fascism if that's what you want, I reject it.

But if you're okay with fascism, sure. Go and make your vote a spoiler that helps the fascists win. I'm sure the people who die because doctors who were scared to provide medically necessary abortions will be grateful that you did the morally superior, but entirely ineffective, thing.

You're voting fascism in, the Dems have failed for half a century to codify abortion rights because they don't care.

[-] Tiltinyall@beehaw.org 8 points 2 months ago

You're all or nothing take on it sounds a little fascist to me...

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

You wouldn't know what fascism was if you lived in Mussolini's Italy or Nazi Germany. Read Blackshirts and Reds, at least the first chapter.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 5 points 2 months ago

You can vote for fascism if that’s what you want, I reject it.

You're literally making the choice to put fascism in power. I'm trying to stop you from making the same mistake I made in 2016.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago

You're literally voting for fascism, not sure what you mean here.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago

Words have definitions. Harris, for everything I don't like about her, is a liberal. Not a fascist. Trump, on the other hand, is a fascist.

The choices here are simple: fascism (Trump), not-fascism (Harris), or "I really don't care, do u?"

Why are you encouraging people to do things that will make it more likely for fascists to win and destroy what little leftist organizing there is in America? The only rational conclusion is that you want fascism. But you keep avoiding that question. Is it because you're taking a page out of the alt-right playbook?

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago

You wouldn't know fascism if you lived in Nazi Germany. Read the first chapter of Blackshirts and Reds, fascism is just Capitalism in decay, and neither the DNC nor GOP are capable of stopping that.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 5 points 2 months ago

Once again avoiding the question and making personal attacks instead.

Your words imply that you think I believe having Harris as president will fix things. I don't. What I do believe is it will slow the decline, hopefully enough for us to create ways to escape capitalism without having fascists commit more genocides than they already are. This is known as "harm reduction." It's a complex theory by which one takes actions to reduce the harm done with immediate actions when there's no immediate action that one can take to improve things. The ballot box in 2024 is not the time for a revolution, for said revolution would fail miserably, leaving us worse off. The ballot box in 2024 is the time for harm reduction.

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[-] HatchetHaro 5 points 2 months ago

you keep saying "vote" as if it means the same thing in a ranked-choice voting system and a first-past-the-post voting system.

newsflash: you're not making the difference you claim you're making. if anything, you're making it worse. congratulations! good job! you did it! you get a good star!

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago

Not sure what you're getting at here, RCV or FPTP, doesn't make a difference, electoralism is useless.

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"You really want to frame this in the context that your actually doing something other than undermining a fair election. "

I find that arguing a person must vote for one of two pro-genocide parties already undermines your idea of a "fair election." What primary even nominated Harris as the Democrat candidate? -Not that our primary systems is particularly representative of a "fair election" system, either. I just don't remember when these were candidates voted on.

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[-] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

You're going to have to explain this convoluted logic to your grandchildren when they ask you why you voted for genocide.

[-] lengau@midwest.social 10 points 2 months ago

What I'm going to have to explain to them is why I voted "don't care" in 2016. That's a mistake I will forever have to live with. But if I can convince a few people not to make that same mistake, I will at least be able to reduce the harm I did.

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[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago

eh. one thing is to choose a candidate who seem less bad somehow, another is to be an actual liberal.

this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2024
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