Let us hope that one day the US, or any democracy for that matter, will come together to implement ranked choice voting.
Until that day, let’s hope people recognize that there really are only two votes that will end up counting. I still regret voting for Nader when Bush stole the election in 2000.
Let’s also hope that people realize voters who don’t vote far outnumber third-party voters.
There should be some improved turnout in the 18-24 range now that abortion and marijuana are on the ballot in several states this November.
I'd settle for Democrats not taking advantage of the situation.
Democrats aren’t taking advantage, republicans are. Why do you think independent candidates are funded primarily by GOP PACs but use moderate platforms? They know anyone educated enough to find value in a moderate candidate would never have voted for Trump.
They are taking advantage of the situation by ignoring voters telling him to stop genocide. They believe they can do whatever they want and voters will still reward him with another opportunity to keep doing it.
The US has always been too easy on Israel. I agree that Biden needs to stand firm on his recent insistence of diplomacy after the attack, and take action if Netanyahu doesn’t agree to follow.
The honest truth is that none of the other choices will be better, and Trump will be far, far worse.
The honest truth is that none of the other choices will be better, and Trump will be far, far worse.
This is exactly what taking advantage looks like.
We’re having the same conversation again, just one thread down. Lol
"You have to vote for us no matter how badly we behave because the alternative is worse."
That is taking advantage. If you don't see that, I can't explain it any more clearly.
We can acknowledge that Trump is a fascist and people need to vote for Biden or there is a real possibility of not being able to vote again.
We can also acknowledge that as a result Democrats don't have to try very hard and can present a boring "mostly status quo" candidate under the banner of "what are you going to do, let a fascist win?"
Yes, it sucks. We can acknowledge it sucks. Personally I think the best way to correct course is if the Republicans lose hard to send the message that they need to be putting forward reasonable candidates to stand a chance, at which point it would be reasonable to not vote for disappointing Democratic candidates.
We can still acknowledge that what is being offered isn't stellar.
Democrats aren’t taking advantage
Yes, they absolutely are. It's why they're supporting the genocide every last centrist has always wanted. They can get away with it because the other option is worse.
You think Trump would be better? Republicans have been bloodthirsty for an Iran conflict for decades.
You think Trump would be better?
No, I don't.
I think Democrats are taking advantage of this in order to move as far to the right as being second worst will allow.
What you wrote is a simplification and it's also wrong in general. For people who don't live in swing states, one vote more or less isn't going to change the election. This is especially true if you're in an obvious minority in your own state.
Also, the two established parties realize that people think what you think, and that gives them an excuse not to represent their base. The term used back in Bill Clinton's days was "triangulation". One of the ways of keeping presidential candidates honest is to vote for third parties if necessary.
Finally, it's important to keep in mind that the stance you have here is something that many of us have heard for decades.
And it's all still true, as long as we have a voting system that is essentially actively detrimental to yourself if you try to express anything other than R or D on the voting ballot.
or any democracy for that matter
Australia sends its regards.
It is really nice knowing that I can safely vote for our "green" party without risking our conservative party getting in because the centre-left party loses too many votes.
Also, voting being mandatory (and very accessible) and on a Sunday for federal elections is such a game changer for ensuring participation.
Hopefully you guys can get reforms in at some point.
Low voter turnout benefits the Republican Party in the US because conservatives are more consistent voters. Reform requires 60 votes in the Senate out of 100. That makes it almost impossible because one of the major parties is not interested in reform.
Most countries with presidential systems have two-round voting which is effectively very close to ranked choice voting. That’s why e.g. Macron’s new party could immediately win the presidency.
They also count one vote as one vote instead of this electoral college BS
The first Trump criminal trial starts tomorrow. Trump's fundraising is being crushed by Biden. RNC is hurting for cash and what is there is being gobbled up by Trump's lawyers. Down ballot candidates will have zero assistance.
Republicans are facing the most devastating defeat in their history. Polling has been garbage for two election cycles. Just look at the writing on the wall. Trump is running on fumes and it's only going to get worse.
Vote anyway.
Absolutely. Not voting is a vote for the candidate you don't like.
The neat part is that, for me, voting is also a vote for the candidate I don't like.
All of the above appears to be true. Trump is being slammed both in court and out, and Trump's fundraising is going to his legal bills while Biden's getting more money and needing to spend it on fewer things. The early polls were scary, for sure, but Bidens numbers are improving, possibly because we're getting more real pollsters in the polling, possibly because less invested people are tuning into the election and realising that as much as the past 4 years sucked, Trump's handling of COVID and his approach to governing are much worse.
Still. We need to be careful with 'we've got this in the bag' thinking. We don't call TFG 'Teflon Don' for nothing. That guy's got more lives than a cat, and is wileyer than a fox. And you know what he's going to do based on what he's accusing other people of doing. We have got to turn out in exceptional numbers and UTTERLY CRUSH TRUMP at the poll box. Even then, we may need to brush up on our self-defence skills because I wouldn't put it past Trump and his backers to actually start an honest-to-goodness coup complete with guns and armies if he loses it. I'm not going to rest until Biden is reinaugurated in 2025...
I agree 100%. But also I think that a politics board on Lemmy is mostly going to be populated with folks who don't need to be told to vote no matter what. Local races are still important. And as you point out, winning by the biggest margin possible is important so even if polling has Biden with a 20 point margin, we've got to turn out and push it even higher. Plus local races are honestly more important to folks' day to day than who is President.
So absolutely everyone vote, but that message will be more important as the election gets closer and mostly in places that aren't full of politics nerds.
THIS SHIT IS NOT FUCKING HELPING YOU OLD MAN
Still better than Trump.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/04/politics/trump-israel-comments/index.html
Yep. Not saying he isn't. This is a discussion about Biden vs third party dems.
I’m aware. They’re funded by GOP PACs, but running on moderate platforms, for one reason only.
To get Trump elected.
They know anyone educated enough to seek out a moderate candidate wouldn’t have voted for Trump in the first place.
It probably is though.
As an outsider, I feel that the Democrats would have an easier time turning third parties over if they didn't push a dementia patient who could lose the last of his competency next term.
Meanwhile, in the real world:
I strongly recommend watching Biden's State of the Union if you want to get a sense of his vigor
It's not like the other duopoly is any better in that respect. It's functionally a draw in the age related problems category.
Biden poses a danger to Biden. He's done nothing just like all prior democrats, to earn our vote. That sane hubris cost Hills an election that was hers to lose.
/me points at giant pile of achievements.
What you smoking bro? There are extremely valid criticisms of Biden but "done nothing"? What kind of bubble do you live in that you're so utterly ignorant.
“Did he solve every single one of my problems?? Why did my wife leave me?? Biden is doing nothing to fix this!!!” - that guy probably
My partner has a migraine tonight. Is Biden responsible for the lack of anal? Thanks, Obama.
I really fucking hate that third-party candidates are seen as "danger". Fuck plurality voting, STAR voting now.
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