Rule 6. Locking.
Edit: Unlocking based on argument that this post is general rather than about the recent US election (OP to edit title).
They’re definitely part of the reason why we are where we are. Not the only reason, but definitely a big part of it.
Additionally, I’ll say that their refusal to vote isn’t the protest they think it is. All it did was tell the powers that be that they trust everyone else to choose for them and that they’re fine with whoever wins.
If they wanted a certain outcome but didn’t do jacks shit, with almost no exceptions as to why they didn’t vote, and complain about it, they are getting absolutely zero, zilch, notta, nothing in the sympathy department from me.
If you got the ability to vote, even if it’s for something as minor as what’s for dinner, and you don’t vote, don’t complain because you didn’t do anything.
Make them take the “Walk of Shame” like in the GoT.
No fines. Just make it even easier and better process. Mail in ballots and a federal holiday for the Presidential election.
They should shut up about politics. Not voting is literally a declaration that you don’t care who governs you. Voting is what gives you the right to complain about the government. If you didn’t vote, shut up.
They should shut up about politics
Not participating in fake, anti-democratic spectacles (somehow) “disqualifies” one from talking about politics?
This is just ignorance and whiny entitlement. Your “fake anti-democratic spectacle” is the hard-won achievement of generations of people who came before you. Boring liberal representative democracy is the exception in world history. Most people in the world have never had the opportunity that you have to influence your government. Not good enough for you? Well then get off your ass and do something to make it better. The very least you can do is vote, because out of two candidates, one is always better than another. If you can’t be bothered to do even that, then I for one don’t care what you have to say about politics.
is the hard-won achievement of generations of people who came before you.
Really? The generations of people who resisted and fought against THIS EXACT STATUS QUO would be proud of these glorified rubberstamping spectacles which only exist to legitimize elite rule?
Really?
Boring liberal representative democracy is the exception in world history.
Really? So the ongoing genocide your “boring liberal representative democracy” is funding is… an exception? The history books says otherwise.
Most people in the world have never had the opportunity that you have to influence your government.
Lol! Do I sound like a billionaire parasite to you?
then I for one don’t care what you have to say about politics.
What’s the matter, liberal? Is all the cognitive dissonance starting to make you feel queesy?
Do I sound like a billionaire parasite to you?
No, you sound like an ignorant decadent American college student.
an ignorant decadent American college student.
Those Yankee college students staging protests on US campuses are far better at “doing” democracy than all the voting you could do over a lifetime put together.
Perhaps it’s best that you don’t try to flex about something you don’t seem to know too much about, okay?
Elections might be skewed, they might be giving voters a rather narrow choice, they might depend on who’s got the bigger campaign fund, they might not offer ranked choice, yet with all that --they’re still one of the most accessible, actionable things the average person can do to control their nation’s future. Passing on that is not justifiable, because we should be doing everything we can, and that includes voting. I used to be cynical like you, but
then I took an arrI mean, we can’t afford that.Elections might be skewed,
If you want to see this glorified rubberstamping of elite rule through those kind of rose-tinted spectacles, fine.
But don’t call it “democracy.”
I used to be cynical like you
If you think seeing through propaganda is “cynicism,” boy, do I have bad news for YOU.
Depends on your nomenclature, I’ve heard US and France’s political systems referred to as “flawed democracies”. I personally didn’t call either a democracy, I think we’re past that quite frankly.
If you think seeing through propaganda is “cynicism,” boy, do I have bad news for YOU.
I call cynicism “giving in to desperation instead of acting”. I’ve explained why imho not voting was the least reasonable choice, so far you have failed to reason back. Do you think you can do that ?
I’ve heard US and France’s political systems referred to as “flawed democracies”.
Painting a lighter shade of lipstick on a pig doesn’t make the pig less of a pig.
I personally didn’t call either a democracy,
No, you didn’t. And that is legit refreshing.
I’ve explained why imho not voting was the least reasonable choice
I never said that not voting was reasonable. My point is that it’s perfectly UNDERSTANDABLE.
There is a difference.
Should I have thoughts on them?
As an anarchist, I respect their decision in the sense that participating in the state is fighting for the state.
I would tell them to vote though, and I myself vote when its needed, to avoid getting utter bastards as ‘legitimate’ leaders. Here in France it’s even easier because I’m not given the choice between only capitalists and fascists, i can vote for light versions of socialists.
I’m against fines, even light ones. If they are not strictly scaled to income, they always strike harder people who are struggling already than richer ones. And even if they do, it’s not fair to be forced to participate in a form of politics you don’t want.
Thank you. Sadly, the concept of legitimizing a government isn’t something most people understand enough to appreciate.
Perhaps they would feel more inclined to vote if we had more then two viable political parties to choose from.
With a more representative electoral system, people would be free to vote outside the two party system with no spoiler effect. Their vote would count, even if their preference didn’t win.
Who could possibly be against democracy? Republicans? Of course.
How about the democratic party? What is their opinion of democracy? Will they work to ensure their constituents are represented fully? Every day that ticks by without electoral reform in blue states is another day the democrats elevate their party above the needs of the country.
Videos on alternative voting systems
First Past The Post voting (What most states use currently)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo
Videos on alternative electoral systems we can try out.
Alternative vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y3jE3B8HsE
Ranked Choice voting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2fRPRkWvY
Range Voting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig
Single Transferable Vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI
STAR voting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mOeUXAkV0
Mixed Member Proportional representation
There was a choice. You failed to choose the better option, and thus must accept the worst.
Simple-as.
They actively brought about political disaster through idiotic, self-absorbed assholery and they will be licking it up for four long fucking years.
They actively brought about political disaster
You want to blame the people who didn’t participate in anti-democratic spectacles for the existence of said anti-democratic spectacles?
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They can live with Brexit.
I don’t care. Popular vote doesn’t get presidents elected, and nobody local ever seems both interested and capable of making significant positive changes, at least that I’ve seen. It largely feels like theater, and in a race you can’t influence between two people pledging to continue genocide I can see why people would throw their hands up and say fuck everything.
They probably couldn’t afford to miss a day to work, and they know from experience that neither party is going to do anything to change that.
Vote in what?
Everyone get’s what they asked for. The thing about the ubiquitous trolley problem is it has clear outcomes. That’s why it works. Whatever’s happening down the track, here we are. We had a lever we didn’t pull. Best learn to live with the choice, because there was a choice.
Not true at an individual level. Where I live, no way of voting or not voting would have mattered. The same was true where I used to live years ago. In many places it’s clear my vote doesn’t matter every single time and the outcome would not have changed in most of the election categories.
Therefore I do not actually have choice.
Did you make an effort? Yes/no.
Sure, and same. Some of us in the US did get the luxury of protest vote. How’d you do in local? I’m not even a democrat. First time I voted down ticket.
