I have problems with people who abstained. The hard thing is, how do you change voter behavior?

  • @TokenBoomer
    link
    04 hours ago

    I’ll concede the elimination of freedom of choice, but it does constrain and limit the freedom. By implying that voting is a moral obligation, it elevates voting higher than political activism and organization:

    He was equally alert to the problem of voter fetishism: voters mistakenly thinking the vote is an exercise of power, when in fact power in a capitalist society is collective, social and located largely outside the parliamentary realm. source

    If voting is the end of political participation, the people will always lose.

    By holding grudges against Trump voters who regret their vote, we limit our ability to effectively organize against the incoming fascism. I would gladly march alongside anyone who opposes Trump, and I hope you would too.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      13 hours ago

      By implying that voting is a moral obligation, it elevates voting higher than political activism and organization

      For the layperson, I think this elevation is mandated.

      He was equally alert to the problem of voter fetishism: voters mistakenly thinking the vote is an exercise of power, when in fact power in a capitalist society is collective, social and located largely outside the parliamentary realm. source

      I am not a marxist or communist. I am a self-professed and proud liberal, so while I appreciate your good faith reply, I reject your source as a valid authority.

      If voting is the end of political participation, the people will always lose.

      Unsupported claim. But also I don’t disagree. It’s important to become involved in other ways than just voting. For example running for office at all local levels and becoming a local politician. Neglecting to do this and complaining that there are no good candidates is an exercise in lazy whining. Become the better candidate. Run on your principles.

      By holding grudges against Trump voters who regret their vote, we limit our ability to effectively organize against the incoming fascism. I would gladly march alongside anyone who opposes Trump, and I hope you would too.

      I don’t think people really have any excuse for being ignorant enough to vote Trump. At some point, individual responsibility comes into play. If such a person takes real action to correct the harm they have done, I may consider forgiving them. But this forgiveness will not come preemptively nor should be expected or taken for granted.

      The other problem is that I don’t see these people. I have yet to meet a leftist who is truly sorry about their actions during the election. They’ve dug in on blaming everyone but themselves for the situation that they’ve put us in. Which is why in practice, I cannot forgive my grudges, because they truly are not repentant.