• @PopOfAfrica
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    411 months ago

    Im not saying withholding the vote it the right or wrong answer, Im saying its up to politicians to earn their votes.

    I think the reason the options are so poor right now is because we’ve created a system where we arent allowed to ask for more.

    So again, the reality is the reality. There is an enthusiasm gap. How is Biden going to fix it? Because trying to shame or scare would be voters is not the answer. Try again.

    • @WaxedWookie
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      011 months ago

      Biden isn’t going to push for the change I’m looking for. You’re fix it by keeping the fascists out of power on election day while doing everything you can to push them to do better or be replaced by someone who will outside election day.

      As for scaring voters? The GOP is evidence that’s an incredibly effective strategy.

      • @PopOfAfrica
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        111 months ago

        Why cant he? Why is Biden doing better not an option?

        • @WaxedWookie
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          011 months ago

          It’s a matter of using executive authority, not feats of strength - He can, but there’s little to nothing in his track record that indicates he will. That’s why he (and the party broadly) needs to be pushed to do better or replaced with someone that will.

          Don’t forget it was you saying we aren’t allowed to ask for more.

          • @PopOfAfrica
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            111 months ago

            How do we replace them if we must vote for them every time?

            • @WaxedWookie
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              -111 months ago
              • Primaries
              • Lobbying/advocacy/phone banking/activism/volunteering/donations, etc.
              • Voting up and down ballot to shift the party mix and representative context.

              Can you point to any examples of withholding votes being effective rather than simply empowering the greater evil?

              • @PopOfAfrica
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                011 months ago

                The Primary system is wholly undemocratic. Due to our staggered primaries, you don’t actually get to vote unless you live in a state that is early on the calendar.

                I unfortunately live in West Virginia, which means every single time the early progressive candidates have already dropped out.

                I literally never get to vote for my progressive candidate in the primary.

                Add on top of that, the fact that the DNC actually awards delegates, not states. For example, if you look at New Hampshire this year, Joe Biden wasn’t even technically on the ballot. They had to write him in. This came from the fact that he refused to put himself on the ballot because there were disagreements as to which state should be first in the primary cycle.

                The DNC instead decided that all delegates would be awarded to Joe Biden regardless, and that the primary wouldn’t instead be performative.

                • @WaxedWookie
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                  011 months ago

                  …and some people are too poor to donate, others are felons disqualified from voting, others have crippling social anxiety that prevents them from phone banking - what point are you trying to make? You do what you can within the bounds of your ability and means - you don’t shrug your shoulders and hand power to the worst option because the less bad option isn’t up to your standard.