“The climate movement doesn’t have a persuasion problem as much as we have a turnout problem,” says Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project.
Most of the Democrats are up for more than lip service, but they’ve had (at most) a razor-thin majority, which meant that the least-willing-to-act Democrat (Joe Manchin) decided what would become law. Even so, they got a lot:
Because policy making directly affects the environment, and the “lip service” Dems regularly strengthen EPA standards while Republicans regularly defund the EPA (in a Trumpian Project 2025 America, all US climate policies will be eliminated).
Because one gets us incrementally closer to the goal and the other gets us miles away from the goal. At some point we gotta grow up and realize we can’t just have a tantrum whenever there’s not a perfect choice.
The climate crisis is getting exponentially worse despite democrats having held office. The solution is going to be outside of American electoralism. It will have to be an international workers movement if there’s any hope of dismantling regulatory capture and supremely powerful special interests.
Refining capitalism isn’t going to save the planet.
When you’re negotiating on behalf of environmental sustainability concerns, who would you rather be sitting on the other side of the negotiating table?
First-past-the-post does not. Let’s look at three scenarios:
Scenario 1:
Democrat: 10 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 0 votes
Democrat wins
Scenario 2:
Democrat: 9 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 1 vote
Tied election, decided by a coin toss
Scenario 3:
Democrat: 8 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 2 votes
Republican wins outright
This spoiler effect is well-known, and why for any first-past-the-post election, it’s worth voting for the candidate with a large coalition who is closest to your position, rather than a tiny third party. You even see Republicans funding the US green party in order to damage Democrats.
i’ve been donating to cornel west monthly, but i might end up voting for jill stein again anyway, and it has literally nothing to do with what republicans think is in their own interest.
Polls make it very clear that they both serve as spoilers in the general election. Every bit of support they have means that Trump is more likely to be elected.
Polls make it very clear that they both serve as spoilers in the general election
not for me. i haven’t voted for a democrat for president since 2008. i don’t believe you’ll find a single person who is voting for them who would have otherwise voted for biden or trump.
the narrative of spoilers assumes that the votes belong to one party and are stolen by the other. this is wrong. the votes belong to the voters and it is up to candidates to win them.
While not to diminish the presidency but people REALLY need to vote more in local elections. If more people want dems locally then it will help you get a more suitable president
When your only options are gaz guzzling GOPs and lip service Dems, why would you vote if the planet and its people are your main concern?
Most of the Democrats are up for more than lip service, but they’ve had (at most) a razor-thin majority, which meant that the least-willing-to-act Democrat (Joe Manchin) decided what would become law. Even so, they got a lot:
The lesser of two evils is still evil, but it’s still less evil too.
Because policy making directly affects the environment, and the “lip service” Dems regularly strengthen EPA standards while Republicans regularly defund the EPA (in a Trumpian Project 2025 America, all US climate policies will be eliminated).
Because one gets us incrementally closer to the goal and the other gets us miles away from the goal. At some point we gotta grow up and realize we can’t just have a tantrum whenever there’s not a perfect choice.
The climate crisis is getting exponentially worse despite democrats having held office. The solution is going to be outside of American electoralism. It will have to be an international workers movement if there’s any hope of dismantling regulatory capture and supremely powerful special interests.
Refining capitalism isn’t going to save the planet.
THANK YOU! Someone around here actually understands the trouble we’re in.
When you’re negotiating on behalf of environmental sustainability concerns, who would you rather be sitting on the other side of the negotiating table?
The Green Party. But nah, apparently republican democracy doesn’t work like that. Winners take all.
First-past-the-post does not. Let’s look at three scenarios:
Scenario 1:
Democrat: 10 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 0 votes
Democrat wins
Scenario 2:
Democrat: 9 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 1 vote
Tied election, decided by a coin toss
Scenario 3:
Democrat: 8 votes
Repbulican: 9 votes
Green: 2 votes
Republican wins outright
This spoiler effect is well-known, and why for any first-past-the-post election, it’s worth voting for the candidate with a large coalition who is closest to your position, rather than a tiny third party. You even see Republicans funding the US green party in order to damage Democrats.
if republicans are funding the greens, it sounds to me like they are closer to me than democrats.
but i’m not voting for either of them.
That’s a rather naive and myopic way of looking at politics and you ought to do more research before committing your vote.
i’ve been donating to cornel west monthly, but i might end up voting for jill stein again anyway, and it has literally nothing to do with what republicans think is in their own interest.
Polls make it very clear that they both serve as spoilers in the general election. Every bit of support they have means that Trump is more likely to be elected.
not for me. i haven’t voted for a democrat for president since 2008. i don’t believe you’ll find a single person who is voting for them who would have otherwise voted for biden or trump.
the narrative of spoilers assumes that the votes belong to one party and are stolen by the other. this is wrong. the votes belong to the voters and it is up to candidates to win them.
While not to diminish the presidency but people REALLY need to vote more in local elections. If more people want dems locally then it will help you get a more suitable president
The ballot is in your mailbox, honor the tree by using it.