I think pragmatism and perfectionism are probably opposites. I agree it's not perfect. I do think people get dopamine out of adopting strong positions (not saying that makes any specific position incorrect)
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Again, solidarity is a solid line in the sand for marginalized people BY NECESSITY. There are no compromises in human rights. Fuck that lesser evil shit. You're not making me choose between killing those 2 kids or those 3 kids. Fuck that. This is very real to real people.
sep 1, 2025, 4:06 pm • 2 0 • view
Sure, but some outcomes kill 5 people. Some actions feel like they relieve us of responsibility, but we can't escape. We have to guess what combination of actions will turn out best. Inaction is a choice, and just as culpable.
sep 1, 2025, 4:13 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm not responsible for a situation that was created to force me to choose between who dies when nobody has to die. I refuse the gaslighting. My action is pointing this out now because I'm not the only one sick of this shit. Look how many sat out. Will they change or is this illusion of choice?
sep 1, 2025, 4:23 pm • 2 0 • view
If it's an illusion of choice, then what's the point? It feels like the whole thing is designed for us to FEEL free so we don't bring out the guillotines. And look around. People are getting more and more ok with guillotines. It's insane to keep doing the same shit expecting different results.
sep 1, 2025, 4:25 pm • 1 0 • view
But they probably have all this calculated. More people vote for the lesser of two evils than would like to admit it. I don't like admitting that I voted for a literal fucking cop. THIS SOON AFTER BLM. It's embarrassing. They ran a "black" woman COP and it was so out of touch. For the libs...
sep 1, 2025, 4:27 pm • 1 0 • view
Voting and guillotines are not mutually exclusive strategies (obviously at some point the latter would override the former but you can try both)
sep 1, 2025, 4:29 pm • 1 0 • view
Nobody I've voted for in any election since moving here has won. It's so ridiculously gerrymandered. I've always voted but I'm not assuring my vote anymore. They gotta earn it or I won't have representation. I'll just have overlords. If they ratchet right again, then I truly won't vote.
sep 1, 2025, 4:36 pm • 1 0 • view
Pretty fucked up how it all comes down to a few counties in swing states to decide between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. I'm not gonna play this game forever. It's a waste of time and effort at a certain point and I don't think we are asking for too much. Our standards aren't that high.
sep 1, 2025, 4:38 pm • 1 0 • view
You're morally responsible for how you respond to problems, even if you didn't create them. It sucks. If you think that sitting out will create a strong enough signal that a future, hypothetical election will turn out better (modulo the cost of time and uncertainty), that's a valid risk to take.
sep 1, 2025, 4:26 pm • 0 0 • view
If I think elections are pointless, then why would I signal to others that I think they matter by voting? I would look for meaningful forms of resistance or just move somewhere that isn't shit... probably far away from people. Disingenuous politicians aren't gonna cut it. Guillotines might.
sep 1, 2025, 4:34 pm • 1 0 • view
Yeah, I think a key assumption is that I assume nonvoters are largely regarded as uninformed and ignorant (not saying you are). I could be wrong, but I don't think they're seen as a protest bloc with their own politics. Ie, if I'm right, not voting isn't a signal that will hasten the revolution.
sep 1, 2025, 4:37 pm • 0 0 • view
I've never been a nonvoter before but I always voted by the platform and not the party. I've already shifted my focus to organizing locally. And I don't mean for a party. More top vs bottom than left vs right. Everybody deserves to eat and I can cook so that's been my main thing lately.
sep 1, 2025, 4:41 pm • 1 0 • view
But I'm also a combat vet if it comes to that. I really should be doing firearms and martial arts training for my people. Disability was shitting on me hard for a few years there though. Trying to accept that I gotta put my own oxygen mask on before I can help others put theirs on
sep 1, 2025, 4:44 pm • 1 0 • view
That's where people are different, some of us are NOT wandering about making quiet calculations; We believe in integrity, or "doing the right thing", even when it comes at a cost. We believe there are some things you Simply Do Not Do. Yeah? Voting in support of genocide is such a thing for me.
sep 1, 2025, 5:50 pm • 4 0 • view
I understand this, but with respect, not voting is also morally significant (whether right or wrong). There isn't a zone of isolation where certain choices are specially "not actions". To be clear, I'm not saying you have to make a specific choice, but you're part of a causal chain no matter what.
sep 1, 2025, 5:53 pm • 0 0 • view
Not picking up a piece of litter you walk by is morally significant. Not checking on the sick looking homeless guy you walk past is morally significant. I could go on and on but both of those have done more good than my votes, even for the "lesser evil". I'm gonna need more gain than fascism lite.
sep 1, 2025, 6:06 pm • 2 0 • view
Also, you don't HAVE to do anything. That's very important for everyone to remember because that's how yall are pressured into shitty compromises and lives you hate that just exacerbate our problems.
sep 1, 2025, 6:08 pm • 1 0 • view
I'm didn't 'not vote', I voted 3rd party. It was the only way to be heard, to get a message across, a way of saying: "I am not a non-voter, I am indeed an active voter, taking the time to vote, and voting for a left wing candidate" - which should tell them mine was a vote that they squandered.
sep 1, 2025, 6:06 pm • 3 0 • view
I regret not voting for Jill Stein now. I'll admit that I honestly just didn't want to hear about Trump all the fucking time again. I even have his name muted on here and it's still half my feed.
sep 2, 2025, 5:57 am • 1 0 • view
I honestly thought there'd be a lot more 3rd party voting this time, but it seems most Americans find it absurd to even consider a vote for something or someone who cannot "win". It's a sad, and not just a little bit ironic, fact that Americans do not understand fundamental concepts of democracy. 🤷🏼
sep 2, 2025, 8:01 am • 1 0 • view
How old are you though? I'm kinda old and voted 3rd party A LOT. Like mostly. So I get it, but it hasn't ever gotten traction. We are stuck in this purple duopoly's illusion of choice and this "left" app here should be evidence enough of the tribal dynamics of political sportsball teams in USA.
sep 2, 2025, 9:13 am • 0 0 • view
I would like to point out that USA is not a democracy. And our specific political system is a game written by the rulers to maintain control. The system is THEIR game board. People work harder when they think they're free than when they're slaves, especially with the competitive environment here.
sep 2, 2025, 9:17 am • 0 0 • view
I think everything you say here is correct. I'm not a spring foal myself, my excuse for not knowing enough about possible 3rd party options early on, is that I've lived most of my life abroad and had limited/biased information before social media. I consider voting to be both a privilege AND a duty.
sep 2, 2025, 11:34 am • 1 0 • view
I have seen it used a lot lately and it's basically liberals flinging it at anyone who drew the line at genocide. I find it disgustingly inconsiderate; it shows a cult-like devotion to the DNC and/or Israel; It's highly misplaced and offensive; It suggests "the issue" is minor, which is outrageous.
sep 1, 2025, 3:36 pm • 4 0 • view
Yes, I agree that just saying "DNC platform or shut it" is counterproductive. We should be able to influence the platform.
sep 1, 2025, 3:38 pm • 1 0 • view
A few million tried, but were ignored, and are now being told they're responsible for the very thing they tried to stop, because that was evidently just a "purity test". It seems the platform isn't interested in being influenced, and that's probably why the Dems are seeing really poor numbers now.
sep 1, 2025, 3:48 pm • 3 0 • view