Back in the day I had the privilege of knowing some old school Communists. People who had gone to Spain to fight Fascism and been blacklisted at home.
One of the stories they told was about how in 1968 they were warning young voters to get to the polls to stop Nixon. It wasn’t that they were in love with Hubert Humphrey, but they knew he was a million times better than Nixon.
The situation is the same today. If you aren’t voting for Harris and every other Dem you’re ignoring reality.
My grandfather went through something similar. He faced relentless hate and pressure from both sides of the political spectrum, but he never caved and stayed true to his convictions.
Just like those old-school Communists, he knew the power of standing firm, even when the world seemed against him.
Choosing the “lesser of two evils” was never his style, and I’m the same way. I won’t be bullied into casting a vote I don’t believe in, and neither would he.
In my opinion, respecting someone’s decision to vote their conscience is a lot more powerful than forcing them to pick the so-called “realistic” choice.
I won’t be voting Harris. I’m proud to vote third party.
I’m sure you think you sound like you have integrity, but it sounds like privilege to me.
Women have actually died because they couldn’t get abortions.
I could point out a lot of other things that happened because of Trump, but let’s just deal with this one issue.
And you totally misread the idea of the old school Communists standing firm.
Another thing they talked about was Ho Chi Minh working with the American OSS in WW2. Ho would have known all about America’s history of racism and genocide, but that didn’t matter because there was a bigger threat to his people.
And please name the ‘Third Party’ you’re planning on voting for. There’s proof that the GOP has helped both the Libertarians and the Greens get on the ballot to help split the Dem vote.
Because I am not voting Harris, I have privilege?! I promise you make more money than I do. So you have more privilege than me. So are you evil because of it?
Third parties will never be viable if we keep dismissing them and refuse to vote for them, which only strengthens the duopoly’s stranglehold on our political system.
It’s not bullying, it’s simple math. Harris wins or Trump wins. Harris isn’t perfect, but Trump is unacceptable. Voting for neither is a choice, but it’s choice that says you don’t care which one wins. You don’t care if a fascist bigot who wants to abuse his power to control women and line his pockets wins the election. Anyone that’s OK with that is either themselves a fascist bigot who wants Project 2025, or they’re stupid.
So saying you don’t care if Trump wins tells me you might be a fascist bigot, or you might be stupid. If you’re just stupid, that’s fine, vote your conscience. But if you’re a fascist bigot pretending, you might as well admit it to the world and admit you’re supporting Trump.
Either way, it’s not a persuasive argument to make anyone think you have anything of value to say.
Voting is always an act of harm reduction. Choosing to vote for a non-viable option or not vote is a statement that neither you nor those you care about (in life or the abstract) are in minimal risk of harm or you don’t care about the harm they may undergo.
And honestly I suspect there is a lot of astroturf trying to make the argument. Far too many people on social media are using the same talking points, eg “I can’t support a genocide enabler.” Which is a valid issue, but it’s disingenuous to think that Trump is going to be better for Palestine. Harris, being a human being with empathy, would certainly want the violence to end. Trump wants the genocide to finish. He’s said that. A Jill Stein protest vote is nothing.
You trying to bully and pressure meis either privilege or sociopathy.
I did neither, in fact I don’t even respond to your comment where you might think I was responding directly to you.
Considering any third party is viable in the system as it exists today, make as much sense as playing Chess using the rules from Candy Land. It’s delusional and detached from reality.
It’s an unfortunate mathematical truth and no amount of wishing it otherwise will change that. That’s why for any non-primary election, it must be treated as harm reduction above all.
I’ll leave this here in hopes you’ll watch it. There is no way for what you’re hoping to actually succeed in the current environment. The only way out is through and the only way through is voting as harm reduction.
tells me you might be a fascist bigot, or you might be stupid.
And you trying to bully and pressure me, tells me you might be a fascist bigot, or you might be stupid. Either way, it’s not a persuasive argument to make anyone think you have anything of value to say.
I’m still voting third party. And proudly. Thank you!
Bully you? No. Pressure you? Yes, of course. Politics is persuasion. And I can honestly say I don’t really care how you vote. I’m not arguing with you. I’m pointing out what a horrible decision you’re making, the flaws in your mindset (honest or otherwise) so that maybe others will make better decisions than you.
If that hurts your feelings, I’ll point out that people have died because Trump was elected. Women have suffered. Children were separated from their families and lost. Our Covid response was abysmal in part because doctors felt the need to incude Trump’s name in their briefing reports. This is more important than your feelings. Democracy is at stake, and that’s not at all an exaggeration. Trump put three Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court. My grandchildren will be cleaning up the mess Trump and his supports have caused. So, respectfully, get fucked.
And I can honestly say I don’t really care how you vote.
Good! Because nothing you have said has made me change my mind. :)
I’ll point out that people have died because Trump was elected.
Every administration, regardless of party, has implemented policies that have tragically resulted in loss of life—whether it’s war, lack of healthcare reform, or economic policies that push people into poverty. Singling out one president as uniquely responsible ignores a long-standing pattern of decisions that harm the most vulnerable. If we want real change, we need to focus on breaking the cycle, not just blaming one person.
I can vote however I want. For whoever I want. It’s my right. I respect your rights to vote for whoever you want, you can respect mine. Thank you!
I wasn’t bullied into casting a vote for Hilldog (she fucking sucks). I am going to vote against the orange bad because I’ve seen how awful his time in office was. I’m not a fan of Harris, but I’m very anti-him. Dems aren’t good enough, but he’s terrible enough that I must do what I can to prevent another term.
Third parties will never be viable if we keep dismissing them and refuse to vote for them, which only strengthens the duopoly’s stranglehold on our political system.
If you choose Harris over Trump, you are choosing the lesser of two evils. If you choose between Fruit and Stein, you are choosing the lessor of two weevils.
Back in the day I had the privilege of knowing some old school Communists. People who had gone to Spain to fight Fascism and been blacklisted at home.
One of the stories they told was about how in 1968 they were warning young voters to get to the polls to stop Nixon. It wasn’t that they were in love with Hubert Humphrey, but they knew he was a million times better than Nixon.
The situation is the same today. If you aren’t voting for Harris and every other Dem you’re ignoring reality.
My grandfather went through something similar. He faced relentless hate and pressure from both sides of the political spectrum, but he never caved and stayed true to his convictions.
Just like those old-school Communists, he knew the power of standing firm, even when the world seemed against him.
Choosing the “lesser of two evils” was never his style, and I’m the same way. I won’t be bullied into casting a vote I don’t believe in, and neither would he.
In my opinion, respecting someone’s decision to vote their conscience is a lot more powerful than forcing them to pick the so-called “realistic” choice.
I won’t be voting Harris. I’m proud to vote third party.
I’m sure you think you sound like you have integrity, but it sounds like privilege to me.
Women have actually died because they couldn’t get abortions.
I could point out a lot of other things that happened because of Trump, but let’s just deal with this one issue.
And you totally misread the idea of the old school Communists standing firm.
Another thing they talked about was Ho Chi Minh working with the American OSS in WW2. Ho would have known all about America’s history of racism and genocide, but that didn’t matter because there was a bigger threat to his people.
And please name the ‘Third Party’ you’re planning on voting for. There’s proof that the GOP has helped both the Libertarians and the Greens get on the ballot to help split the Dem vote.
Because I am not voting Harris, I have privilege?! I promise you make more money than I do. So you have more privilege than me. So are you evil because of it?
Touched a nerve, did we?
Nope. I am pointing out that you have privilege. Are you ashamed of that privilege?
Seems we did.
Why? Because I replied? You are the one that went to the effort to find a graphic. Seems like the nerve that was touched was yours. lol
I’m voting Socialist Workers Party, (Rachele Fruit).
And because of Lemmy, I promise I will NEVER vote Democrat. The hate and bullying here has been unbelievable.
So, I point out that people have actually died because of Trump, but your feelings are more important.
And you sound like a third rate Marvel villain. “Curse you, Captain America! You’ve forced me to blow up this school!”
And people have actually died because of Biden/Harris admin.
I’m voting third party. Thanks!
That, in every sense of the word, is your privilege.
And you make way more money that me. Seems like you have plenty of privilege. In fact, you have more privilege than me. Are you ashamed of it?
Who do you imagine I am?
If/until the US installs a ranked choice voting system and dissolves the electoral college, third party candidates are not viable.
Third parties will never be viable if we keep dismissing them and refuse to vote for them, which only strengthens the duopoly’s stranglehold on our political system.
It’s not bullying, it’s simple math. Harris wins or Trump wins. Harris isn’t perfect, but Trump is unacceptable. Voting for neither is a choice, but it’s choice that says you don’t care which one wins. You don’t care if a fascist bigot who wants to abuse his power to control women and line his pockets wins the election. Anyone that’s OK with that is either themselves a fascist bigot who wants Project 2025, or they’re stupid.
So saying you don’t care if Trump wins tells me you might be a fascist bigot, or you might be stupid. If you’re just stupid, that’s fine, vote your conscience. But if you’re a fascist bigot pretending, you might as well admit it to the world and admit you’re supporting Trump.
Either way, it’s not a persuasive argument to make anyone think you have anything of value to say.
💯
Voting is always an act of harm reduction. Choosing to vote for a non-viable option or not vote is a statement that neither you nor those you care about (in life or the abstract) are in minimal risk of harm or you don’t care about the harm they may undergo.
That’s either privilege or sociopathy.
And honestly I suspect there is a lot of astroturf trying to make the argument. Far too many people on social media are using the same talking points, eg “I can’t support a genocide enabler.” Which is a valid issue, but it’s disingenuous to think that Trump is going to be better for Palestine. Harris, being a human being with empathy, would certainly want the violence to end. Trump wants the genocide to finish. He’s said that. A Jill Stein protest vote is nothing.
Well, I’m not voting for Stein. And according to Lemmy everyone who isn’t voting for Harris is a russian agent.
It’s not everyone. But it’s not no one, either. It’s hard to separate the liars from the people who don’t know any better.
Then maybe let’s not be so quick to label someone a russian agent just because they are not voting for your candidate then.
Removed by mod
You trying to bully and pressure me is either privilege or sociopathy.I did neither, in fact I don’t even respond to your comment where you might think I was responding directly to you.
Considering any third party is viable in the system as it exists today, make as much sense as playing Chess using the rules from Candy Land. It’s delusional and detached from reality.
It’s an unfortunate mathematical truth and no amount of wishing it otherwise will change that. That’s why for any non-primary election, it must be treated as harm reduction above all.
How election math works: a vote for Harris is taking a vote away from a third party candidate and is giving it to Trump.
I’ll leave this here in hopes you’ll watch it. There is no way for what you’re hoping to actually succeed in the current environment. The only way out is through and the only way through is voting as harm reduction.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo
I’m voting third party. I don’t care what you think. Thank you!
And you trying to bully and pressure me, tells me you might be a fascist bigot, or you might be stupid. Either way, it’s not a persuasive argument to make anyone think you have anything of value to say.
I’m still voting third party. And proudly. Thank you!
Bully you? No. Pressure you? Yes, of course. Politics is persuasion. And I can honestly say I don’t really care how you vote. I’m not arguing with you. I’m pointing out what a horrible decision you’re making, the flaws in your mindset (honest or otherwise) so that maybe others will make better decisions than you.
If that hurts your feelings, I’ll point out that people have died because Trump was elected. Women have suffered. Children were separated from their families and lost. Our Covid response was abysmal in part because doctors felt the need to incude Trump’s name in their briefing reports. This is more important than your feelings. Democracy is at stake, and that’s not at all an exaggeration. Trump put three Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court. My grandchildren will be cleaning up the mess Trump and his supports have caused. So, respectfully, get fucked.
Good! Because nothing you have said has made me change my mind. :)
Every administration, regardless of party, has implemented policies that have tragically resulted in loss of life—whether it’s war, lack of healthcare reform, or economic policies that push people into poverty. Singling out one president as uniquely responsible ignores a long-standing pattern of decisions that harm the most vulnerable. If we want real change, we need to focus on breaking the cycle, not just blaming one person.
I can vote however I want. For whoever I want. It’s my right. I respect your rights to vote for whoever you want, you can respect mine. Thank you!
I wasn’t bullied into casting a vote for Hilldog (she fucking sucks). I am going to vote against the orange bad because I’ve seen how awful his time in office was. I’m not a fan of Harris, but I’m very anti-him. Dems aren’t good enough, but he’s terrible enough that I must do what I can to prevent another term.
Third parties will never be viable if we keep dismissing them and refuse to vote for them, which only strengthens the duopoly’s stranglehold on our political system.
Your not being bullied, your being bamboozled
Lemmy is trying to do both. And neither one is working. :)
If you choose Harris over Trump, you are choosing the lesser of two evils. If you choose between Fruit and Stein, you are choosing the lessor of two weevils.
Rather a weevil than an evil, friend.