But it'll all be fine, I'm sure it'll blow over and never affect me : microblogmemes

[–] [email protected] 319 points 2 months ago (16 children)

If you live in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, or Florida (really any of the fifty states, but these are the most critical), AND you don't want to see Donald Trump elected for a second term, you must vote for Joe Biden in November. Yes Biden is a doddering old man who is experiencing rapid cognitive decline, and yes it is totally unacceptable that these are our choices, but disengaging does not solve the problem, it only makes it worse.

Believe me, I completely understand the inclination to just say to hell with it and check out, but we can't do that. I have been as guilty of it as anyone but I now fully recognize it was a mistake. But it's not too late to make it right. Voting is not only a right, it is a responsibility. If we, the people, want to rule, we must be vigilant and responsible.

Right now, our priority is damage control and harm reduction. I know, it has been that way for far too long, and that is extremely frustrating, but it is nonetheless the reality of the situation. We must vote for Biden this year, and then we MUST stay engaged so that we can work toward nominating the best possible candidate in 2028. We must stay informed and vote, diligently, in every state, local, and primary election.

[–] [email protected] 96 points 2 months ago (7 children)

It’s more than just damage control. Everything you said should be enough to get people to vote, but the sad reality is reducing it to that may not be enough. If you’re reading this and considering whether or not to vote, OP is 100% correct. You need to do it. Make no excuse, get it done. But try to feel good about it too. You’re not just voting for one person, you’re voting for an entire administration, and Biden has proven himself in that regard. Under a Biden administration you’re going to have competent people working at all levels of the federal government, which is a big deal. Biden’s administration has done a lot of good as well that is easy to gloss over in favor of focusing on his negative attributes:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/02/02/joe-biden-30-policy-things-you-might-have-missed-00139046

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-opinion-biden-accomplishment-data/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/

You also need to be at the polls to vote for your down-ballot candidates. Do not underestimate the importance or closeness of those races.

No candidate is ever going to be perfect for you. Personally I wish we were finishing the 8th year of a Bernie Sanders presidency. But that doesn’t mean that because I didn’t get it perfectly the way I want it I’m going to take my ball and just go home. I hate the democrat strategy right now, but please don’t let yourself be told that Biden has been a bad president. He’s done some things you can be happy about and some things you can wish were different. If you want to see those differences, the best way you can do that is to be politically active and work for that change. Not participating means you forfeit that right.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Decisions are made by those who show up; it really just comes down to that.

And if the other side is better at getting people to show the fuck up…. You need to make an effort to do the same. Even if it is a far from ideal choice.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Everything you said should be enough to get people to vote, but the sad reality is reducing it to that may not be enough.

I understand why it isn't enough for a lot of people. I think the biggest reason people don't vote is they don't feel their vote matters all that much, and/or they see a certain futility in the whole thing. I understand why, in the face of that apparent futility, many people feel powerless and thus choose to disengage. But, yes, as you've said, disengagement does nothing and the only way to take back power is greater engagement. The powerful want us to feel powerless, they want us to be disengaged and they want us to be misinformed, thus we gain power by being informed and engaged, which will lead to us feeling empowered, which promotes even greater engagement.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Personally, I vote in every election. I’m a very well educated, very well informed voter. I know the issues, I know the candidates, I know their track record. Basically, you couldn’t find a more ideal voter. But, I only have one vote.

And so does every illiterate, uninformed, uninterested person who might stumble into a voting booth by accident.

The only thing I CAN do is show up, and hope an idiot with a different view stays home. And even if they vote as well, I’ll at least have the satisfaction of knowing I negated their vote.

I might not always get what I want, but I’ll damn sure show up just in case more of my guys do. Voting is a team effort and I’m doing my part.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I wonder if it would help him to frame his campaign more along those lines “you’re not just voting for me, you’re voting for my entire administration.”

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 2 months ago (10 children)

doddering old man who is experiencing rapid cognitive decline

Only in the media. Also, according to the media, the orange 34 count felon is completely fine, A-okay, in fact.
Get a grip America. Biden's policies are popular with Democrats AND Republicans

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago (2 children)

If you want to be more strategic, if you can convince right wingers to not vote that also can make a difference. Feed your red-hat uncle's ideas about how voting is rigged so he shouldn't bother. Tell your maga neighbor you'll drive him to the polls and then don't.

This is an existential crisis. Don't think the right wing won't do anything they can to win.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago

Or convince them to vote RFK. My dad would normally vote Trump, but he's an anti-vaccine nutter, so I'm trying to convince him to vote RFK instead.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is such a great strategy, also mention how tRump passed the Unconstitutional bump stock ban and doesnt give a damn about the 2nd amendment.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The problem is, the people who are swayed by this argument were already going to vote Blue no matter who.

To win the election, you need to convince voters who are still doubting between Trump and Biden. And they have definitely heard this argument before, so a different argument is needed.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 months ago (2 children)

No, the point of the argument is to convince the people who are not planning to vote at all to show up.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The last presidential election had ~60% turnout. That's one of the highest turnouts EVER. People sitting at home are indeed the problem.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

While voter apathy is a big problem, it is likely that voter suppression targeted at the tie breaking areas has more of an effect on the overall outcomes. Suppression includes duscouraging engagement, leading to apathy.

Like I have voted in every election that I could, but my electoral college votes always went to the person I voted against. Even locally the vast, vast majority of my votes were for the losing party. It is really hard to not be apathetic, and for me voting is a breeze.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Agreed. And to your point, competitive states without voter suppression like Wisconsin and Michigan had turnout of around 75%, while Texas (which is most known for suppressing voters) only achieved 60% turnout.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ohio used to be a swing state, too, right? Not sure of it still is or if it isn't, how that turned around. But maybe they should be in the list?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We went for Obama twice and trump twice. It’s complicated. We’re mostly just extremely gerrymandered and divided. Columbus is extremely liberal, rural Ohio is frequently terrifyingly conservative

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

We did do the right thing in most of the special elections these last twelve months, though

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Important to talk to people we know, and make sure they actually vote.

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[–] [email protected] 96 points 2 months ago (3 children)

It's been like 15 years of me saying at first, parallels with Idiocracy, but the last 10 or so: "you know how the beginning of every dystopian end times film begins with the news montage about natural disasters, rising populism, income inequality, and whatnot? Have you read any headlines?"

[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 months ago

Idiocracy is a better timeline, the president tried to put the smartest person in charge. Good luck getting that in our reality.

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[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 months ago (3 children)

YES THIS! I've been saying over and over since 2016 - I read almost exclusively dystopic sci-fi and many books have a point where the reader thinks "run this is getting too bad it is the time to go". I'm thinking specifically when June has no money in her bank account (yes it's a tinge too late even then). So I've been trying to figure out when that point in our story will be and last year decided it is id Trump is elected again. We are a lost country and evil has won at that point.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Similar feelings when you read books set in 1930s Europe.

"I want to leave, but Grandmere would never survive such a long voyage."

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago

Ukrainians I know

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I've been using the term "pre-dystopia" to describe life right now.

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 2 months ago (22 children)

I'm sorry if this comes across as cynical to everyone but I'm worried about the ratchet effect. Even if we vote in Biden and he doesn't have a majority in both the House and Senate, no lasting changes to government can be made. Even if we get a slim majority in both chambers there's no telling if we're gonna have another Sinema, Manchin, or Fetterman go and betray the party during a critical vote. It feels like there are so many Democrats who are willing to get in bed with corporate and fascist interests and act as sleeper agents.

How are we supposed to prevent them from sabotaging important government reforms? Republicans seem to have all the time in the world to implement their strategies while Democratic voters struggle every election cycle just to keep things from getting worse. Yes I get we need to act more locally but I'm personally located in a deep blue part of the country so my impact is negligible. Other than donating to candidates that I hope won't betray our interests, I see little in regards to what can be done on my end.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm not voting for Biden to get major changes. I'm voting for him to make sure I can keep voting in the future.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 months ago

Voting for Biden gives me 4 more years to get the fuck out.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Problem is this already was not enough in 2020 and since. Despite all the evidence of Trumps presidency and then fucking January 6, Dems decided to just get back to business as usual and just ignore the fundamental problems in American society that became apparent with Trump.

And Biden is not in shape to deal with any of this, while the DNC seems hellbent on pretending there is no serious problem.

We need a different younger candidate and voting will not be enough. We need local action, in the communities, local governance, protests..

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago

If you live in one of the 18 states that allow everyone to mail in their ballot, sign up for mail in ballots. I get mine a month before it has to be postmarked, giving me plenty of time to choose who I'm voting for.

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-18-states-with-all-mail-elections

If you live in one of the 32 other states, go visit your state legislature and get mail in voting on the ballot.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

You guys should go to the streets in millions! (Or share snappy memes, whatever feels more comfortable)

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (3 children)

One of the part of Project 2025 is using the military to crush protests, and it will have dire consequences to the whole world. I'm pretty sure the American christofascists will have a much better time exporting their censorship to other countries than China and Russia does, especially if they can just kick out (or jail, or even assassinate) any content provider not doing their dirty job to all regions.

However, some parts of the military are very progressive (they could just betray Trump, side with the people, etc.), and one could make memes about how one can make Molotov cocktails, how to illegally modify your regular AR-15 into a fully-automatic rifle, or how to turn a high pressure washer into a flamethrower.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Best I can do is upvote the memes.

That's the crux of social media. Connects like-minded people yet neuters their effectiveness because they think engagement does something in the real world.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Just make sure that, in taking to the streets, nobody mistakes you for a Hamas or an Antifa

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (13 children)

Yeah, don't be mistaken for antifa. Be antifa!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

based

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago

100% this. And it’s not even remotely arguable.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I haven't seen Handmaidens tale. Please relate the story to Star wars or Harry Potter, maybe even the hunger games, and then I'll understand better.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Remember how in Harry Potter Voldemort returns at the end of year 4, but instead of dealing with it, Fudge and his crownies decide to claim Dumbledore and Harry are lying or delusional? And then they proceed to attack them, while ignoring the things happening like people disappearing and stuff, that are attributed to Voldemort by Dumbledore? For like an entire year until Fudge literally sees Voldemort in the ministry?

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