this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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It’s not as easy as you make it out to be.
The Democrats have to try to achieve the impossible: trying to retain left-leaning voters while getting enough centrists/swing votes to overcome the systematic disadvantage the electoral college poses for them.
In a de facto two party system that puts them between a rock and a hard place.
But what does that mean for you as a (I assume) left leaning voter?
It’s actually quite simple: vote for the least bad option.
By not voting for Harris you may successfully show the democrats your discontent for their policies. But you pay for that by helping a possible fascist into power (remember: we already found out that not voting, helps republican candidates in most cases), who will be far worse on most policies you care about.
It really doesn't feel like the Democrats are the least bad option when they keep adopting Republican policies. Sure, they don't want to kill trans people or conduct mass deportations now, but it sure feels like 4 years down the line I'm gonna be asked to vote Democrat even though Harris or whoever is trying to increase police budgets to "fight rising crime" or something ridiculous.
I keep having to vote for "the least bad option" while the Democratic party only ever courts neo-liberal/conservative voters. It really seems like my options are Fascist Now Party or Fascist Later Party. If the Democrats don't listen when I vote and don't listen when I abstain, why should I vote?
I feel like it is not a winning campaign strategy to say, "vote for Democrats because the Republicans are far worse". Progressive left policies are popular amongst centrist and swing voters, so it isn't like the Democrats will lose centrists by adopting progressive policies. Everybody likes expanding healthcare. Nobody likes genocide. So if adopting progressive policies attracts voters from all across the spectrum, why are the Democrats only focusing on stuff like, "build the wall" or "stay silent about genocide"?
The answer is in your question. Fascism later is the better option because it buys you time to do something else. Fascism now means the game is over today. Nothing about that is difficult to understand.
You'll have ample time (and freedom) to oppose Harris after November, but now's not the time.
Based on how liberals have accepted genocide as necessary at this point, the "fascism later" option seems more likely to make people comfortable with fascism, rather than buying us time to resist.
Even if that was true, how is that better than having fascism today, given than genocide will happen no matter what? You seem to imply people will have more willingness to resist if it happens tomorrow (and I doubt it). But are you really willing to take the chance on actual fascism? It really seems like you want it to happen...
You guys have a twisted sense of priorities. You're willing to trade a maybe for a surely.
America is currently "surely" assisting in a genocide. Hope this helps!
And it will "surely" be assisisting a genocide should Trump be elected. He never hid it or denied it.