Unfortunately, your typical Democratic official—whether it’s Biden or Schumer or Jeffries or House Oversight Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly or the recently elected DNC chair Ken Martin—didn’t get into politics to defeat the Republican Party, to zealously advance the interests of ordinary people, or to protect democracy. They didn’t rise within the party ranks because of their talent for public service. In a functioning democracy, that wouldn’t matter as much. Nobody really cares if a politician’s inner life is absorbed in personal ambition. But at this moment of national and planetary emergency, pathological careerism is unacceptable. People should either step up or, if they don’t fancy the fray, follow the example of Senator Gary Peters, who recently announced, like a normal person in his late sixties, that he’ll retire in 2026.
The sorry truth is that without enormous pressure from the party base, a significant number of senators and representatives won’t have it in them to oppose Trump. We, the concerned citizens, will have to force them to do their duty. We’ll also have to march, sooner rather than later. But that’s a separate topic. For now, these are our guys. We go with what we’ve got. And let’s not forget: Republicans can’t govern, they’re unpopular, and they’re led by the most idiotic president in living memory. They are beatable.
Archived at https://archive.is/xbQp6
I think you’re a little confused. The harm reduction I’m referring to is making sure the next president of the United States doesn’t want to turn Gaza into a luxury resort, roll out the red carpet for Russia and return our country to the dark ages.
It doesn’t matter how corrupt and useless the DNC is if our country is taken over by fascists. Absolutely you fight and tell Kamala exactly where to shove it but on Election Day either you vote or you shut the fuck up.
No, you miss the point, or perhaps, just don’t want to be held to account. When I scratch an accounts comment history, what will I find? This is a good example: https://lemmy.world/comment/10202527
Claiming that we “needed” to vote for a pro-genocide candidate, instead of working for or calling on that candidate to change their position: That isn’t harm reduction; thats directly causing harm. When you made that comment 9 months ago, you, in part, contributed to Donald Trumps victory. She couldn’t win with that campaign strategy. By being an apologist for genocide, you, in part, gave her the freedom to not have to shift her position to a more popular, more electable, anti-genocide stance.
Harm reduction is only harm reduction if it reduces harm. The VAST majority of what was being done under the name of “harm reduction” and especially here on lemmy, your example included, led directly to the outcome of Harris blowing the election. What you were doing was not harm reduction: it was harm.
The apologists who worked AGAINST the effort to move the candidate from where they were, to where they needed to be, did significant harm to our ability to stop Trump.
Well shit, you caught me. I’m the reason why Harris got millions fewer votes than Biden did in the last election: because I told people to vote for her. You can be mad at me all you want, I was right then and I’m still right now. You can’t make any political change by refusing to play the hand you’re dealt.
But hey, good news! You got what you wanted. A genocide supporter didn’t get elected. Gaza is saved! I’m sure the war will be over any day now.
Shitlibs and not being interested in why they lost: name a more iconic duo!
You aren’t arguing with me when you make that accusation: you are arguing with the literal millions who voted for Biden, and then didn’t vote for Harris. And its exactly because of what you are doing right fucking now you fucking oblivious election throwing dummy.
Those were the fucking people we needed to get to show up for Harris and those were PRECISELY THE FUCKING PEOPLE YOU PUSHED AWAY FROM DEMOCRATS BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING, RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!
+1
you still have to use a corrupt system to your advantage when you can, if that is the system within which you are confined. non-participation and protest votes only dilute the power of a united people.
I can’t help my brothers and sisters get free, if I’m also in shackles.