myrmepropagandistJun 20, 2023

If you are a white leftist and you talk “both parties are the same they are both capitalist” you will loose most of your black audience. I think it ought to be obvious that this isn’t because blackfolks love Democrats (in most cases, there is always someone being simple in any group) —no. it’s because the difference between the parties is material and obvious and these are unstable times.

When I hear such talk I wonder if the speaker is working on voter suppression.

Show threadmyrmepropagandistJun 20, 2023

Voting brings me no joy — but I never miss an election out of a kind of stubborn spite. I’ve never heard anyone explain how having all the marginalized and left leaning people not vote would be more annoying to the Democrats and Republicans than if we all do vote— and for the Democrats especially in the primaries.

I also don’t think voting is real political engagement, but it’s kind of the bare minimum. Even if you do a write-in for every office.

Show threadstibJun 20, 2023
@futurebird
So frustrating watching Americans and Poms talk like a two party duopoly is the only possible form of government. It doesn't have to be that way: if you had ranked choice voting (AKA, democracy) you could vote for minor parties first and the least objectionable major party second—without splitting the vote.
Show threadmyrmepropagandistJun 20, 2023

@stib That would be interesting. But it would also mean we’d inevitably have an openly fascist “america first” party — Then there would be the coalitions needed to get anything done. I used to think breaking up the two party system would help but I no longer really think it would be any better and in some ways it would be worse.

If we really did universal suffrage we could get pretty far. And make up the difference in local politics.

Show threadCassandrich
@futurebird @stib Pay people to vote. Enter the polling place, leave with a fresh $100 bill. Even if you write-in "deez nuts". Amount chosen to be significant to folks for whom voting should make a difference to their lives, irrelevant to those for whom it won't.
Jun 20, 2023 at 6:38pmWeb
Show threadCassandrichJun 20, 2023
@futurebird @stib Like jury duty, voting is civic duty, but it's also labor, and you should get paid for doing it. Both as compensation for your labor and as an incentive to actually do it.
Show threadEvelynJun 20, 2023
@dalias @futurebird @stib One of the inaugural balls for President Deez Nuts should feature the Stones.
Show threadAutumn RookJun 20, 2023
@dalias @futurebird @stib I love this idea. It could also help make it worth it for someone without time-off pay to take the day off to vote anyway.
Show thread🚲Jun 20, 2023
@dalias @futurebird @stib Give it a couple cycles and it would be twisted into: vote, fill out this form, get it signed by your employer, submit it to this office that’s only open during work hours and has an hours long queue every day, expect your check in the mail in 3 to 23 weeks. 🙄
Show threadvyJun 20, 2023
@dalias the obstacle to voting is voter suppression not motivation
Show threadUncle 6 🌁Jun 21, 2023
@dalias @futurebird @stib “even if” pal, Deez Nuts is the best hope we have in half these elections ;)