I keep hearing people I know who I thought genuinely cared for the people on the ragged edges of US society saying that theyâre not going to vote for Harris. I wish theyâd see voting as a thing we do *for each other* instead of something that speaks to your own self-centered opinion.
Itâs just moral narcissism - the idea that how it makes you feel about yourself is the most important thing. Itâs wildly, WILDLY selfish. And these are the same people who lecture others about privilege.
Wild.
People say I shouldnât shame others for not voting, but fuck that. We have this one lever we get to pull. This one task. If you canât make that bare minimum requirement to participate in a democracy, I have no goddamn respect for you. Youâre not more morally pure for opting out, youâre just a petulant child.
Voting isnât everything, but itâs the first thing. If you have this right that so many fought and bled for and you donât use it, shame on you.
louder for the toxic idealists in the back:
if you don't #vote, you don't have morality, you have self congratulatory ego masturbation
belief without action is not morality. withholding action when the stakes are clear on things you *say* you care about is not highmindedness, it's impotency
one order out: not being aware of the stakes makes you absurdly clueless
and finally "both sides the same" is a moronic lie. i will consider you a russian troll for that in intellectual charity
You're cutting yourself out of the process.
After Nov 2024 I expect to frequently be asking "Who did you vote for?". If the answer isn't "Harris", I'll know it's not worth spending my energy engaging with you.
"Harris, reluctantly", or "Hated myself, but in the end Harris" are fine, just fine. Voting often involves unpleasant options, and I'll be thankful to you that you did a difficult thing.