I’m just watching all of these clearly motivated “Newsom 2028” PR pieces, trying to manufacture this thing, and I simply refuse.

I can’t help but notice that in these vote-blue-no-matter-who situations, compromise always seems to mean *me, specifically*. Whatever time my community buys you tends not to be spent wisely.

At a certain point it is no longer my responsibility to pick up the pieces or clean up the mess of others, I would rather find somewhere else to live.

@htpcnz @Haste

If the Democratic party even has primaries. They didn't last time and I think that was a big factor in losing. Getting rid of the choice that people actually have to run a hand picked candidate who they then decide was actually not a good choice and replacing him.

@htpcnz wild that you’d consider me privileged when I’m the target of multiple executive orders and candidate number one for un-personing.

Additionally, I *am* working and organizing between now and then. That just doesn’t fit in 500 characters. You just told yourself a whole story about my inaction; you’re mad at a cartoon character.

I’m saying that if I do this work and the party chooses a candidate that is dangerous to me anyway, I will prioritize my own safety.

@charcoal @Haste

But,,, that's exactly what you said as well?

@michaelvcooper1 I don’t know why you think I’m not participating. My body of work is public and free. Further, I exist outside of the internet. A bunch of weirdos are descending on a single thread as the sum total of my contribution to democracy and it’s frankly silly?

I don’t remember signing anything that requires me to attach my resume to every tweet.

It seems clear you’d like to argue with a fictional character you’ve invented, who posts once and then gives up. I hope you find them.

@smitten_ I really hate that argument, too. For as long as we allow ourselves to hold each other hostage in this way, there can never be a leftist party (because the centrists “can’t risk” the right losing by splitting the vote. They never seem to be willing to themselves compromise and move left, as we are *always* expected to do).

It’s so frustrating to me because the end result is people feeling entitled to my vote and suffering. It’s built this way on purpose.

@Fiona well that’s the thing, there are infinite options right now, because 2028 is years away.

I see you may be in the Netherlands; forgive me if I’m mistaken and am explaining something you already know. But in the US, we have a pretty trash two-party system.

Both parties are technically “private clubs”. They traditionally honor a vote among their members, but basically can choose whoever they like.

If the Democratic Party chooses a candidate, that’s it for that party.

1/2

@Fiona Independent candidates exist, but it is exceedingly difficult to become one. Even though the constitution has only three requirements (which most people meet eventually), states are allowed to make their own rules for who appears on a ballot. You have to petition each one individually.

This is accompanied with a fee, ranging from $250 to $80,000. There are fifty of those.

Some people do still try it, but it is usually for reasons of vanity, PR, or fundraising.

2/2

@Fiona Write ins are an interesting thing because while broadly, you *can* do it, states are not required to honor them when casting electoral votes.

So while you CAN vote for an independent or write in Mickey Mouse, this is essentially a protest vote. Reasonable people could debate whether or not this is functionally different from not voting.

It is generally agreed upon that the system is designed this way on purpose to centralize power and prevent competition.

3/2, lol

@Quasit Yeah, it’s really weird watching folks cheerlead for him after all of the violence toward the unhoused.

I’m independent, politically, because I am disturbed by how many democratic candidates do not consider them people also.