@benroyce Ahh yes, "Diplomacy"

"#US ambassador to #Canada goes on expletive-laced tirade at #Ontario’s trade representative"

@ShredderFeeder

my country is going rapidly down the toilet

partly because of #MAGA #fascist #bigots

and partly because of these cringe weak "but i want perfect" #nonvoters

yes, the #USA sucked before: that's a silly observation when you realize how much worse it can suck

you get better or worse in this life. that's all you will ever, ever, EVER get

perfect isn't on the menu. never will be

#vote you dumb motherfuckers

#politics

@benroyce @ShredderFeeder

Asking for people to be better than the least of two evils is before voting for them is hardly demanding perfection. People need a system that allows them to vote for who they want not just who they don't want least.

@the5thColumnist Wow, that sounds like people who regularly sit out municipal elections, where people you want are rarely if ever on the ballot. Those rare times you do find someone you want invariably end in disappointment because they *never* live up to your expectations. You vote for the least worst option anyway, otherwise you are letting a shockingly small number of people do it for you.

Choosing not to vote is a de facto vote.

@benroyce @ShredderFeeder

@dnkboston @the5thColumnist @benroyce @ShredderFeeder

"none of the above" should be an option on every ballot, and if None wins, the election must be held again, without the rejected candidates.

hell, even I'd vote.

@roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Yes I too like to go on social media and proclaim how things should be, then not do a fucking thing to make it happen, even the easiest fucking thing

@benroyce @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

once again, for the people not paying attention -

i just spent 3 weeks at the ICE detention center, 24/7, being gassed and harassed, while you sat on your lazy ass at home.

i didn't get enough to eat most of that time.

i did this to stand up to fascists. as i have done my entire life.

@roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

If you voted, you fucking moron, you wouldn't have to do that

Unfollow me at least, a block is preferable

@benroyce @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

fuck yourself, you order-giving fascist wannabe.

@roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Oh yeah, I'm a fascist because I want you to vote 🤣

@benroyce @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

no, you're a fascist because the US has been a fascist state since 1946, and you've voted to keep it that way your whole life.

@roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Well yes the point is to vote and keep fascism out

What's failing us are the morons not voting and doing call of duty edgelord fantasy life of revolution. Having not the slightest fucking clue what that is really like. They are either violent idiots or agent provocateurs out to sabotage the left

@benroyce @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

So one point about that: If you want people to vote, you have make it:

A) Worth the effort (ie: votes actually mattering)

and

B) Not make their life a living hell.

Hint: Ask a "potential swing voter" in a "swing state" how the last year before election feels.

@phloggen @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

why are we catering to people who don't care enough to understand the stakes to their own lives

in which case we're dealing with a moron, no brain (i'm not talking genius levels of political insight, but really obvious choices)

or people entitled and privileged enough that they don't care to do anything but whine

in which case we're dealing with an asshole, no heart

what do you think is actually served by such an approach?

@benroyce @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

First, I'm Danish, so I have grown up in country where 83 to 87% vote for parliament.

Second: Have you actually ever asked a friend, who is a "swing voter" in a "swing state", how many times they get accosted because of that designation and how much that can make life hell, almost constantly ?

Because if the insane voting system in USA, there is an enormous pressure on those "pivot voters", while much of the rest of the voters know that there is absolutely zero chance of their vote changing anything, because of where they live.

And the other part of it is that you dont have two-party system. You have a one-party system which cos-plays as a two-part system, and the voters are plenty smart to see right through that.

If you want to get people to vote, you have to change both of those aspects: Make all votes matter and give the voters a real choice.

@phloggen @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

"You have a one-party system which cos-plays as a two-part system"

ah, "BoTh SiDeS tHe SaMe"

Poul: that is an incredibly fucking stupid lie

you're danish?

would harris be making claims on greenland?

be honest

does it matter?

of course

so right there is something huge and concrete for your own concerns, nevermind domestic issues

so stop fucking lying Poul, and doing apologia for morons who believe really stupid lies

@benroyce @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

It's really very simple:

No matter which party you vote for, the 1%'ers get richer and everybody else gets poorer.

All the rest is just play-acting and rearranging the deckchairs as far as I am concerned.

And really, Greenland ?

You know what that is about ?

Area(USA) + Area(Greenland) > Area(Canada)

Area(USA) + Area(Canada) > Area(Russia)

Yes, an orange man with a very small and predictable brain.

@phloggen @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

this is the rationale of the 1/3 in the usa that do not vote

another 1/3 is fascist and the final is sane

if the 1/3 who don't vote because "life sucks waaah" fucking voted, maybe we could do something about our problem

your entire rationale is cynicism

you realize cynicism is acceptance right?

do you like plutocracy?

no?

then why are you accepting it

that *is* what you're doing with your rationale

@benroyce @roblosricos @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Said Every EU person to visit USA: "That could be such a wonderful place, if only they got their shit together for just one week!"

But if you think voting is going to get USA out of the mess, you are almost certainly wrong, and if you think voting for one of the existing parties will do it, you are very very wrong.

There are three ways USA can get out of the current mess and there's no telling how long that will take:

1. Military Coup. That is, after all, very much "The American Way". Probably not happening, too many fascists in uniform, but strictly speaking the have sworn to do so, in a situation like now.

2. Somebody untainted by current politics and widely known and trustworthy runs for a new third party. This is the Havel/Wałęsa/Zelensky model. Colbert can probably pull it off.

3. California leaves, USA. They're big enough. Some NE states may join Canada. The technical term is "civil war.

@dnkboston @benroyce @roblosricos @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Of course a civil war would be bad!

But that doesn't mean it's not going to happen if the shit-show is not stopped any other way.

@phloggen @dnkboston @roblosricos @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

and at the same time, you're proposing a coup or a dissolution of the usa

pick a lane, deep thinker

do you want us murdering each other in the streets yes or no?

because you're in another comment saying you're looking forward to it

this is how i lost all respect for you

@benroyce @phloggen @dnkboston @roblosricos @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

Another outside perspective.

It's american exceptionalism again. Somehow the US threat to democracy is completely unique, never happened before or elsewhere. Nope. It is uniquely bad, and impossible to solve politically, by voting. Nope, it's a one way fast lane to hell (or cosplaying armed revolution heaven) and we better give up beforehand.

@benroyce @phloggen @dnkboston @roblosricos @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

How TF do these people think democracy works? By refusing to participate because the system is flawed? Yeah, that'll show them!!

@annavirrpanna @benroyce @phloggen @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

democracy works by ALWAYS creating a minority to oppress. and that's what you vote for, every time.

like: "they're killing protesters!"

voters: "that has to stop!"

later: "they're killing homeless people!"

voters: "they are following the (anti-homeless) laws."

@roblosricos @annavirrpanna @phloggen @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

just wait until rob figures out how other forms of government work

rob the political science professor is in for an exciting voyage of discovery about oppression in non-democratic societies

would you like to tell us how homelessness is handled in authoritarian societies rob? go ahead, scholar rob, educate us fools

@benroyce @annavirrpanna @phloggen @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

shit-for-brains, i am experiencing homelessness in the USA.

@roblosricos @annavirrpanna @phloggen @dnkboston @the5thColumnist @ShredderFeeder

rob, no one has a problem with your words because you are experiencing homelessness. i am sorry that you're homeless

the point is homelessness is not unique to democracy. homelessness sucks everywhere. in russia you can be shipped off to murder/ be murdered in ukraine. in china if you are not in the hukou system you're persona non grata for social services. other countries have it better, some worse than the usa

@benroyce

I've been homeless in the past... I've been VERY homeless....

Sometimes the only fix for homelessness is taking all your anger and putting it into not being homeless anymore...

When Rob masters channeling his anger into something useful instead of being pissed off on social media, well then he might stand a chance...

But since vivaldi.net is defederated on my server, he's not going to see this message...

@[email protected] @annavirrpanna @phloggen @dnkboston @the5thColumnist