this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2024
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I don't like Biden either, but anyone with half a brain knows there are two choices in the 2020 election. If we had a sane voting system, voting third party might be worth it, but as it stands, no one but you knows your favorite candidate exists and unless you want to become their campaign manager that will still be true in November. Even if you did, and even if you convinced two thirds of the people who would otherwise have voted for Biden to vote for your chosen candidate instead, Trump would still win because half the country voted for him and your guy only got a third. If you vote third party you might as well stay home.

Not voting isn't going to stop the genocide in Gaza. The US will continue to funnel them arms no matter which candidate wins this November. Trump practically campaigns on how much he hates the Jews and he's publicly told Israel to "finish up their war". He'll also make life a living hell for anyone who isn't a straight cisgender male back here at home.

A vote for a candidate is not an endorsement of them or their policies, it's a statement that you like their policies more than the other guy's, and "sticking it to liberals" and "refusing to support genocide" (that's not what voting for Biden is doing, by the way -- a vote for either candidate is a vote for genocide and a vote for neither is an endorsement of both) is not more important than keeping the furthest right politician America has ever seen out of office.

How incredibly privileged do you have to be to see an entire national election as what will happen in the Middle East and ignore Trump's campaign promises to wipe transgender Americans off the map, and further, to not realize that the same thing will happen in the Middle East regardless of which candidate wins?

I hate Biden as much as every other leftist here. But I'll still vote for him because Trump is worse. If there's a single bone in your body that cares about the lives of your trans friends you will too.

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[–] rutellthesinful@kbin.social 27 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Not voting isn’t going to stop the genocide in Gaza.

maybe it will stop the next one though

if democrats learn that allowing a genocide to unfold on their watch is going to lose them elections, you can bet they'll put more effort into stopping it

if democrats learn that allowing genocide to unfold on their watch actually doesn't make that much difference, why would they bother themselves to stop it?

A vote is not an unconditional endorsement

a vote for a candidate is an endorsement for all of their policies, whether you want it to be or not

your reluctant vote looks exactly the same on the tally as somebody else's wholehearted vote, and votes are what politicians base their platforms on.

If you vote third party you might as well stay home.

this is just a misconception

if the democrats lose a million votes to a third party, then yeah, they're going to modify their policies next time around

[–] Chadus_Maximus@lemm.ee 28 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

next time

Woah, calm down buddy. No reason why there should be a next time. Republicans are already creating projects as if there isn't.

[–] rutellthesinful@kbin.social 18 points 7 months ago (1 children)

if you think voting for biden this time is more important, then by all means do that

just understand the choice you're making, rather than pretending one doesn't exist

[–] Soulg@sh.itjust.works 15 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

We understand we are voting for the candidate who realizes and disapproves of Israel's treatment of Gaza (the other one would triple down and encourage it harder) as well as the candidate who supports Ukraine (the other one would give it to putin for free) and also the candidate who won't genocide LGBT community within our own country.

Anyone who doesn't vote Biden does not care about Gaza. Not at all. They're just virtue signaling and afraid to admit they want to vote for Trump.

[–] rutellthesinful@kbin.social 17 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Biden has taken months to stop veto-ing UN votes on Gaza, and even when finally abstaining, his administration pulls its punches by claiming the vote is somehow "non-binding".

Israel is still bombing Gaza, even after the ceasefire vote.

Biden says he cares about Gaza. His actions say otherwise.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 10 points 7 months ago

He's currently gambling that he can have his cake and eat it too, ie continue supporting Israel as a valuable foothold for the American Empire in the Middle East while also paying lip service to leftists.

We need to make sure he actually feels the heat of his actions and that they may cost him the election for him to meaningfully cease aid to Israel.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

That's absolutely terrible analysis. Just because you personally believe something doesn't mean leftists that disagree with you want to vote directly for a fascist, and I say that as a leftist that is probably going to vote for Biden. I'm just not delusional about it, Biden hasn't stopped the genocide at all when everyone knew it was a genocide months ago.

Yeah, it always strikes me as being super in bad faith when people accuse leftists of supporting Trump if we don't pledge undying support to Biden. Keep that shit in places like reddit and lemmy.world imo (and actually, don't even keep it there either because it's bullshit)

[–] Ultragigagigantic@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Republicans trying to dismantle democracy and install an authoritarian government?

Sounds serious.

So when are democrats dropping gun control? Clearly there is a imminent existential threat to our nation!

SocialistRA.org

[–] Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

The United States won't be destroyed by a handful of people not getting off their collective ass on election day and 3rd parties aren't viable.

[–] rutellthesinful@kbin.social 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

3rd parties aren’t viable

this is just a misconception

if the democrats lose a million votes to a third party, then yeah, they're going to modify their policies next time around

[–] jumjummy@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Yeah and meanwhile Trump wins and we’re all fucked. Just keep patting yourself on the back as we all sink. The OP is absolutely correct.

Don’t be fooled, this is absolutely the angle foreign disinformation agents are pushing. “Genocide Joe” is no different than “Bernie or Bist”, he’ll, or “Stop the steal”

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Don’t be fooled, this is absolutely the angle foreign disinformation agents are pushing. “Genocide Joe”

I don't think this has any proof.

[–] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Lol political threads at night on lemmy are good proof. So weird how at night, all of lemmy is suddenly not liking the idea of voting for Biden, or voting 3rd party, when during regular American hours it's not the case. You'd have to be pretty ignorant or even part of the disinformation to not notice

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 7 months ago (2 children)

if this were true it would be trivial to provide links

[–] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago (4 children)

Literally look at this comment section: people are discouraging voting for Joe biden. What could the result be if everybody listened except that Trump would win the election? How does that even make sense if you care for the people in Gaza to get a new president that wants Isreal to "hurry up and finish up in Gaza"?

"oh but Biden isn't perfect! The democratic party should only have a perfect candidate!" That's not how real life works, and especially not the crappy voting system the US has. Either you help Biden wins the presidency, where he is at least trying to discourage Israel from further violence, or where Trump wins and he will continue to give Israel a thumbs up.

"but Genocide!" Yeah these are shitting options, but do you want more Genocide or less? There's only one path with the potential for less genocide and not voting or voting for trump will only incur more of it.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 7 months ago

There’s only one path with the potential for less genocide and not voting or voting for trump will only incur more of it.

voting for biden is bad, regardless of who else is running.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What could the result be if everybody listened except that Trump would win the election?

i expect to have at least 4 names on my ballot. i don't need to vote for trump or biden, and voting for either of them is promoting bad things.

[–] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

the other 2 names on the ballot won't have any positive affect. they won't get elected, they won't win the state, and it will only make it easier for Trump.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 7 months ago

voting for bad people is bad

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 7 months ago

Either you help Biden wins the presidency, where he is at least trying to discourage Israel from further violence,

i don't believe he's trying to discourage anything because if he was serious, it would have stopped.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 7 months ago

“oh but Biden isn’t perfect! The democratic party should only have a perfect candidate!”

can you link this?

[–] joenforcer@midwest.social 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Edit: Disregard. Previous comment broke site rules and I take it back. I apologize.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

this is ad hominem. it's also a violation of the sitewide rule about inclusion and acceptance:

It means not telling people that you know their experiences better than they do.

[–] joenforcer@midwest.social 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You're right. Forgot where I was. Apologies.

[–] core@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 7 months ago
[–] Ultragigagigantic@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

"Foreign oligarchs are taking over!" - US oligarchs probably

[–] Ultragigagigantic@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

Sounds like passing comprehensive electoral reform is not only the right thing to do, but it is also crucial to the stability of the country. Republicans obviously hate democracy, and have passed legislation trying to ban switching away from first past the post voting. Do you REALLY want to use the same voting system republicans want? What's the excuse blue states?

Consider watching a video on First Past the Post voting if you want to know more.

[–] rutellthesinful@kbin.social 8 points 7 months ago

if you think voting for biden this time is more important, then by all means do that

just understand the choice you're making, rather than pretending one doesn't exist