this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2024
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...okay, you've convinced me. As someone from a beige state that's been presidentially blue for over 30 years (meaning my vote means dick-all due to EC shenanigans), I will continue to show up and vote to make sure it stays that way.
Maybe one day I'll even get an inspiring candidate to vote for.
I'm assuming you're showing up for more than presidential elections, though, right? Where your vote counts even more?
If you think presidential participation is low, you should see state and local numbers. Or don't, if you're prone to depression.
Yes. Unfortunately I live in a nepo congressional district where the mob boss's — I'm sorry, party power broker's — little brother has a seat for life and runs unopposed every primary. And said "power broker" is VERY deeply embedded in the state dem machine (and much of the business dealings in and out of the public view), to the point where court action was needed to stop the ballot placement fuckery.
It's also next to impossible to dig up information on county commissioners, township committee, and school board candidates. "John Doe was born in neighboring Othertown but has lived and worked in Hometown for decades. He has three children in the local school system with his wife Jane. 'I care very deeply about policy and I think things should be good, not bad.' John likes to go for long walks in the local park when he's not hang gliding at his mountain vacation house."
Unfortunately techniques like this work, as (at least) one of the Moms Against Liberty types got voted onto the school board last term. The term before that, they were all mask-off for the standard conservative Covid crap and lost... but not by much. They scrubbed their online presence to be as generic as possible... and the only POC on the board lost her seat.
And yes, I am prone to depression.
Felt.
You intend to vote red?
No, they were saying they didn't bother since their party was winning anyway. Easy to misread though.
I did vote in 2000. "Wait... so the son of the VP during Regan's Reign of Dementia is really a for real candidate?" Didn't matter, state went blue, Florida did not because some guy named Chad Brooks hung his brother in front of SCOTUS.
I did vote in 2004. "Well this guy is completely forgettable but at least junior is going to follow in daddy's footsteps and be a one pump chump." Didn't matter, state went blue, I begin to question reality.
I did vote in 2008. "I have no idea who this guy is but he talks a good game and he pisses off the bigots." Didn't matter, state went blue, record numbers came out to vote, and my mom suddenly cared about politics because she's a racist piece of shit.
I did vote in 2012. "Let's keep this rolling please and thank you." Didn't matter, state went blue, Bain Capital went on to kill both KayBee Toys and Toys R Us as revenge.
I did not vote in 2016. "These choices are bullshit, what the hell." Didn't matter, state went blue, large areas of empty space went red, and the oval office went orange despite almost three million more people voting for Buttery Males over Fraud Inc.
I did vote in 2020. "This election smells of mothballs and Icy Hot but at least I don't have to stand in line." Didn't matter, state went blue, record numbers came out to vote, fascists went mask-off.
I will vote in 2024 (and already voted in the primary, which... didn't matter). "I truly believe we are living in some sort of simulation, how can this possibly be real life?"
Pass the coconuts.
Thank you for elaborating, and apologies for assuming I fully understood.
I totally get the existential dread, anxiety, and depression. Never easy to cope with.
All good, you covered for me while I was trying to be witty >_>
hey, maybe it doesn't feel like it matters, but the margin of popular vote victory does mean something for the effectiveness and legitimacy of the ruling party (especially in the face of coup attempts)
Ah, that still seems like a risky move.
Yup, that was the point. They used to do that but now realize they might actually be needed.