Oh, this is a good read about "protest voting" or not voting because, you know, Biden's not their perfect candidate.

[Lunabell]

From 2020, but absolutely tells it like it is.

Short walks down long piers.

As you jog down the pier, early in the morning, you see someone in the water, flailing to stay afloat. They’re drowning and there’s nobody around but you. Fortunately, there’s a floatation device—aptly called a lifesaver—nearby, attached to a rope on a reel. All you have to do is trigger the control to lower it into the water and rescue them.

Do you pull the lever to save them or do you walk away?

Many pages have been filled by philosophers debating scenarios akin to this one, but sophisticated analysis is wasted on so simple a case. It’s open and shut. Whether they arrive at the obvious conclusion through tedious reasoning from first principles about deontology, virtues, the veil of ignorance, utilitarianism, or some other idea, no system of ethics deserving of the name will contradict what common sense and empathy make plain: You have a moral obligation to save the person who’s drowning.

There are people who would deny this. Some are simply evil; there’s not much to say about them. Others are evil in more complicated ways, such as by insisting that you can never have a positive obligation to do anything without explicit prior agreement. This is nonsense in general, but it’s bigger nonsense in specific because we’re not saying you should risk your life by jumping in the water; all you have to do is pull a lever. How hard is that?

It is literally the least you could do as a decent human being.

But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Fact: Donald Trump is an incompetent, bigoted, corrupt traitor.

There are actually people who would deny this. Perhaps they don’t consider his mishandling of COVID-19 to be gross incompetence. Perhaps they don’t recognize the bigotry of calling Mexicans rapists. Perhaps they don’t see the corruption in funneling taxpayer money into his golf courses. Perhaps they don’t acknowledge the treason in seeking foreign aid to win re-election. Perhaps they’re oblivious to all the many examples of these failings, not to mention others.

https://truth-sandwich.com/2020/08/10/the-impotence-of-being-earnest/

[elleng]

1. Most likely imo, is ' they're oblivious to all the many examples of these failings, not to mention others.'

[betsuni]

2. Stupid anti-Democratic talking points 2016, 2020, 2024:

Lesser of two evils
Earn my vote
Vote my conscience
Send a message
Hold feet to the fire
We're taken for granted, they ignore working/middle class, do nothing, stand for nothing, corrupt
Must be constantly threatened and criticized to push/pull them to the Left because same as Republicans
Claiming classic liberal Democratic policies like universal health care are actually "democratic socialism" and Democrats think they're new and "radical" because same as Republicans
"Passionate" replacing common sense and any sort of critical thinking or reality -- if you're "passionate" you're right and moral
Populist savior rescuing you from the evil Democrats buzzwords: transformative, inspiring, authentic, consistent, movement, revolution,, grassroots, taking on, fighting for, centrist, wealthy donor class, billionaire class, oligarchs, status quo, establishment, liberal elite, corporate Dems, rigged, neoliberal, warmongers, genocide, forever wars, Western imperialism, terrorists are freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela, Trump voters aren't racists, trade deals bad, incrementalism and compromise bad
Biden broke his promises, lied, betrayed, disappointed

[Redleg]

5. Lather, rinse, and repeat

Well stated. It is so tiring. I heard some dolt on NPR yesterday, a young person, saying that they don't see a difference between Biden and Trump. I almost drove off the rode.

[Deep State Witch]

7. Biden Supports Genocide

I actually saw a FB poster (probably a troll) call Biden a "genocidal monster" for supporting Israel. Okay..... you're comparing Biden to Idi Amin or Slobodan Milosevic? Really?

My response is usually that I am voting for democracy in the US, not what's happening on the other side of the world where they've been fighting over the same patch of land for millennia.

[SocialDemocrat61]

9. Don't forget 2000

[SYFROYH]

10. I don't think these were stupid at all.

No one gets all the votes. To say that some people voted for a third party or didn't vote does have to be a problem if we respond to voters and run inspired and inspirational candidates (a la Barack Obama, Bill Clinton).

I'm happy to have people say they are voting for the lesser of two evils and then vote Democrat. Thrilled.

[betsuni]

11. Why do they think Democrats are evil?

Hillary Clinton inspired many non-idiots, had an almost 70% approval rating after being SOS, was voted the most admired American woman a record 17 times, her whole career dedicated to progress and improving the lives of women and children and actually DID things, not just slogans and ranting. What the fuck isn't inspiring about that? Oh right, she gave a paid speech so is corrupt status quo Wall Street Satan and sent emails.

[Efilroft Sul]

3. Meanwhile, Chris Hedges accuses Biden and the Democrats for causing more damage than any of Trump lies.

And, of course, the usual buyers on the left eat it up, because Hedges is a merchant of anger, and many of those commenting on his recent Substack article express their electoral devotion to flying the planes into the towers, democracy be damned.

Anyway, check out the article's link for the crazy.

https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/joe-bidens-parting-gift-to-america?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-restack-comment&r=nve6&triedRedirect=true&fbclid=IwAR036PlLSsmLhEWC4aWLI2maBlFDGHGZizcQTaL0eYYRJ3Qw5m4HRp0wvyk

[orthoclad]

4. Give 1/3 of the US more reasons to vote D,

other than "the other guy's a monster". Push emotional buttons, not just policy details.

We're more likely to draw votes from the 1/3 of US voters who, for a variety of reasons, did not bother to vote, than to draw votes from the far-right Republican party. Even the ones who hate Trump are extreme right. Do we want to seem appealing to Nikki Haley?

This quiet third is a resource we should tap.

[Tommy Carcetti]

6. We had this talk in 2016.

It did not end well; certain people refused to listen.

Why anyone would want to repeat that mistake, I haven't a clue.

[SYFROYH]

8. Unfortunately, conservatives think they ARE helping by voting Republican.

Last edited Tue Mar 19, 2024, 02:20 PM - Edit history (1)

eta: When they yell at a panhandler to get a job and not give them anything, they think they are helping even if mean spirited.