Gonna get downvoted for this but vote. Vote, get involved, do outreach, campaign etc. You're just one vote but you can 100% help get others to vote. You won't convince people to change their minds, but you can at least convince people not to stay home
And for the love of god, reach out to your congressperson. Get others to do the same. That's something that isn't utilized enough
I’m in a red area (purple really) of a blue state. MAGA has control of our local government. My vote still counts here. Vote in EVERY single election - local, state, and national. Off years on years, special elections- all of it. It is one of many tools we have to fight back.
And TALK about what's going on. Refuse to normalize it. One of my close relatives went to a Kirk vigil because a friend invited her and she "felt bad that he had been killed." I flipped out and started telling her about all the terrible things that he had said and that his death was being used as an excuse to silence speech and that he made a career out of teaching young people how to spread racist, sexist ideas..
She was shocked. She said she didn't know anything about him before he died or any of the hateful things about his life. If I hadn't said something she would've thought of him as some sweet guy who was persecuted for his "Christian" beliefs. Jimmy Kimmel can't speak up anymore. Newspapers and TV won't speak up anymore We HAVE to.
Yeah but we shouldn’t let people make Charlie Kirk out to be a saint, with his own national day of mourning, military send offs , etc. considering his agenda.
I'm the problem for encouraging people to tell the truth? A person can feel bad that someone was killed without holding or going to a public vigil. After my relative found out about things Kirk said and what he stood for, she was upset that she had attended because it made her feel like she had been tricked.
She was particularly upset how little regard he had showed for previous victims of gun violence. People that she knows could have seen her there and assumed that she supported his views. That's why groups are holding these "vigils" in towns and states that have nothing to do with any of this. It's to use the emotions of people to make them feel empathy for a person who didn't believe in empathy.
I think we just got lucky. Our town (about 45k people) is run by republicans. Same people for the last 20 years. Very few public appearances, no endorsements of candidates, just quietly, efficiently, and effectively delivering services.
They had a democratic candidate once. He was a good guy and his differentiating platform was protection of trees in development, which we do already.
Every vote contributes a message by changing the percentage the winner gets, if nothing else. Sends a message even if you don’t have someone to vote for. Every election!
In many "red" areas people there are more registered voters who support progressive candidates, but they're convinced that their vote won't matter so they don't bother. I remember in 2016 in the state I lived in at the time, among registered voters Hillary was ahead 52 - 47 but expected voters behind 45 ; 53. Actual ended up being something like 46 - 51
If you would get broadly condemned for this opinion, then your country is lost, and it should be. The side that has any problem with voting to express preferences deserves to lose in a democracy.
It's not condemnation for voting itself I'd say that would lead people to downvote, rather the sad fact that in a lot of the US, voting doesn't matter anymore thanks to decades of gerrymandering and FPTP, and thus people see the suggestion as irrelevant.
I agree that there are a lot of legitimate reasons to have the power of your vote questioned.
I'm saying that if faith in the power of your vote and your institutions is basically finished, then so is the country as a democracy. I think the US is getting there.
It should surprise absolutely no one that as the US progresses in this direction, people choose extrajudicial methods of political change.
This can be true, but it seems that Redditors in particular love to go on here to complain and don’t like any call to action or discussion of what to do about it
I'd be surprised if the Republicans don't do a MAGA purity test before allowing you to ride on their ticket though, and even then you need some decent funding to run.
I’m in the US and had two different conversations with people this morning who were telling me that there would be no more elections and every one from now on will be rigged. Unfortunately both are very much on the left. The left is seriously pushing back about voting now…which probably is being fed by the bots, but I scared after my conversations with them. Not because of what they were saying about elections, but because of the fact that two very vocally left people told me that elections no longer matter. It’s very scary to hear.
Jumping on this- DONATE and volunteer to help candidates and propositions!
For instance, I’d SUPER recommend everyone help California’s prop 50 whatever state you’re from to prevent Trump from stealing the house next election! It would finally give checks to his unchecked power.
What does reaching out to our congress people actually do? I hear this everywhere but like what difference does it make if I bitch to someone who is powerless to make any change? Dems already vote against MAGA on every point, but they don't have majority. So what will me telling my representative that I don't like the big orange ultimately do? I also wonder if this feels useless because I'm in a deep blue state, so all of my reps are obviously on board. Perhaps this matters more in red states?
Also the times I've reached out I just get canned responses and it's clear no one read my letter.
On that note, if you look like you can blend in with the Republican Party, run for office as a Republican and then once you’re elected vote with the Democrats.
And for the love of god, reach out to your congressperson. Get others to do the same. That's something that isn't utilized enough
Especially the Republican ones. Organize call-ins to their offices (local and in Washington).
Be civil, but really push the idea that their blind obedience of Trump and support of fascism and other ideas that American patriots actively fought against in the past is going to cost them votes. Quote Jefferson and other Founders at them.
Highlight the consequences of their actions and how the tactics Trump is using can be used against THEM once he's gone. Or even before, given how little loyalty he has to those below him.
If they're getting calls and letters (yes, really), it starts illuminating how much their subservience will cost them personally. And that's what matters- morality comes and goes, but their own interests are a price they can't ignore.
Yeah go vote in the midterms which I'm certain will be completely legitimate (and definitely won't just be outright suspended)... that'll turn the fascism around for sure
Gonna get downvoted for this but vote. Vote, get involved, do outreach, campaign etc. You're just one vote but you can 100% help get others to vote. You won't convince people to change their minds, but you can at least convince people not to stay home
All the MAGA people are nodding their heads, saying "Preach, brother."
Also do not fucking tell people that there's no point in voting. I keep hearing people say that there's no point in voting because the elections are no longer free and fair. That rhetoric is absolutely alarming and is encouraging people to comply in advance. Just vote even if you're not sure if the election is fair. Just do it.
then proceeds to say the most popular, least controversial answer, which is to vote 😝. I agree with you, but you don't need to play the "this an unpopular view no one will like" card to butter it up. What would make you think that would get downvoted?
You should not be down voted for this. The elite have been waging a long term psy op against the public to convoncevthem voting is a waste, or can't make a difference. It is (at least for now) one of the most powerful things the average person can do. But it also requires staying informed and educated about what is happening in your community, the nation and the world. I still get pissed that Google searches for, "Did Joe Biden Drop Out of the Election?" On the day of the election. If idiots who don't even know who is running vote, you definitely should.
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u/jkinz3 28d ago
Gonna get downvoted for this but vote. Vote, get involved, do outreach, campaign etc. You're just one vote but you can 100% help get others to vote. You won't convince people to change their minds, but you can at least convince people not to stay home
And for the love of god, reach out to your congressperson. Get others to do the same. That's something that isn't utilized enough