https://midwest.social/post/18536008
Edit of yesterday’s meme with accounted for non-voters
You just voting is not preventing the last step happen is my point.
It quite literally is, unless you think there’s no difference between who wins in this election, in which case I would prefer you say it and save us all the time.
Preventing something from happening in an immediate sense is still preventing it from happening, even if it doesn’t solve the long-term problems leading to it. Patching up a hole in one’s gut may not solve the autoimmune disorder that’s killing you, but it’ll prevent you from dying in a more immediate sense.
If people put all the effort you put into thinking and talking about voting to doing direct action, it will probably be better.
… all the effort we put into thinking and talking about voting?
Most people in this country don’t even bother to vote regularly. Those that do often put no more effort into their vote than a day at the polling station based on a few caught glimpses of the political realities of this country.
What level of effort is that going to translate into direct action? You’re looking at people entered into a 100-meter sprint, nearly half of whom decided to drop out before even beginning, with many of those who’ve finished are bitching about how long it was, and saying “If they put that effort into an ultramarathon, THEN we would really be getting somewhere!”
But most voters will go “oh well, we tried” and let fascists do fascist things which is the exact things that has been happening for the past 50 years, which is why you’re at the point of voting for a fascist & genocide or just voting for genocide.
Is it your opinion that we are more fascist now than we were 50 years ago, then? Or 100 years ago?
Just Buying time is only effective is you actually do something with the time you buy.
Buying time give the potential to do something with the time bought. Not buying time doesn’t magic into existence extra options; not buying time only reduces your options.
I’m not saying to hasten fascism.
Really? Because I would think that a literal fascist and his cronies being put into executive power might hasten fascism a tiny bit.
I said put all the effort you put into voting into doing direct action, which is the only thing actually stopping fascism. The figurehead above doesn’t matter.
So you do think that there’s no difference in who wins the election, and this whole conversation is pointless?
Genuinely curious, because I see you using this narrative a lot. What are you planning to do after the election to end the genocide? You seem to balk at direct action and talk a lot about voting which is fine, but voting takes 5 minutes and we watched Kamala backtrack on all of her progressive policies and muzzled Walz’ progressive nature. What are you going to do after the election?
Are US troops involved there? Because one candidate clearly says that Biden is not doing enough to help Israel.
Israel currently is led by a similar fascist with criminal record to trump, that once he loses his power he will go to jail. He is using attack on October 7 as an excuse to get rid of Palestine.
And we have seen that no one can really stop Israel. Do you think Biden wouldn’t prefer that the conflict would be over (and Israel wouldn’t be stirring new shit) and not distract from the war in Ukraine?
It’s clear that Netanyahu won’t stop what he is doing no matter what and actually wants trump to win as trump promises to help.
Are US troops involved there?
Yes. Biden officially sent 100 troops to Israel a few weeks ago.
I’m looking ahead, beyond the election. Don’t start lecturing me about this shit, because I’ve heard it a million times. Biden is doing less than Reagan did towards Israel.
As mentioned, I’m not even whole enough to walk more than a few blocks, and I live self-employed and under the poverty line. All I can do is donate when I can and speak to those close to me. I write my reps, but that’s pretty in-line with representative democracy, and I get the feeling that you’re looking for non-voting action outside of the norm. I’ve notably reddened my social circle, but that’s all I can claim.
I miss being able to march. But I have neither the physical nor emotional fortitude for that anymore.
You seem to balk at direct action
I don’t balk at direct action. I decry the idea that it’s a replacement for voting. Direct action is important. Voting in certain elections is, likewise, important. Dedication to direct action does not and should not preclude taking one day out of the year, or less if you live in a state with good mail-in voting laws, for harm reduction, especially when that harm is at an exceptionally bad precipice point. Nor does voting preclude direct action.
We’ve gone back and forth with each other in the past about voting, but I understand why it’s so prominent for you now. I’m of the belief that it’s the easiest and least effective method of change, so it’s been frustrating to seemingly see no real plan to put on the pressure folks are telling us to wait for.
It quite literally is, unless you think there’s no difference between who wins in this election, in which case I would prefer you say it and save us all the time.
Ultimately, there’s no difference who wins this election. You are still going inexorably to move towards fascism and genocide, as we’ve seen in all the past elections.
Preventing something from happening in an immediate sense is still preventing it from happening,
You’re not. You’re just adding stab wounds instead of bullet wounds and say “well, better than bullets at least.”
… all the effort we put into thinking and talking about voting?
If all the dedicated people doing all the voting prep work did the direct action work, it would have improved people’s lives and you would have converted them to direct action as well. but since voting doesn’t do shit, nobody gives a shit.
Is it your opinion that we are more fascist now than we were 50 years ago, then? Or 100 years ago?
More. In fact, I think you’re one step before civil war and I doubt you will avoid it through any amount of voting.
Buying time give the potential to do something with the time bought. Not buying time doesn’t magic into existence extra options; not buying time only reduces your options.
You won’t though, because your praxis is conditioning people to think voting is the only thing that matters, since everyone is putting so much effort all the time convincing people how important it is to vote for the next thing that’s just around the corner. You don’t buy time. You just hasten fascism by not doing direct action and by putting all your energy into talking about how important voting is and begging politicians with letters.
So you do think that there’s no difference in who wins the election, and this whole conversation is pointless?
Ultimately there’s no difference for your society no. You’ll still move towards fascism and continue the genocide.
Ultimately, there’s no difference who wins this election.
Oh, cool, I’ll remember this if Trump wins and we’re in line for the camps together. “Ha ha, this is just like it was in the good old days, under those damn Democrats, right?”
You’re not. You’re just adding stab wounds instead of bullet wounds and say “well, better than bullets at least.”
Okay. Let’s go with that analogy. With the choice of a stab wound or a .50 cal through the chest, which is preferable? Which will give you more time to deal with the problem?
More. In fact, I think you’re one step before civil war and I doubt you will avoid it through any amount of voting.
You think… the US… is more fascist now than it was in the 70s. Or the 50s. Or the 30s. Or the 10s.
Check, please!
Oh, cool, I’ll remember this if Trump wins and we’re in line for the camps together.
You should probably resist that with something direct. Maybe some action.
Okay. Let’s go with that analogy. With the choice of a stab wound or a .50 cal through the chest, which is preferable? Which will give you more time to deal with the problem?
None so long as you keep giving thumbs up for the guy stabbing you because they’re not using a .50 cal.
You think… the US… is more fascist now than it was in the 70s. Or the 50s. Or the 30s. Or the 10s.
Ye. They were bigoted as fuck, sure. But they were not actively, blatantly as fascist as they are now.
