• @Wahots@pawb.social
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      778 months ago

      Don’t be a single issue voter either. Shit is too important to throw away your most valuable resource to combat climate change, ensure world peace, fund science and medical research, and equal rights for everyone.

      Vote like your life depends on it. Because it does. Federal and local elections. It’s very important everyone vote.

      • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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        -918 months ago

        Nope. 37 now and I’ve always voted since 18. It doesn’t matter. I’ll never vote ever again. It means nothing.

        • @Sparlock@lemmy.world
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          788 months ago

          Dumbest comment of the thread right up there folks.

          When elections get decided on less than 100K votes across the country morons like this are essentially voting for fascism by not voting.

          • @Wahots@pawb.social
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            68 months ago

            Shit, we’ve had elections where the issue was less than 1,012 votes. Wikipedia even has an entire list of close votes. It’s insane how many are so close. It’s much more common than one would think.

            • John Richard
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              -28 months ago

              I honestly think people like you are why Trump ever got elected. You have no clue what kind of person @jo3jo3 and yet you call them stupid and spew almost the same kind of vile that you claim to warn against by them not voting. It really makes no sense to me how you can equate someone disillusioned with the entire process to be the same as someone who is out to get you. If you want more people to vote Democrat, then when people vote for your candidate merely because they hate the other candidate so much, then next time find a better candidate. Don’t tell them in 4 years, oh, we decided to not change a thing and you now have the same choice… either vote for our same mediocre candidate, or else the world will end. The doomsday gloom strategy only works if people believe you actually want change, not once you’ve shown them that is your entire strategy.

              In other words, you can ask for money saying you can’t pay your rent, but when I see you spending it while out partying and you ask me again… don’t expect me to trust you.

              • @Daft_ish@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                That’s what you’re going with? People like me are the reason Trump got elected?

                Not the protest votes? Not the people who sat home? It was me who is responsible. The person who voted Hillary in a deep red state knowing it would amount to virtually nothing but held my nose and did it anyway. I’m the person responsible.

                Excuse me when I say it but… get fucked.

                • John Richard
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                  -28 months ago

                  Yes… here you are calling people stupid instead of holding your own party accountable. If you actually had any awareness, you’d be telling people how the Democrats have changed since 2016. Or what the Democratic party has done different since 2020 to regain trust. Instead, your ad hominem attacks make you out to be the one lacking intelligence. The ironic thing is, us stupid people actually feel bad for people like you. Like, despite you telling us that you’ve hated us since 2016, we just hope that you leave the cult one day.

                  • @Daft_ish@lemmy.world
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                    8 months ago

                    Lol, no awareness. I am not a Democrat. If you can’t do the calculus to see a person like Trump should not be in government and anyone who thinks he should, should be opposed you are a lost cause. I can’t help you. Just do better, ok?

          • @FUBAR@lemm.ee
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            -128 months ago

            I can understand his position though. When the candidate who won the most votes couldn’t win the election. Then why vote?

            • @captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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              178 months ago

              Because you know the rules. It’s arbitrary yes, but in every election except 00 it’s been arbitrary and predefined what the rules are. The best way for the person you want to win to lose it to not vote

            • @PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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              08 months ago

              Nah, his position is literally only understandable if you’ve never had a conversation ever with a queer person, a PoC, or a woman who has thoughts other than quiverfull syndrome baby madness.

          • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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            -558 months ago

            Nope. I didn’t fuck this shit up by not voting, they did it. My one vote is not that powerful! If it was I would still be voting 🤣 Dumbest comments in the thread are the ones that think their votes matter.

            I’ve made absolutely zero difference all the years I’ve voted, so why should I bother anymore? I just don’t care. The US is a car speeding down a road to a destination, who is driving that car doesn’t matter, change it every four or eight years, it makes absolutely no difference, the US will arrive exactly where it’s headed no matter who is in charge or whether I vote or not.

            Plus it’s my vote to do with what I want, I choose to not use it. Give me someone worth voting for and I will show up first, they never will though.

            • @Fades@lemmy.world
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              328 months ago

              You are dead wrong to imply a single vote can not or has not made the difference to win elections. Even if the national isn’t decided by a single vote local votes matter and they are where these razor thin margins are prevalent.

              The only way we will hear the actual voice of the people is if everyone who can speak does so.

              Lastly, what is the harm in voting? It takes very little effort, especially if you are in a mail-in state. It could make some difference, that makes it worth it easy or not

                • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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                  -248 months ago

                  I voted third party or did a write in the last few cycles, people told me I voted for fascism doing that. So how can I win? 🤣

                  • Flying Squid
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                    168 months ago

                    By voting for one of the only two candidates who has a chance of winning, but picking the one who will do the least damage and keep doing that over and over again until you get someone who isn’t terrible.

                    People want change overnight.

              • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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                -198 months ago

                To be fair, in all my responses, I am mostly referring to presidential elections, I’m not arguing that the small local stuff can and does matter, and sometimes those races come down to just a few votes. Ya that’s true.

                Don’t think there’s any harm in it at all, I just don’t care, and if I don’t care I’m not engaged and educated on all the issues, then should I really be voting? Or is better I sit out since I’m not following anything at all and can’t make good informed decisions anymore?

                • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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                  -178 months ago

                  Lots of downvotes 🤣 Confused as to why on this specific comment! I am supposed to make uniformed decisions when I vote? Because your downvotes make it seem like I need to vote whether I’m informed or not, which seems just as silly or dumb as anything else in this thread…

                  • @Carlo@lemmy.ca
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                    98 months ago

                    It’s your responsibility to be informed and to vote. You’re out here saying fuck everybody, I don’t care. Shocking that people are downvoting you.

                  • @Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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                    98 months ago

                    I think it’s because it seems like you’re saying “I’m ignorant, there’s nothing I can do. Woe, is me. Also, I like to be this way and people that aren’t ignorant like me are actually the ones that are ignorant because they think things matter. Except, I’ll admit, somethings actually do really matter, just not the most important things, which as I’ve said and demonstrated I’m very ignorant about.”

            • @EndlessApollo@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              Voting is literally the absolute bare minimum you can do to make sure fascists aren’t in power. I hate democrats as much as the next guy, I just don’t vote for them when they’re not running against literal fascists, but a lot of republicans pretty much are just fascists waiting for the chance to take people’s rights and lock up dissenters and minorities. Keeping them from fucking things up is one of the most important things you can do.

              And think about this: if your vote was meaningless, why would republicans fight tooth and nail to make it harder to vote? Your average American likes republicans a lot less than democrats and would vote for a democrat, especially among less privileged demographics. Republicans have been working for decades to prevent these people from voting, and tried to make it more of a pain in the ass for everyone else, with some voters even going so far as to set up with guns outside polling stations sometimes. Your vote absolutely counts, and the more people realize that the truer it will be.

              If you’re not gonna vote, either do something more useful like protest or do work for your community or don’t complain when republicans win and make your life worse. You can do a mail in ballot or vote early, it takes almost no effort to do. I wouldn’t have voted for biden in 2020 if it weren’t so easy to vote, between covid and how little I like him I was just gonna stay at home.

              I think the only hope for the US and the world to not get completely fucked by war, oppression, and climate change is to vote for democrats, even ones who have done some shitty things, when they run against politicians whose main goal is to bring more war and oppression and climate change. As fucked up as the two party system is, it’s what we’re stuck with for now, and the only two paths towards reforming it are keeping the far right out of office, or a revolution that would kill at least thousands and maybe make things worse. I don’t think things are hopeless enough yet, for the country or the environment, for the latter to be a good idea. That stays the case unless we get 8+ years of DeSantis or Trump or RFK or anyone similarly fashy with republicans in control of everything

              • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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                -118 months ago

                Nope. I haven’t lived in the US for 14 years. I’m not voting. I’m not protesting shit, nobody is listening anyway, why would I bother. No, I’m done. I have a higher quality of life where I live now, I’m just a spectator. The US is in a downward trajectory, my one vote will not change that.

                I did volunteer by the way, I came home to volunteer for Bernie’s campaign both times. It’s not like I didn’t care, I voted nearly 20 years of life that I was able to, it hasn’t meant a damn thing except disappointment. I’m perfectly fine just watching the world burn, my vote can’t stop it. Nothing I do can stop it. I’m just going to chill and enjoy my time, watch show, enjoy the ride.

                If anyone has a time machine and we can go back to before Bernie got robbed, I’ll vote. But not anymore, not a chance. No matter how I use or don’t use my vote, it will be the wrong choice. This is not my fault, I had nothing to do with how we got to now, until not I have always voted, just now now, not anymore. And what did all those votes get me? Jack shit.

                • @Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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                  108 months ago

                  Seriously! I did like 10 jumping jacks once and ate two carrots a couple years ago, and guess what? I still don’t have a six pack. People that work out are just lying to make us feel bad. Don’t fall for it!

                  That said, I live in a different place now where sensible legislation results in me having easier access to better, healthier food. I’ve even been able to replace my commute to work with a bike ride instead of a long drive in a car. I’m so much healthier now thanks to the way the people here vote.

        • @Rusticus@lemmy.world
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          168 months ago

          Then you are letting the people you hate the most win. Don’t let them win. If anything, vote so you can say you didn’t vote for the guy that’s fucking over the world.

          • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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            -148 months ago

            But they all fuck over the world, every vote is the wrong vote when they give you two shit options. Screw that, I’m a spectator now, this shit is burning to the ground, I’m not participating, I’m just watching.

            • @Rusticus@lemmy.world
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              48 months ago

              I can’t criticize you, but you are choosing anarchy. Not sure what your history and upbringing is, but anarchy can be significantly worse than what you have now. If you’re not a white male, there are many places in the world with anarchy where your life is under valued even more than in America.

          • @jo3jo3@lemmy.world
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            -168 months ago

            If anything, vote so you can say you didn’t vote for the guy that’s fucking over the world.

            I’ve tried that too. I still lost, still bummed out, still felt like I made zero difference, still criticized by others even when using my vote so I can say at least I didn’t vote for the guy that’s fucking over the world like you said. For reference, I voted Obama, then Jill Stein, then the last two times I wrote in Bernie. So I did use my votes, and I always got the same response people gave me here, that I was dumb voting third party, or an idiot to waste my vote writing in Bernie. People would tell me a write in or voting third party was essentially a vote for the wrong team. So when I use my vote, it’s wrong, if I don’t use my vote it’s wrong. Now I just don’t want to participate anymore. So maybe “they” win now since I’ve checked out, but is that any different than playing this rigged game my whole life, holding out hope things will change and get better, when in the end, “they” will always win?

          • @Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world
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            138 months ago

            In every voting system, not voting is equivalent to a vote for the worst option.

            That’s how democracy in general works. Even with ranked choice voting, if someone only puts candidate A as their choice because they disagree with everyone else, then their vote doesn’t count if candidate A is eliminated in the first round.

            Not voting at all just lowers the threshold needed to win.

            • @Aceticon@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              I’m sorry, but that’s not even close to how democracy in general works.

              I’ve lived, worked and voted in The Netherlands where vote is proportional and there the “useful vote” (or as it should be better called “negative vote” as people vote against the other candidate rather than for a candidate) does not exist at all.

              I’ve also lived and voted in other coutries of Europe with different systems and the Dutch one is one of the best and that certainly gets reflected in their politics (those of consensus, not partisanship) and outcomes and the only one which is as bad as the US is the British one (in fact, with a Monarch with real power and an unellected 2nd House, it’s probably less democractic than the US system, though at least their uninominal electoral circles aren’t as large as in the US)

              (All those countries were EU countries at the time, hence why I could vote in all of them, though in some only in Local Elections and for the EU Parliament)

              The US is a not a Democracy, it’s this wierd Power Duopoly system with a near-symbolic vote sitting between a Power Monopoly (i.e. Dictatorship) and real Democracy.

              Do not confuse your ignorance when it comes to voting systems with what is maybe one of the most visible effects of anti-democratic voting systems being “how democracy in general works”. Not! Even! Close!

                • @Aceticon@lemmy.world
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                  8 months ago

                  That’s quite the pure animalistic lashback.

                  Your words: “In every voting system a non vote is a vote for the worst option”

                  So I just pointed you out voting systems were that’s not the case.

                  That emotional reaction at me pointing that out and that the American voting system (clearly all that you know) is particularly anti-democratic even amongst flawed voting systems is a pretty good indication of somebody either whose identity is entwided with a nation which they must believe is superior to see themselves as inherently superior or being one of those wankers who firmly believes he’s always right with no requirement for proof and whilst being incapable of taking in criticism to such a level it’s an actual diagnosable mental disease, hence my criticism of the nation and that proven wrong unsupported belief resulting in such emotional pain and rage.

                  Normal, healthy and non-brainwashed individuals don’t react like that.

                  That’s some seriously fucked up psychological shit ridding you that I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemy.

          • @umbrella@lemmy.ml
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            98 months ago

            because this system wont bring what people actually want/need.

            motherfuckers will have to actually get up and fight for it to be changed for the better.

          • @Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world
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            08 months ago

            Young people don’t fucking vote. It doesn’t really matter what they want.

            Biden wasn’t shoved down anyone’s throat. Everywhere that mattered in the primaries had single digit turnout for 18-29 year olds.

            • Every year that goes by more and more of them vote. Kids turning 18 today are fired up to vote.

              I’d also like to see the voting age lowered to 16. Even 16 year olds know you don’t take babies from their mother’s arms and lock kids in cages.

              • @PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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                28 months ago

                Personally I actually think it should be tied to the working age, and for all schools (but especially highschools) to be made into voting centers.

            • Blackout
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              68 months ago

              The youth thinks voting in a presidential election is all they need to do to make change. That is the bare minimum. You need to vote in every election, small ones that happen locally, every rep and Senate one. You also need to encourage other youths in strong conservative areas to move the needle to more liberal, progressive views. Then you need to get active and show the people running that there is a strong unified voice that demands these changes. But there is tic Tok and I’m pretty tired, cants someone else go and do it?

        • NoneOfUrBusiness
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          -58 months ago

          I’m not saying they shouldn’t vote. I’m saying that’s what will happen if Biden doesn’t intervene in Gaza, or at least stop supporting Israel.

    • @quicksand@lemm.ee
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      138 months ago

      I’m sure they don’t, but they’re saying Biden’s decisions will make them not vote for him

    • @assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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      138 months ago

      And not voting is just selfish. Trump’s policies would kill more Palestinians, and we’d go decades back on climate change. The purity of one’s ideals isn’t worth more than that.

        • @assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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          38 months ago

          No but I think it would be consolation to the children who are alive but would be torn apart by direct American artillery under Trump.

          I have no love for Israel. Sorry to break it to you, but people who disagree with you on something aren’t automatically devout supporters of the IDF. Someone can be “on your side” and still disagree with you because you’re an asshole.

          Also you’re literally opposing the choice that leads to fewer Palestinians dying.

    • RubberStuntBaby
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      78 months ago

      If Gaza is your single issue in '24 there’s NOBODY to vote for.

      There’s definitely someone to vote against, though.

      • NoneOfUrBusiness
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        58 months ago

        It also was successful (unfortunately not always) in persuading Israel into some relief to civilians.

        I mean the US is giving so much to Israel that they shouldn’t be persuading, they should be demanding it. Even Reagan did it.