The discourse on American politics sometimes devolves to “Leftists who won’t vote” & “MAGA Republicans” teaming up to “getting revenge on liberals”.

  • Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    Okay then vote against genocide.

    Donald Trump is Genocide at home and abroad.

    Joe Biden is “only” Genocide abroad, and probably less of it.

    Therefore, a vote for Joe Biden is a Vote against genocide.

    No, it doesn’t matter that he’s an active participant in the apparatus that’s creating the genocide, because if he’s in office there’s less genocide. Which is the important part, and pretending otherwise is sophistry. By abstaining from voting, you are increasing the likelihood of more genocide, if you discourage others from voting, you are an active participant in the overall social apparatus that is probabilistically increasing the ammount of genocide.

    The utility calculation is dead simple: more votes for Biden in key states makes more genocide less likely, and discouraging people from voting for Biden makes more genocide more likely. Therefore, discouraging people from voting for Biden is a pro-genocide strategy and voting for Biden in battleground states is an anti-genocide strategy. I live in a solid blue state, so I reserve the right to vote third party, but I will also encourage other people to vote for Biden.

    You should vote for Biden unless you live in a solid blue state, and even then it’s not a bad idea.

    • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
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      8 months ago

      Okay then vote against genocide.

      Okay, then put it on the ballot.

      Therefore, a vote for Joe Biden is a Vote against genocide.

      No, it doesn’t matter that he’s an active participant in the apparatus that’s creating the genocide

      On the contrary, I think it matters very much.

      By abstaining from voting, you are increasing the likelihood of more genocide, if you discourage others from voting, you are an active participant in the overall social apparatus that is probabilistically increasing the ammount of genocide.

      By voting, you are prolonging the existence of the United States and guaranteeing that the genocides it supports will continue. You have made yourself an active participant in reifying the implied consent of the governed that entitles the government to act on your behalf, and with your consent it will continue to ship weapons to apartheid regimes.

      The utility calculation is dead simple: more votes for Biden in key states makes the governments’ dealings with the Israel appear legitimate and discourages people from taking meaningful action which might alter that relationship. Therefore, discouraging people from voting is an anti-genocide strategy.

      • Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 months ago

        By voting, you are prolonging the existence of the United States

        Sophistry. Half the U.S. doesn’t vote in elections, and they’re still a global super power. Whoever told you that is an idiot.

        makes the governments’ dealings with the Israel appear legitimate

        More sophistry. The government’s legitimacy isn’t brought into question by a lack of votes; your actions are no different from someone who is simply politically disengaged and apathetic.

        Keeping quiet isn’t an effective component of destroying the United States. Engaging in this argument the way that you are is a pro-genocide strategy because you are increasing the probability of more genocide.

        • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
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          8 months ago

          Half the U.S. doesn’t vote in elections, and they’re still a global super power.

          You admit that half of the country is already on my side and still call it sophistry?

          The government’s legitimacy isn’t brought into question by a lack of votes

          That’s because our government isn’t democratic. It only pretends to be so that the citizenry doesn’t depose it.

          Keeping quiet isn’t an effective component of destroying the United States.

          Hence, this discussion.

          Engaging in this argument the way that you are is a pro-genocide strategy because you are increasing the probability of more genocide.

          As opposed to engaging in this argument in the way that you are, begging me to vote for more genocide because you’re afraid the wrong half of our two-faced, one-party government would be put in charge of it.

              • Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                8 months ago

                I love happy roadkill, and I’m familiar with this comic. I’d have gone with the one where the elephant is reaching down the donkey’s pants, though; it gets your message across more poignantly.

                The the two parties form a bulwark against mainstream progressive political action. This is an inarguable fact, and if the option were between the DNC and green party, I’d vote green. The GOP is currently in a state of extreme disunity; it’s in a condition strikingly similar to the whigs prior to their dissolution and so losing Texas will likely cause the party to fracture as well as giving Biden a guaranteed victory. Once the GOP is made irrelevant, a left-wing electoral movement may be able (with the help of non-electoral leftist activitists) to form a genuine left-wing party, which will make direct action easier and our ultimate victory just that much closer and more likely.

                • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
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                  8 months ago

                  I love happy roadkill

                  I was looking for a more apropos non-HappyRoadkill one, “They say the next one will be sent by a woman.” “Really makes you feel like a part of history” as the drone drops bombs over them. But it must be buried deep in my image collection.

                  Once the GOP is made irrelevant, a left-wing electoral movement may be able (with the help of non-electoral leftist activitists) to form a genuine left-wing party, which will make direct action easier and our ultimate victory just that much closer and more likely.

                  I’d certainly hope so, but the more realistic assessment is a split among the Democrats. Half of them will want to keep their current rightward drift in hopes of attracting ex-Republican voters, the other half will break off towards centrism, maybe social democracy if we’re really lucky.

                  • Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    8 months ago

                    I’ll admit that I hadn’t considered the possibility of the democratic party fracturing. I disagree that it’s more likely; the democrats are expecting defeat, don’t seem to be as fed up with each other, and I think a victory is likely to strengthen the party rather than strain it. However, it definitely bears consideration and I’ll try to figure out likely scenarios with the assumption that it does occur. Thank you for bringing the possibility to my attention.