I have zero faith in the looming election

[live love laugh]

Last edited Wed Mar 4, 2020, 04:54 PM - Edit history (1)

The entire primary process has been manipulated by the right wing—from the too-early candidate declarations more than a year ahead of the actual election; to the pitted debates; to the caucus tampering and now to the inevitable vote suppression. The massive turnout—of many voters Super Tuesday was thwarted by making poll equipment unavailable.

How and why people continue to overlook the obstacles to simply voting is beyond me. Nothing is more important—not Trump’s next fiasco, or even the 400 bills on McConnells desk.

From 2000 to now we’ve been shocked by vote tampering and suppression; wept at fixed election outcomes only to turn our sights to the next rigged election.

Insanity still means doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

[blogslut]

1. I'm still voting

[live love laugh]

6. So will I. I just wish I could be more confident in the integrity.

Time is not on our side.

[lunatica]

2. You're assuming Democrats are doing absolutely nothing to mitigate this

That’s too bad, because you’re wrong.

[live love laugh]

8. I am aware of some efforts and even of the court

cases in a few states. I’ve contributed $$ to the cause as well.

[maxsolomon]

3. 2018 is precedent.

No one is LESS pissed at President Sociopath now. I've never been angrier in my life. I'd vote for a Yellow Dog with a D after it's name, but that's all I've ever done.

the key will be GOTV.

[stillcool]

5. it's too bad that people....

care more about one person getting elected, than about how their own frigging states are run. Why is that? Where was the vote 'thwarted'? California? Did the wrong person win?

[gratuitous]

7. Thank you for your concern

Do you mind if the rest of us go through the motions, or are you going to stand in the way and scold us?

[ibegurpard]

12. exactly

what's the point of stuff like this? I think we're all aware of voter suppression tactics. Is the solution to give up and not vote because they're not going to let us? That seems to be the point of commentary like this and it pisses me off.

[live love laugh]

14. The point of my commentary is to voice my frustration

about the situation. I’m absolutely not advocating giving up. I plan to do all I can. I just don’t see much of an effort to change things so that the will of the people is reflected at the polls.

[Brainfodder]

9. I'm not sure blob will suvive to November?

The closed eyes, the nasal breathing strips, some virus the media won't cover....

OK, that last one is a trump.

trump = to lie when it is not necessary.

Good luck, we are in this together.

[live love laugh]

11. 👍🏾

[randr]

10. Are you saying many young people walked away

because they could not wait? Where is the proof? So far I have only seen reporting of lines in Latino districts in L.A. and Texas. All reporting said these people waited it out and subsequently voted.
You may want to check your facts and make sure you are not a victim of right wing nonsense.

[live love laugh]

16. I understand the suspicion that my intent is to discourage voters.

That’s not the case. I’m just posting what I see and hoping for some miracle I guess—to fix it all.

[randr]

19. The way things are set up leads to suspicion

Imagine if we trusted our election system as much as our accounting systems.
Imagine the chaos if a large percentage of people showed up to vote.
I have had these and more questions all my long life. In the end, I have always held faith that the votes of those who bothered to show up were accurately counted and we move on.
Could the system be better? Of course!
Until enough people elect enough reps to change things they will stay the same.

[Nature Man]

20. if they could vote through social media

we'd probably have a different situation altogether

[randr]

22. There should be a method of voting that is as easy and accoutable as spending money

Maybe Bloomberg could invent one that works. The system he made his fortune on is not so different from what is needed.

[pat_k]

13. I share your frustration with our failure to address voter suppression

Last edited Thu Mar 5, 2020, 04:13 AM - Edit history (2)

Lines are the new poll tax. I think they may exact an even steeper "price" and barrier to voting.

You might like this old 2016 post of mine

LINES need to = FINES for SOS/County

Nobody seems to have done any sort of real study, but it wouldn't surprise me if at least 1 in 10 voters who shows up to vote and is confronted with a very long line just leaves without voting.

It really upsets me when I see others condemning people who are unwilling or unable to wait. It's not a lack of dedication. No one should have to choose between getting to work on time and voting, or picking up children and voting, or getting out to socialize, or writing a paper, or getting enough sleep, or whatever. There should be NO barriers to casting a vote. None! When there are barriers, the election is neither free or fair.

[live love laugh]

15. Excellent article--and that was from 2017. nt

[Hortensis]

17. You're far more aware than most, but what do you imagine

doing instead of the "insanity" of fighting to uphold our democracy by insisting on elections? Read about how to survive in an authoritarian state, learn to cut down old clothes and shop at black markets, try to erase amap of our internet identity, accept increasingly third-world healthcare as the norm, and practice looking down whenever a cop drives by?

We're a majority (!), but voter weakness and fecklessness brought us again to this point.

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Our job is to fight our conviction, rediscovering it if it's lost. Our grandparents did. No reason we each can't also except our own weakness.

[kskiska]

18. I was heartened by the use of paper ballots

when I voted Saturday in South Carolina, though there are so many other ways for them to cheat.

[clementine613]

21. Are you sure there will even BE an election in November?

It's not too late for Trump to cancel it.

[NurseJackie]

23. Soooo... we should just stay home? Giving up?

Insanity still means doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Stop it.