To Those 400,000 Climate Change Marchers: Here is how to Make an Even Bigger Impact. VOTE.

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/to-those-400000-climate-change-marchers-here-is-how-to-make-an-even-bigger-impact-vote/

The march was impressive by any objective measure: people across the world held similar events, but none approached the size or intensity of the NYC protest. The media kinda-sorta reported on it in a desultory manner (if at all), as usually happens when Lefties do something significant (but let one Teabagger hold up a misspelled sign and it’s “breaking news” for days). So the questions of “what good did it do?” and “what next?” are very important today.

Sadly, because of the Infotainment industry’s biases and the general lack of mainstream political support for the climate change movement, the march itself may or may not have much of an impact at all. If it didn’t make a big impression on the nation, it won’t result in pressure on the politicos. And pressure on politicos was the point of the exercise.

This makes “what next?” an even bigger and better question. And the answer is plain and simple: VOTE. Vote at every election, on every race, every issue, every time.

Voting can make changes that the biggest marches cannot, the more so since politicians assume that you won’t do it. They ignore the electorate and focus on the big-money types who bribe our “public servants”: those bribing bastards ALWAYS participate in politics, because they know it is important.

If those 400,000 marchers would all show up at the polls, the outcome of any number of races in the 2014 election would be changed for the better. Deniers would lose and reality-based candidates would win. Legislation would be written to change the way we pollute.

Marches and civil disobedience are powerful tools to help effect change. But unless we take that same spirit and work ethic to the polls as well, nothing will change. Only when politicos are afraid of being voted out of office will they respond to the will of the people.

March. Then vote. But if you can only do one of the two, vote.

[Orsino]

1. To those NOT among the 400,000 marchers, you mean.

There are a lot more of us, and we may not be quite as motivated.

[riqster]

4. Us, too.

Coronary limitations preclude me marching very far. But I am motivated to vote.

Not all the marchers are voting: in fact, I wrote the OP after speaking to several marchers who pooh-poohed the idea of voting.

No doubt many of the marchers will already vote. Many non-marchers will vote. But not all of those in either category are going to vote as of now, so the message needs to be sent.

[pinto]

2. +1

Carry that commitment and passion to the polls. Locally, statewide and federal.

GOTV

[riqster]

6. Just so. Thanks.

[MineralMan]

3. Voting is the final variable in the equation.

Those who vote end up making the decisions about who represents them. Often, the choices aren't great, but there's always one who will represent you better than the other. The candidate who will vote on legislation the way you would even just 50% of the time is a far better choice than the one who will never vote as you would.

The candidate who will vote with you 90% of the time is great, but to do that, that candidate has to get elected. If that's clearly not going to happen and you vote for a certain loser, you'll probably get the candidate who won't represent your views at all. Voting, in most races, is a binary choice. One of two candidates will win. Make your choice wisely, and bring others to the polls with you.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[riqster]

5. Very true. Voting is the essential ingredient, the catalyst.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Ah I was waiting for anyone to step with the dismissal of direct action.

Thanks.

[riqster]

10. Dismissal? Nope. I praised the marchers.

And urged that they vote as well. Because voting is not as easily suppressed by media coverage.

[leftstreet]

13. +1

Took longer than usual though

[Eleanors38]

8. Don't you think most of them will? Not mutually exclusive.

[riqster]

11. Not all will. Some friends who marched told me they won't.

I'd assume others are of like mind.

[Eleanors38]

22. Most?

[riqster]

32. A literal handful of votes flipped Ohio from purple to red.

Most, schmost: we need everybody to vote if we are to use the power of our numbers against the wealth and corruption of the Teapubbies.

[Autumn]

9. It's been my experience that anyone who pays attention enough to march on the streets

votes.

[riqster]

12. Some of my acquaintances are anti-voting. They do nothing but direct action.

Disillusioned to the extent that they don't use all of tools the Constitution gives them.

I would like to think that most marchers vote. But since I know some who don't, I wrote the OP.

[Autumn]

15. If they are that disillusioned why go to all the trouble of marching if they are too stupid

to vote? A social thing? Just stupid, protesting is great but voting is the only thing that works, any person should know that.

If your friends don't vote they are doing nothing. They are taking no direct action, they are wasting their time.

[riqster]

17. Their viewpoint is that the system is hopelessly corrupt, and participation is collaboration.

I try my best to get them to use their right to vote, just like I do any disengaged person. But it can be frustrating.

[Eleanors38]

23. If 1/2 the marchers did nothing but "direct action,"

we would have a f-----g revolution.

[riqster]

24. Yes. And fuck revolutions. They are hardest on the weakest and most powerless among us.

Those who willingly choose revolution are the most vile and inhumane among us.

If we have a choice, we should never choose revolution: instead we should use the tools we have. Like, you know, voting.

[Eleanors38]

30. Most don't choose revolution.

[classykaren]

14. I just wrote to CNN everyone should.

[riqster]

19. Agreed. Honest coverage would help a lot, too.

[redruddyred]

16. but my vote doesn't count.

: :
been helping out team D for election season and am a little annoyed to run into people who don't even know who's on the ticket.

[riqster]

18. Oh yeah. Fortunately, frustration energizes me.

I got LOTS AND LOTS of energy for GOTV this year!

[redruddyred]

20. glad you're on our side.

[riqster]

21. Back atcha.

[LeftyMom]

25. Oooh, a scolding.

From people who love any Clean Coal/Pipeline/Fracking/Oil dickcheese with a D after his name and who dismiss anybody else as unserious or disloyal.

How persuasive.

[riqster]

38. Saying "Good on you for marching, but the Kleptocracy muted your voice, so go vote, too" is a scold?

No, it is nothing of the sort.

[Recursion]

26. Better yet: move to a red district, and then vote (nt)

[riqster]

33. Already did so. nt

[oldandhappy]

27. Your comment made me wish we'd had a table to register voters at our local march.

There will be other local actions and registering voters will be on the agenda, thanks.

[riqster]

34. Good on you!

[whatchamacallit]

28. Lol, who's the savior climate crusader who's gonna fix it if we "just vote"?

[riqster]

35. If you don't vote against the Repubs, they will win.

And they are quite the opposite of saviors.

[TransitJohn]

39. LOL

.

[riqster]

40. Such a persuasive rebuttal. I am awestruck, I tell you, awestruck!

[TransitJohn]

29. For who? The pro oil Democratic Party?

[riqster]

36. Some Dems meet that description. Not all.

[Cha]

31. Mahalo riqster!

[riqster]

37. Back atcha Cha!