2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: What exactly will not voting for the nominee accomplish? [View all]artislife
(9,497 posts)My state sends me a ballot each and every time along with a voter's pamphlet. It is so easy to sit and study the measurements, look up bios on judges and read about the candidates. It is a shame that every voter in every state doesn't have such an easy time voting.
NCtraveler said it was basically like White privilege to sit out the vote if unhappy with the candidates. Not each voter, but generally those who do not vote are of this class. And this poster is not the only one to post this viewpoint and I understand it.
Going back to my ballot, sometimes there is no information on candidates for some job at the Port or where ever. I used to just pick one based on name or intuition or closing my eyes and putting my finger down. About 7 or so elections ago, I thought about that. It was silly. So from then on, if I didn't know or saw no difference, I didn't mark that part of the ballot
Getting to White privilege or being unaffected by who is in office, I will state that I am a Latina Xer. I have no husband, no family wealth, run a business that keeps me fed and housed but not much else and I am empathetic to all who suffer.
We all have issues that are important to us. Scotus, women's rights, civil rights, income equality, ERA, food, climate, national security, veterans affairs, children, animals....you get my drift.
What happens is that we see the opponents as not being interested in our issue and we use that issue to instill fear if our candidate does not get elected. When the supporters do not "care enough" about our issue, we see them as selfish, greedy and privileged because they are not affected by our issue.
My issue? First-the health of the planet.
I think we have run elections, the government and this country in short term goals. We have done nothing that affects the land in terms of long term care. We have a crumbling infrastructure, contaminated ground water, poisonous food supply, a policing department that is geared to squelching the people instead of serving the people, wars against each new mushroom of terror that pops up around the world.
The issue is that this election is people looking at 8 years ahead or people looking at 100 years ahead.
Short term, any dem will do. It will help keep the crisis of electing a new Scotus member, keep Roe v Wade intact, maybe get some criminal justice for the genocide of the African American community and maybe get a few more dems elected down ticket.
Long term, one will do. There needs to be an incredible shift in the this country to actually challenge the structures in place in our energy platforms, our economic platforms, bio diversity, policing, foreign policy, education, civil rights, immigration due to war, climate change and the natural patterns of movement.
So when we are arguing with each other about this election and why we think one side is greedy and selfish and the other side is myopic and simplistic, we have to ask ourselves if we are 8 years ahead or 100 years ahead people. And remember that there is merit and shittiness to both visions.