memes

I see the campaign to suppress Democrat voter turnout has started.

"first past the post" voting always devolves to a two party system. The founding fathers knew this and warned against it. Until we get ranked choice, or something similar, we're stuck.

This is dumb as shit. Democrats aren't perfect but they do care. That is why they actively took steps to stop people from dying during COVID unlike the GOP. That's why they support universal healthcare, unlike the GOP. That's why they support public education unlike the GOP. That is why they support free and fair elections unlike the GOP.

Don't 'both sides' this one. The rule is and has always been:

• vote for the option that will help us be healthier, happier, and do our part
• repeat

The two options aren't even comparable anyway. It's like comparing the Flu to Covid.

BoTh siDeS tHo….

Here are some cold hard Ameri-facts for you:

• Having 2 dominant political parties is a reflection of how our political systems have been designed at almost every level (federal, state, local). American politics is very much based on first-past-the-post, winner-takes-all elections. These kinds of election systems are terrible for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the very real problem of vote splitting and the spoiler effect--leading to "third parties" which are almost all unserious, nonviable, and potentially backed by people with ulterior motives. The vast majority of the time, voting for a third party candidate in America is simply throwing your vote away and is effectively the same as not voting. (Even as a "protest", it's not a very good one, because it's never clear what can be interpreted from why people vote the way they do.)

The solution to this problem is changing how we run elections so that the most popular candidates are more likely to win, and so that people's individual votes are less likely to become nullified in various ways (like by voting for a statistically nonviable candidate, for one). I like Ranked Choice Voting and STAR voting, but just about anything is better than the way that most American elections currently work.

• Even in a hypothetical future where we have 10 viable parties (and more democratic voting systems), no political party is going to "give a fuck about you" as an individual. Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, Vegetarians, Librarians, and whatever other parties spring up. The truth is, they all only give a fuck about getting your vote, so that they can get in a position of political power to do the things that they and their influential backers want (all the while reaping the benefits of doing so). There is no political party on Earth that is in it for the benefit of all of mankind--they all have some kind of agenda and ideology that they want to put in place.

In that way American politics is like a tug of war, we current have 2 viable parties, one pulling the rope to the left and another pulling the rope to the right. You can spend as much time as you want lamenting where the rope currently is compared to where you would like it to be. But if you want the rope to move left, it makes sense to join the left side. And if you want the rope to move right, it makes sense to join the right side. Sitting out just makes it easier for the "other side" to make "progress". Having more parties doesn't really change that, it just turns a 1-dimensional battle into an n-dimensional battle.

The biggest benefit that comes from having multiple (viable) political parties is increased competition of ideas. But again, America truly require huge systemic changes to how we run elections to make that a reality.

I'm going to be voting for the party that more closely aligns with the direction that I want the country to move in. It's the only smart move in the game of American politics.

The Constitution was literally the best a bunch of doped-up, syphilitic slaveholders could come up with to replace the divine right of kings. They even had a first try with the Articles of Confederation and fucked that up.

We really need to stop teaching kids that a system of government written by people who used leeches to cure hysteria is the greatest thing ever created.

But only one of those 2 parties actively wants to remove rights from the average citizen and give tax cuts to the wealthiest.

Because:

A: the system is able to elect candidates who win despite only getting a minority of the vote. This problem becomes worse the more parties participate.

B: in order to maximise the chance of an acceptable compromise taking office, very fringe groups must vote for a very mainstream party. Usually that leaves only two parties that make sense.

C: as these parties become the political space, voting for a specific interest can erode support for the nearest main party, guaranteeing a victory for the other main party.

Bonus: D: growing comfortable with their voter base, it is in parties' interest to grow more radical.

In fact, without McCarthy and the Red Scare, I would find it strange that the American political scene has developed a nationalist "Republican" party and a moderately conservative "Democrat" party. Many more sane parliaments and governments develop their left to be a socialist or labour party.

While I completely agree the issue is one party is completely playing in bad faith. I'm not says the Democrats are perfect and there is a fair amount of bad apples but Republican are complete taken over by bad actors that have no one interests but themselves and those that in rich them. At this time voting 3rd party wouldn't help, it would just make sure the Republican most likely trump will win.

Because the rich have spent 2 centuries entrenching themselves in power, and literally everyone else won't do a thing about it.

We're all so apathetic that the impending collapse of our ecosystem is viewed with a shrug. When it should be met with torches and pitchforks in the street, and Madame Guillotine for the rich and powerful.

Nobody gives a shit because they're all waiting for someone else to do something.

Imho the two party system is just a way to manipulate people and then put them against each other. Treating life like it's black or white like you either are an ally or a lifelong enemy that must be vanquished.

As far as I'm concerned the only point of modern politics is to keep people under control by giving them a false choice and a common enemy in their neighbor

Let's have a no party system like George Washington advised.