You choose, even when you don't vote
You choose, even when you don't vote
https://midwest.social/post/18536008
Edit of yesterday's meme with accounted for non-voters
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In one image, show us you don't understand the philosophical problem.
When people are insisting that "Doing nothing is choosing NEITHER track!", sometimes a less subtle approach is needed.
The meme is implying complicity with genocide is unavoidable and I hope one day you will see the consequences of your action.
Meh. Voting dems is doing effectively nothing. People have been voting for them for decades and you still ended up supporting genocide and one step away from fascism. Do literally anything else instead which is not begging politicians or rich people in one way or another.
Meh. Voting dems is doing effectively nothing. People have been voting for them for decades and you still ended up supporting genocide and one step away from fascism.
Oh, okay, so let's just let that last step happen. It's effectively nothing, right?
Do literally anything else instead which is not begging politicians or rich people in one way or another.
You do realize that 'anything else instead' will be harder under a fascist regime, right?
Even if you think this is nothing but buying time, buy it. Hastening the arrival of fascism isn't exactly good praxis.
Oh, okay, so let’s just let that last step happen. It’s effectively nothing, right?
You just voting is not preventing the last step happen is my point.
You do realize that ‘anything else instead’ will be harder under a fascist regime, right?
If people put all the effort you put into thinking and talking about voting to doing direct action, it will probably be better. But most voters will go "oh well, we tried" and let fascists do fascist things which is the exact things that has been happening for the past 50 years, which is why you're at the point of voting for a fascist & genocide or just voting for genocide.
Even if you think this is nothing but buying time, buy it. Hastening the arrival of fascism isn’t exactly good praxis.
Just Buying time is only effective is you actually do something with the time you buy. Do I need to mention you've been "buying time" since Reagan and yet you're still at fascism and genocide? I'm not saying to hasten fascism. I said put all the effort you put into voting into doing direct action, which is the only thing actually stopping fascism. The figurehead above doesn't matter.
You just voting is not preventing the last step happen is my point.
It quite literally is, unless you think there's no difference between who wins in this election, in which case I would prefer you say it and save us all the time.
Preventing something from happening in an immediate sense is still preventing it from happening, even if it doesn't solve the long-term problems leading to it. Patching up a hole in one's gut may not solve the autoimmune disorder that's killing you, but it'll prevent you from dying in a more immediate sense.
If people put all the effort you put into thinking and talking about voting to doing direct action, it will probably be better.
... all the effort we put into thinking and talking about voting?
Most people in this country don't even bother to vote regularly. Those that do often put no more effort into their vote than a day at the polling station based on a few caught glimpses of the political realities of this country.
What level of effort is that going to translate into direct action? You're looking at people entered into a 100-meter sprint, nearly half of whom decided to drop out before even beginning, with many of those who've finished are bitching about how long it was, and saying "If they put that effort into an ultramarathon, THEN we would really be getting somewhere!"
But most voters will go “oh well, we tried” and let fascists do fascist things which is the exact things that has been happening for the past 50 years, which is why you’re at the point of voting for a fascist & genocide or just voting for genocide.
Is it your opinion that we are more fascist now than we were 50 years ago, then? Or 100 years ago?
Just Buying time is only effective is you actually do something with the time you buy.
Buying time give the potential to do something with the time bought. Not buying time doesn't magic into existence extra options; not buying time only reduces your options.
I’m not saying to hasten fascism.
Really? Because I would think that a literal fascist and his cronies being put into executive power might hasten fascism a tiny bit.
I said put all the effort you put into voting into doing direct action, which is the only thing actually stopping fascism. The figurehead above doesn’t matter.
So you do think that there's no difference in who wins the election, and this whole conversation is pointless?
Genuinely curious, because I see you using this narrative a lot. What are you planning to do after the election to end the genocide? You seem to balk at direct action and talk a lot about voting which is fine, but voting takes 5 minutes and we watched Kamala backtrack on all of her progressive policies and muzzled Walz' progressive nature. What are you going to do after the election?
As mentioned, I'm not even whole enough to walk more than a few blocks, and I live self-employed and under the poverty line. All I can do is donate when I can and speak to those close to me. I write my reps, but that's pretty in-line with representative democracy, and I get the feeling that you're looking for non-voting action outside of the norm. I've notably reddened my social circle, but that's all I can claim.
I miss being able to march. But I have neither the physical nor emotional fortitude for that anymore.
You seem to balk at direct action
I don't balk at direct action. I decry the idea that it's a replacement for voting. Direct action is important. Voting in certain elections is, likewise, important. Dedication to direct action does not and should not preclude taking one day out of the year, or less if you live in a state with good mail-in voting laws, for harm reduction, especially when that harm is at an exceptionally bad precipice point. Nor does voting preclude direct action.
We've gone back and forth with each other in the past about voting, but I understand why it's so prominent for you now. I'm of the belief that it's the easiest and least effective method of change, so it's been frustrating to seemingly see no real plan to put on the pressure folks are telling us to wait for.
It is the easiest and least effective, on its own. But its the least effective in large part because it is an action taken only one or two days out of the year. Each of those days are a significant junction from which massive changes are possibly. Often bad ones, which is why it's all the more important to use those one or two days.
Direct action is food and water, but voting is medicine. Medicine won't save you without direct action, but refusing medicine when ill will ensure that direct action does that much less in keeping you alive. Or ensure that the problem kills you outright before you can get your body the necessary nutrition to sustain itself.
Are US troops involved there? Because one candidate clearly says that Biden is not doing enough to help Israel.
Israel currently is led by a similar fascist with criminal record to trump, that once he loses his power he will go to jail. He is using attack on October 7 as an excuse to get rid of Palestine.
And we have seen that no one can really stop Israel. Do you think Biden wouldn't prefer that the conflict would be over (and Israel wouldn't be stirring new shit) and not distract from the war in Ukraine?
It's clear that Netanyahu won't stop what he is doing no matter what and actually wants trump to win as trump promises to help.
Are US troops involved there?
Yes. Biden officially sent 100 troops to Israel a few weeks ago.
I'm looking ahead, beyond the election. Don't start lecturing me about this shit, because I've heard it a million times. Biden is doing less than Reagan did towards Israel.
100 troops? That many? Why didn't the whole Middle East surrendered already?
But seriously, this was response to Iran's attack and the soldiers are there to operate THAAD batteries to stop Iranian rockets (you know, to discourage Iran from firing at them in the first place to reduce chance of escalation).
I was asking how many US soldiers are actually taking part in the offensive in Gaza.
It quite literally is, unless you think there’s no difference between who wins in this election, in which case I would prefer you say it and save us all the time.
Ultimately, there's no difference who wins this election. You are still going inexorably to move towards fascism and genocide, as we've seen in all the past elections.
Preventing something from happening in an immediate sense is still preventing it from happening,
You're not. You're just adding stab wounds instead of bullet wounds and say "well, better than bullets at least."
… all the effort we put into thinking and talking about voting?
If all the dedicated people doing all the voting prep work did the direct action work, it would have improved people's lives and you would have converted them to direct action as well. but since voting doesn't do shit, nobody gives a shit.
Is it your opinion that we are more fascist now than we were 50 years ago, then? Or 100 years ago?
More. In fact, I think you're one step before civil war and I doubt you will avoid it through any amount of voting.
Buying time give the potential to do something with the time bought. Not buying time doesn’t magic into existence extra options; not buying time only reduces your options.
You won't though, because your praxis is conditioning people to think voting is the only thing that matters, since everyone is putting so much effort all the time convincing people how important it is to vote for the next thing that's just around the corner. You don't buy time. You just hasten fascism by not doing direct action and by putting all your energy into talking about how important voting is and begging politicians with letters.
So you do think that there’s no difference in who wins the election, and this whole conversation is pointless?
Ultimately there's no difference for your society no. You'll still move towards fascism and continue the genocide.
Ultimately, there’s no difference who wins this election.
Oh, cool, I'll remember this if Trump wins and we're in line for the camps together. "Ha ha, this is just like it was in the good old days, under those damn Democrats, right?"
You’re not. You’re just adding stab wounds instead of bullet wounds and say “well, better than bullets at least.”
Okay. Let's go with that analogy. With the choice of a stab wound or a .50 cal through the chest, which is preferable? Which will give you more time to deal with the problem?
More. In fact, I think you’re one step before civil war and I doubt you will avoid it through any amount of voting.
You think... the US... is more fascist now than it was in the 70s. Or the 50s. Or the 30s. Or the 10s.
Check, please!
Oh, cool, I’ll remember this if Trump wins and we’re in line for the camps together.
You should probably resist that with something direct. Maybe some action.
Okay. Let’s go with that analogy. With the choice of a stab wound or a .50 cal through the chest, which is preferable? Which will give you more time to deal with the problem?
None so long as you keep giving thumbs up for the guy stabbing you because they're not using a .50 cal.
You think… the US… is more fascist now than it was in the 70s. Or the 50s. Or the 30s. Or the 10s.
Ye. They were bigoted as fuck, sure. But they were not actively, blatantly as fascist as they are now.
You should probably resist that…
My guy, I'm a fucking near-sighted cripple with a history of depression and suicide attempts. I'm not going to overwhelm any government goons with my elite hand-to-hand skills, trusting me with a gun in the long term will likely end up with my own brains splattered on the walls, and I'm not going to outshoot anyone when I'm recruited for the anarchist militia.
Have you considered maybe that NOT letting the state fall to the point where it's erecting death camps might be a good idea?
None so long as you keep giving thumbs up for the guy stabbing you because they’re not using a .50 cal.
So which kills you faster? Being stabbed repeatedly, or being shot with a .50 cal repeatedly?
You're continuously avoiding this because you know damn well that "Killing yourself faster" IS less desirable than "Killing yourself slower", even using the assumptions in your own argument.
Ye. They were bigoted as fuck, sure. But they were not actively, blatantly as fascist as they are now.
Holy fuck. Jesus H. Christ. Do you have any idea just how much more authoritarian the US was in years past!?
My guy, I’m a fucking near-sighted cripple with a history of depression and suicide attempts. I’m not going to overwhelm any government goons with my elite hand-to-hand skills, trusting me with a gun in the long term will likely end up with my own brains splattered on the walls, and I’m not going to outshoot anyone when I’m recruited for the anarchist militia.
There's plenty of things to do that is not about fighting government goons. Direct action doesn't mean "take a rifle and fight". It means supporting your fellow humans directly, instead of sending politicians letters and hoping they will actually listen to you.
If you wait until you're led to the camps to start thinking about doing anything other than voting, then it's (probably) too late.
Have you considered maybe that NOT letting the state fall to the point where it’s erecting death camps might be a good idea?
The only thing that will prevent that is knowing people will actively resist that.
4 years ago you might have argued with me instead: "Have you considered maybe that NOT letting the state fall to the point where it’s conducting genocide might be a good idea?"
And it would have sounded just as convincing. You can always think of the next worst thing though once fascism is there. Maybe in 4 years you'll be telling me that I should vote for trans-genocide so that LGB can at least survive. Who knows...
You’re continuously avoiding this because you know damn well that “Killing yourself faster” IS less desirable than “Killing yourself slower”, even using the assumptions in your own argument.
Not at all. I keep telling you that you need to fight to not get stabbed or shot and you keep going "But if I don't choose the knife, they might pull out a gun." Instead of asking yourself "why the fuck am I ever bothering to consider whether a knife or gun is faster at killing me instead of trying to stop the killer". Voting for the tools of your destruction is you accepting that your killer has your support to keep killing you.
Holy fuck. Jesus H. Christ. Do you have any idea just how much more authoritarian the US was in years past!?
Authoritarian? sure. Bigoted? Certainly. But it wasn't actively fascist.
Let me ask you a different question. When is it enough? Is there any point, any government action which will convince you that you need to put your efforts into doing something other than voting? Is that point only when you're personally being led to the pit?
This is privilege. It is plain what another trump term will mean for many minorities and at risk folks, including Muslims. Suggesting voting Dem is "effectively nothing" is privilege when the comparison is widely known.
People have been voting for the GOP for decades too you goofball
Why are computer bros so socially illiterate for God's sake
The philosophical problem is more a game theory one. You are participating in a limited outcome, constrained system. Depending on where you live, non participation results in a trump win.
The philosophical problem assumes only one action available to you with clear results. Neither of these is true here.
More to the point. The philosophical problem is about the agony of inaction. You don't need to bastardize the meme to add a third "inaction" route. That's just inane.
Again that dodges the conclusion that one of the two WILL win. Understanding your district and the "cost" or teinal result of inaction still funnels all choices and interests to one of two results.
One of these winning, doesn't mean the results are foreseen. Which is unlike the meme where the results are foreseen.
All outcomes are foreseen. The one that will occur is not. Abstaining and 3rd party voting has known impacts that lead to one or the other possible outcome.
"Foreseen" is there will be one track chosen, not what is lying on that track.
That's untrue. We know each candidates general stance from past time in executive office. It's easy to look up trump's past actions and current words on the middle east, and to the meme, we know his stance on minority communities, abortion, citizen rights, etc. as well.
No love for Harris, but her platform is far saner and even ethical than trump's.
I wasn't trying to make the US election into a philosophical problem, because Trump winning will have serious global consequences, regardless of how immoral voting for Democrats might be.
The 'philosophical problem' with tankies trading people's lives to teach a politician a lesson?
Wow what a great sense of morality you have.
db0 is referring to the fact that the trolley problem is about inaction.
The philosophical problem of the trolley problem itself, but don't let me stop you from moralizing in advance.
The meme hasn't been about the philosophical problem in a long time.