this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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2020 was... truly unique. It was so hard to stay away from doom scrolling, and I (and many others) were pretty disillusioned by the sad fact that so much of our country legitimately supported the Orange Man. I didn't get a wink of sleep the night of the election because I genuinely considered it to be a make or break decision for America.

My point is that looking back on it, in the end the only real difference I made was at the ballet box. This year I'm going for the Head-in-the-Sand approach. I'm done with the political memes. Done with the Twitter screenshots. It just riles me up and this year I'm gonna do my best to fight that.

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[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 148 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Unless he dies, I'm voting Biden. I don't like him, but, best option.

Truly hoping Cheeto chimp gets thrown in jail and disqualified.

I've tried to avoid news well before anyway.

[–] Joker@discuss.tchncs.de 107 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If Trump is the Republican nominee I would vote for Biden even if he was dead.

[–] PeleSpirit@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Honestly, which one of the other candidates would you vote for in Trump's stead? All of them suck and kiss trump's ass.

[–] Joker@discuss.tchncs.de 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)

None of them this time around. Christie is a moderate, but he will be out pretty soon. I’m surprised he’s hung on this long, although I’m happy that he has because he and Hutchinson are the only ones with the guts to tell the truth about Trump. Hutchinson hasn’t been polling high enough to be in the debates, but at least he’s on the sidelines saying Trump is trash.

Out of the declared candidates, my preference would probably be Christie or Haley as the nominee. I still wouldn’t vote for them, but they would be better than the others if the Republicans somehow win.

Overall, it’s a pretty piss poor field on both sides. If Biden was 15 years younger I would consider it a pretty solid ticket.

I hope Antony Blinken eventually runs. For me, he’s the brightest star in a pretty solid administration. Best Secretary of State in decades.

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[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

best take. Dems don't follow Biden religiously. He's just better than the godawful alternatives that are on the otherside.

I will stay informed on the issues, but unless the GOP does a 180 on about most of their platform I'm kinda forced to vote Dem (Stop denying climate change, stop trying to de-humanize LGBTQ, stop the culture war shit, come up with a real gun control plan, those would be a start). Hooray 2 party system.

I just turn off the news now, all sources are meant to keep us angry in an "us vs them" situation and never really talk about the real issues, so instead of it just flare up my anxiety and anger I'm just going to keep my headphones on and play games. Someone ping me if suddenly the GOP decides to be pro-humanity again and I need to reconsider my vote.

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[–] FoundTheVegan@kbin.social 109 points 1 year ago (14 children)

It's not a question of policy. Republicans literally killed people last election trying to overthrow democracy.

Not that I even like democrats, but anyone who votes red after Jan 6th is fundamentally an enemy of democracy.

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[–] TheImpressiveX@lemmy.ml 85 points 1 year ago (9 children)

It can be easy to feel like a drop of water in a large ocean when it comes to national elections. But you should also vote in your county and state elections; you can probably make more of a difference there.

I'm not saying "don't vote in the national election", but just know that there are other elections to vote in, and thry are just as important as the nationals.

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[–] argo_yamato@lemm.ee 61 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Voting straight Democrat. The republican party is the biggest threat to the US right now.

[–] CarbonScored@hexbear.net 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This is the argument every single election. Every time, for decades, and yet things get continually worse.

I'd argue the belief that voting for an establishment party is any kind of a long-term solution is the biggest threat. By all means do it if it'll help a little in the short term, but the ship's still sinking.

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[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 56 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I’m voting for the most progressive candidate possible in the primary, and then whoever’s not the Republican in the general, and I fully intend to do that for the rest of my life.

The Republican Party has some plans they’re putting together, and between that and the rhetoric that most major Republican politicians and candidates spout these days (very specifically including Trump), it’s abundantly clear they’ve more or less completely given up on democracy, and are planning on dismantling a significant proportion of the core institutions of our country and government, which will effectively usher in the American Empire (as in: a possibly theocratic, but definitely authoritarian and likely outright fascist dictatorship). To be clear: that would be a Very Bad Thing. You think Russia is troublesome now? Wait until Trump or someone similar starts treating them like an ally, emulating as much of Putin’s power structure as possible just because they think it’s cool and would make them look powerful, and potentially teaming up to do shitty things to the rest of the world because we have something like 95% of the nuclear weapons ever produced, and while Russian ones are in a questionable state, ours definitely work.

If Republicans win this next election - and especially if they are able to secure the presidency and both houses of Congress - I genuinely don’t think things will recover without significant domestic political violence, which may ultimately result in a civil war. I’m doing my best to prepare for some “GTFO” contingencies that could be executed in the next few years, but it’s not an easy thing to do, and there’s still a huge number of unknowns in a ton of dimensions.

If you think I’m being hyperbolic, you’re not paying attention.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 year ago (21 children)

Oh hey look, it's the only rational voting strategy in a FPTP elective structure! Anyone who thinks different is just more evidence we need Civics back in our schools.

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[–] arefx@lemmy.ml 55 points 1 year ago (12 children)

Well I won't be voting for the fascist party.....

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[–] snoopfrog@midwest.social 49 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm going to complain about not having a primary option for president, vote for the left-most person I can in the primary, and then vote down-ballot (D) in November. There's nothing I need to research with respect to these modern conservatives. Most democrats aren't really much better in most ways, but at least I can look my marginalized friends and colleagues in the eye after the election.

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[–] SandbagTiara2816@lemmy.dbzer0.com 48 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I like the Green Party’s eco-socialism, but their anti-vaccine lunacy and inability to do anything electorally beyond run a presidential candidate every four years doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies.

I like Cornel West, and I appreciate his long-standing commitment to left-wing and anti-racist values.

That said, I live in the real world, where Donald Trump is running as an open fascist promising to make America a dictatorship if elected, and Joe Biden is the only candidate running with a realistic chance of beating him.

So I’ll be voting for every Democrat I possibly can, while wishing they were better than they are, as always.

[–] glingorfel@hexbear.net 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Joe Biden is also an open fascist who is proudly facitating a genocide and ethnic cleansing

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[–] makeasnek@lemmy.ml 43 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I see a lot of people here frustrated with our two party system. I too am frustrated. Donate to FairVote to get ranked choice on the ballot in more states. Ranked choice voting allows voters to express actual preferences between more than two parties and it is a win no matter who you normally vote for. Many states have a ballot measure system that can be used to pass legislation without requiring the agreement of the state legislature. Several US states have implemented ranked choice voting already. http://fairvote.org

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[–] LemmyIsFantastic@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago

Oh, who told you the 2024 campaign slogan?

[–] Joker@discuss.tchncs.de 40 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I’ve voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past. Frankly, neither one of them deserves too much power.

If Trump is the nominee I’m voting for the other candidate no matter who that is. There is no circumstance in which I would vote for Trump. The devil himself could be running against Trump and I would either vote for the devil or abstain. If he is the nominee then the election is essentially a fight for democracy.

Although I generally like Biden’s administration, I am concerned about him and his age. If there was a normal candidate running against him I would consider voting for them, but it’s mostly a bunch of wackadoos on the Republican side.

Chris Christie and Nikki Haley were the only ones in the last Republican debate who had any common sense. Christie’s campaign isn’t going anywhere because he’s anti-Trump. Haley is too conservative for my liking. Ramaswamy and DeSantis are garbage humans. The Republicans need a reboot because they really suck.

In other words, I’m team blue - not because I’m thrilled with them but because I’m afraid of the alternative.

[–] Name-Not-Applicable@kbin.social 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Republicans need a reboot

That sums it up. I’m conservative, but the GOP is such a train wreck now I just can’t support them.

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[–] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 36 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Right now, the choices are between boring corporatists and 100% concentrated evil. It's not that hard a choice.

[–] Kuori@hexbear.net 17 points 1 year ago (5 children)

the boring corporatists are fully backing a genocide rn

not really seeing how that doesn't qualify as 100% concentrated evil

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[–] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 36 points 1 year ago (5 children)

In 2016, I was an Independent. Straight down the middle. Would consider reasonable Democrats, Republicans, and 3rd party candidates.

In 2020, I was an Independent leaning Democratic. Would not consider Trump. Biden was locked in. Would hesitantly consider reasonable Republicans or Independents on a split ticket.

In 2024, I'm a Democrat. Will only consider Democrats up and down the ballot. No 3rd parties.

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[–] criitz@reddthat.com 31 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Blue no matter who. Nothing has changed about that.

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[–] robocall@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago

Vote against Republicans.

[–] angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.com 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I'll vote for a non-Zionist candidate in the primaries with no real expectation of them winning. But I will vote blue no matter who for national and state politics, and Working Families Party for local if any run.

Is "Genocide Joe" an accurate nickname? Yeah. But fuck that, it's not like Trump will be any less zionist and third parties/independents don't work in FPTP. I'm mixed race, I'm bisexual, I'm worried about worst case scenarios with a second Trump presidency (which is basically "what Trump is saying out loud" at this point,) and I am willing to vote in enlightened self-interest.

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[–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. It sucks.

I’m tired of the 2 party system. I don’t think I really have a party or political ideology that aligns with Democrats or Republicans and third party candidates are all over the place. I want to start voting on issues and not just politicians.

I don’t care what my politician’s feelings are. They represent a constituency and the only things they should be speaking about and for are exactly what they’re being asked for. Instead we have this political machine that takes every issues and gives it a red spin and a blue spin and then it’s force fed to the people.

Congress should not be creating our ideologies they should create the laws that structure the things the citizens want.

The Supreme Courr overturned Roe v Wade, put it on the ballet and let the people decide.

Gun control, put it on the ballet

Universal health care, put it on the ballet

Abandoning fossil fuels, put it on the ballet

Stop forcing your political and personal ideologies on us and start listing to the people. If we vote “Yes” on universal health care, the politicians must then go and figure out how to make it happen.

Let it truly be a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

[–] Kuori@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago

i'm pretty sure the u.s. will collapse before it becomes a democracy, but it certainly is a nice dream

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[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Democrats. I'd rather vote green party but I'm not an idiot. Even if the green party won they would be able to get far less done than Biden has. Biden isn't amazing or good but he's not the actively trying to harm LGBTQIA and he's not trying to destroy democracy. Anyone who can equate Trump to Biden is completely bonkers.

Looks like napovointerco might pass before the election. If it does we might see a civil war.

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[–] Cowbee@lemm.ee 24 points 1 year ago

Same as usual. Vote for the least harmful candidates while advocating for actual grassroots improvements, because voting harder won't move America to the left, ever.

[–] TeenieBopper@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Probably vote blue all the way down the line but I'm going to be shitting on the democratic party publicly and loudly for all the fucked and/or cowardly shit they do because not as bad != not bad.

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[–] rip_art_bell@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Honestly there's not that much one can do, but I will:

  • Hope Trump is thrown in prison
  • Vote straight ticket Democrat
  • Hope another Jan. 6 doesn't occur
  • Try not to lose my shit when idiots say stuff like "both parties are equally bad"

I live in a solid blue state, so my national-level votes don't do much (though I'll cast them anyway).

In past years I've thrown a few hundred dollars at close senate and house races. In 2020 I volunteered for a phone/text bank sort of deal to make sure people were registered to vote.

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[–] pohart@programming.dev 22 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Definitely voting for someone who doesn't support genocide for president. Down ballot I'll likely vote 3rd party as well, but I haven't decided for sure.

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[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 year ago (11 children)

I emigrated. I'll vote by mail and hope for the best, but the two party system America has will inevitably produce horrible results.

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[–] AOCapitulator@hexbear.net 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There is no electoral solution to the accelerating depravity of this evil and crumbling Empire

[–] ClockNimble@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Well, I've had to remove multiple people that used to just be right leaning for outright fascist statements and ideas in the last few months as they've deteriorated into hate speech and ethnic cleansing....so while I grew up conservative...yeah, I can't support that shit.

Democrats are a mild improvement at best but at least they aren't constantly being approved of by the KKK and being touted by mass shooters.

I'd like a proper left-leaning candidate, but with America's history. They'll end up assassinated.

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[–] s_i_m_s@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

Voting by mail as usual.

Trying to avoid customers that can't shut up about how wonderful trump is.

"I think he's the antichrist but he's doing a good job"

You know, bat shit insane things republicans say.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 20 points 1 year ago
[–] ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.ml 20 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Well my choices are backslide slowly by voting dem, maybe buying enough time to get out of the country safely in the next few years, or risk being federally persecuted for being trans. So I'm going to dissociate through the whole thing and hopefully won't be able to remember voting for fucking Biden. Outside the election I do what I can to support actual leftist movements but until any of them have a chance to win against the fascists on ballots I'm team 'slightly better of two shitty choices'. I just want to be left alone to garden I hate all of this

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[–] SovietyWoomy@hexbear.net 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Definitely not voting for either of the parties that killed Roe v Wade or any of the parties that support the zionist genocide of Palestine. That leaves...PSL again I guess

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[–] eksb@programming.dev 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It does not matter who I vote for for federal office. My state is never close to competitive and my house district is gerrymandered.

If fascists win my districts for state office, it will not affect the balance of power in the state assemblies.

So I told all of the Democrats running for state and local office that if there is not a primary for the presidential election, then I will not vote for any Democrats in the general elections in 2024, for any office. Maybe they can put pressure on the DNC.

This is the only way I can potentially have any input.

The only way this works is if Democrats would shift left if they started losing elections because people refused to vote for old white male conservative Democrats.

But I fear they would actually shift right. The Democratic Party is not a big tent that holds both the neoliberal corporate shills and the progressives. It is a hostage situation where the neoliberal corporate shills demand our support, otherwise the fascists will kill us.

[–] physcx@kbin.social 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just want to say that your vote for the federal office does matter even if you live in a non-competitive state. Some states allocate a percentage of their electoral votes rather than all or nothing but even if yours does not, voting still adds a data point that says I support this person instead of that person. There have been several times where a candidate has won the presidency without winning the most votes but it was always very close to 50%. If everybody that had a preference voted and the outcome was 55% this guy / 45% the other guy and the other guy won... that could be a real driver for change to the electoral college system.

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[–] GarfieldYaoi@hexbear.net 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm checked out of voting, I live in Texas. Nothing but card-carrying neo-nazis in this shithole. Shame too, because I'd love to live in Austin if I could afford to.

Maybe I'll just vote PSL or something.

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[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I remember 2016 going to bed with Hillary in a strong lead and waking up to a conman in office.

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[–] Adkml@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago

Live in upstate new york so unless I throw my ballot at Biden so hard he dies my vote will have exactly zero effect on federal elections.

So voting for people who think public education is a positive and not communism in local elections where the differential is 12 votes and writing in Hunter Biden for president because it's funny.

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