We’ve got to vote them out! (?)
At my job we don’t talk much about politics. It’s officially frowned upon now, because some people apparently got offended from overhearing some other people dissing a candidate, politician, or party that they like, and complained about it to management. Who responded with a vague, passive aggressive missive in the employee newsletter about “respecting everyone’s beliefs and points of view” and to avoid divisive topics “such as politics” in our casual office chatter.
So it’s a safe zone now, everyone is meek and unopinionated while at work. Mostly. I’m ok with this, actually, because I don’t agree with anyone and don’t voice my true views anyway, because I know that would only isolate me and potentially threaten my job. Which I cannot afford to do. I play a role at work. I used to sometimes say my job was being an actress, getting into costume each morning and pretending for eight hours a day to be interested in the work in front of me at my desk. And my lines don’t include talking about my atheist views, or my unconventional life, or my political views. Those are part of the real me, not the person I play while at work.
So it was unexpected when a coworker said to me one day recently that she was so upset about Kavanaugh that she was going to vote a straight party line ballot for the democrats in the upcoming election. “We have to stop them” she intoned. She went on to say she typically votes “based on the person” and prides herself on not choosing based on partisanship. But, now with Kavanaugh getting on the supreme court it “made her feel like it’s necessary to send a message to the republicans” and a mass vote against them all was necessary.
Now I hesitated, then said tentatively “ well, it kinda makes me feel like not voting for any of them.”
Her eyes widened in shock. She stared at me, speechless.
I added, “I mean, I think the democrats were just useless and in fact terrible throughout this mess. They were completely ineffective, and even destructive, in how they handled his confirmation.”
Blank stare. Finally she just burst out: NO! We HAVE TO VOTE THEM OUT!”
Clearly this was a nonnegotiable in her mind, so I dropped it. I said, “well, then next time we’ll just have to vote out whoever we elect this time.”
She relaxed. “Yes, that’s right.” She breathed a sigh of relief, apparently satisfied that I had seen the light.
My mail-in ballot sits there this morning on my kitchen counter, mocking me.
Comments
I’m off to work now
I’ll stop back in when I can today. I actually didn’t mean to publish this now but I accidentally hit publish instead of preview so I guess I’ll leave it up. Feel free to treat this as an open thread.
If you don't vote,
Rodney Glassman might win.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Ha! Glassman probably will win this time
Now that he came out of the closet and is running openly as a “conservative republican” instead of pretending to be a progressive democrat, and is running for Az Corporation Commission instead of pretending to challenge John McCain for his senate seat, Rodney Britz Glassman is finally in his element.
Former Tucson Dem Glassman suits up as GOP conservative
If ever there was a poster child for why voting blindly for anyone with a D next to their name is completely ridiculous, Glassman would be him.
I actually laughed, a lot, when I first saw his name on a roadside sign last month. Well, at first I was horrified of course. What the hell is HE back in politics for!?! But when I looked him up and saw he’s shed the lie and embraced his republican identity full on, I really did laugh quite a bit.
If I were the kind of person to wait 10 years to say “I told you so!” I’d have gone back to Daily Kos to throw it in their faces. Ok, truth, I am that kind of person, but I don’t want to go back to Daily Kos to point out the facts about Glassman because what would be the point. But all those who demanded I suck it up and vote for the democrat, those who defended Kos for featuring Glassman in a front page article (while ignoring actual progressives in the race), those who condemned me for refusing to vote for him, they can all eat shit.
Glassman, from the article:
Did I also not say at the time that progressive hero Raúl Grijalva was complicit in propping up this phoney? Hint: Yes, I did. And I took all kinds of heat for that on Dkos as well. Must not speak ill of our heros.
Thanks for the reminder Azazello. It is so easy to get sucked in to this game. But that election back in 2010 was when I first realized what a scam these people are running. At the time I thought it wasn’t all of them, some politicians have to be worthwhile. But now I’m just not feeling it.
Good luck to Rodney, on supporting Israel from his perch on the Az Corporation Commission. And congrats to him on being honest, at long last.
We're sitting around waiting for the rain to stop,
then we plan to go over to the U to see Bernie and Raúl. (Bernie calls him "Raul" rhymes with Paul.) Believe it or not, there are good, honorable people in politics. Rodney ain't one of 'em.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
It's a conundrum.
I'm back and forth. We are a safe "dim" state, but still.....
What would Big Al say?
Don't vote.
Okay, Al - I knew you were there in the back of my mind.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Had a similar conversation on my way home from class
yesterday. It was all 'Russia Russia Russia' and 'Hillary would be president'. People well and truly don't get that the pig factions are all part of the same damn class. None of them represent everyday people, despite all the jingoistic whining to the contrary.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
The odds of electing good politicians...
is worse than the odds for winning both today's Mega Millions lottery and tomorrow's Powerball lottery. One in 88 quadrillion.
It could happen, I suppose, but given the shortcomings of both parties, I'm sticking to the Lottery.
The lottery
I’ve been told, is “a tax on people who can’t do math” — specifically, statistics. I do not play the lotto, even though the cost is small, and hey, somebody has to win.
Unlike in politics, where no one wins.
Except for the politicians and their massive fundraising apparatus. They are winning big time. My mind boggles at the amounts of money raised and wasted on this enterprise that does nothing of value.
You have to pick the lesser of evil numbers.
I think prime numbers are better than whole numbers in general. My birthday is pretty much all prime numbers. But if pi were a choice, I would pick it.
: ))
This is a great idea for choosing lottery numbers. Buy two tickets for one with prime numbers and the other for numbers coming after. Hey it has as good a chance of winning as any other number combinations. But it's true. Someone will win it. Someone always does. Besides buying a ticket is buying a fun daydream for what you would do if you did win.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
my work
has been buying Mega Millions tickets. We haven't won anything yet. Sigh.
This shit is bananas.
Well, I voted, and I voted for all Dems except....
Superdelegate Stabenow: No way in hell I could vote for this Dem. She ignored our primary and gave her vote to Hillary. Her ads have her bragging about how she can compromise with the worst GOP in my life and Republican businessmen are in them saying how great she is. So, I voted for the Green candidate that has done minimal to no campaigning whatsoever and will be lucky if she gets 100 votes. All state offices I voted for Dems. MI has had one party GOP rule for 8 years owned by Betsy DeVos. I can't take anymore. That left state and local school boards. I voted Green for education boards when I could and then made up the slack with Democrats.
How do I feel about this? Not good. What I really wanted to do was blow the whole bunch to hell and back, and I couldn't do that. So I settled for what I hope is a big FU to Trump and the GOP so that I can live another day to ????????????? give a big FU to Obama Democrats next? This truly sucks.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Good News.....
We have three proposals on the ballot:
1) legalize recreational pot
2) make voting registration automatic and allow everyone to vote absentee for any/no reason
3) Stop gerrymandering: Create a citizens committee highly regulated per the language in the proposal to take redistricting away from both parties.
No way I wasn't going to vote yes on these three jewels.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I will vote
it's like playing the lottery, you never know (yes I do, I might as well burn my cash) but we have paper ballots and there's a line for write ins. I can vote for Dick Hertz, maybe they'll include it in the published vote counts.
Nope, they'll just lump him under "Other",
along with Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, My Cat/Dog, and None Of The Above.
Of which only "None Of The Above" has the potential to be a real choice, if any Departments of Elections could ever be persuaded/compelled to put it right there on the dotted line.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
I suspect that would be true
unfortunately. But then again I could be inspiring a bunch of today's 12 year olds to look forward to voting.
Quip
Just prior to cruising to c99, I read a Robert Reich article over at truthdig. It was aimed at young folks, imploring them to vote. (Do young people read truthdig?) Anyway, as truthdig still allows comments to be posted, I read those. The bulk of the comments were fairly anti-voting, many espousing similar views as some here.
One comment, posted by "East Texas Cossack," stood out:
Voting: the slaves suggestion box.
good one (nm)
Well,
My other half sent his mail in ballot back blank. He did not vote on anything. I was upset with him. I have no problem with him boycotting the races with politicians. But on the constitutional amendments, I feel everyone should try to participate. It is the closest thing to direct democracy that we have in Florida. And for the record, I voted for some amendments and against others.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Hi gg
I plan to vote on the direct-democracy initiatives that are on our ballot as well, just (probably) not for any of the politicians.
I don’t really agree that everyone should participate by voting however, even on voter initiatives or whatever. Because the fact is, many people are utterly uninformed and have no idea what they are voting for or against. And they have not the time and/or the mindset to study it all and try to sift through the lies and propaganda. Those people are wise to not vote, imo.
Personally I tend to vote no on many of those because of vague or outright dishonest advertising and spin, until I just get annoyed with it all. So honestly it might be better if I just didn’t vote on those either. Unless it’s something I very clearly and strongly favor or oppose.
I believe now that if anyone wishes to use their ballot to register dissent from the entire system, by say, sending it in blank, more power to them. That’s actually kind of a good protest, I think. Everyone has the right to vote or to not vote, as they are guided by their conscience. Thanks for stopping in!
Are they the ones about transgender rights?
I'm ashamed that this country is allowing people to vote on other's rights just because they don't like them.
But that's probably what is going to happen when same sex marriage hits the SC. The government will be able to withhold survivors benefits and other things that non-same sex marriages receive. All in the name of a made up book that says nothing about SSM or gays and lesbians.
It does say, "Love one another"
(never mind, I thought you were in NC)
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
the same book
that says:
-James 5:1-6 (NIV)
This shit is bananas.
I like the sound of that
I'm sure that I am not the only one who is hoping that there is some type of karmic justice coming for McConnell, Ryan Newt, Rove, Bill C and everyone else who gets their jollies on seeing the less fortunate suffering.
During my lotto daydreaming I'm thinking about how I can use the money to help others while people who are richer than gawd use theirs to hold on to it and how to get more.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
I vote in Florida
IMO, any ballot measure that discriminates based upon race, sexual orientation, or gender should not be allowed on the ballot or should be challenged in court as unconstitutional.
I want to have a say, even if a ballot measure goes contrary to what I believe, such as amendment #1 in Florida which will up the homestead exemptions on houses valued over $100K. I am opposed to that one, but it will probably pass. And if it does, I still had the opportunity to vote on it, versus giving up that opportunity to a legislature that will not vote the way I would.
But then there are some amendments that I am hoping will pass. Another amendment bans drilling for oil and gas in state waters which I support. If left up to the legislature, we would probably have oil rigs all off our coast like they do in Louisiana. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a say on this issue via a constitutional amendment. Finally, there is an amendment which I support that will ban greyhound racing in Florida. This is something the legislature would never do on its own, so I am grateful to be able to have my vote counted on this issue.
I would much rather have to fight against bad constitutional amendments with my vote than not to have a vote at all on them.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Noticed an article at Counterpunch
"The necessity of lesser evil Voting", kind of a response to anther article titled,
"Reflections on Chomsky's voting strategy Why the Democratic Party can't be Saved"
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/10/23/the-necessity-of-lesser-evil-vot...
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/10/19/reflections-on-chomskys-voting-s...
Glad it's being discussed, again. Like it has for the last 250 years.
Zinn wasn't against voting but said he focused on it as long as it took him to fill out the ballot. He recognized that voting was not going to get us where we need to go.
Dude on Counterpunch tries to make the case that the dems are better on some issues like climate change, net neutrality, the Supreme Court, workers' rights, and that the important thing is to negate Trump. Chomsky is basically saying the same thing, strategic voting.
Reminds me of 2007/2008 when the task became vote out the republicans. We got a dem majority and Obama and here we are now. Worse off and let's do it again. That's the problem. People can make their arguments about voting all they want but the debate has to be continued because whatever we do, it's not democracy and won't ever be democracy, not with this political system. It was designed that way. So all we're doing is putting off something that we have to address or we'll continue to be ruled by the rich.
I think the problem is most people prefer to be ruled by the rich. And that sucks.
Thanks Big Al
Sadly I think you are right about this.
I’m not sure if they really prefer it, or just can’t conceive an idea of any alternative.
But given trump’s general popularity, and democrats defending Clinton, Obama, et al, for their unapologetic focus on wealth, it does start to look like most people have accepted that rich people are in fact our betters, and they deserve to be in power while we peons just do what we’re told. It does suck, round and round we go.
It's Mouseland, Big Al
Gotta vote for a cat, can't vote for a mouse, and can't not vote or the wrong cat will win.
Mouseland.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
I too will vote all ballot initiatives (taxes, sanctuary, etc)
As for the candidates, pretty much a forgone conclusion (on dem side), and no Greens on ballot--just Libertarians as alternative to dems/republicans. Both my state House and Senate reps. are pretty good and highly rated and score high as progressives. I tried to vote against any superdelegate dem who did not support Bernie even though he crushed Hillary in the state, but the only decent alternative is "nobody".
People keep saying there is a blue wave. Dems in fact may barely take the House (national), but any high turn out will be in the areas where dems already are in power. It might look like 2016 where CA, NY, and MA give Clinton her popular margin by whopping numbers. But so what, all this means is that incumbent dems will win by bigger than normal margins.
Because Maria Cantwell made it to the general, I'm voting for
her Republican opponent. Do I want Republicans to win? Hell no. But we have to get rid of the Establishment Dems. We have to establish a strangle hold on them and put them down so they never get back up again. Then AND ONLY THEN can the left come in to fill the void. So we can end this eternal nonsense of never having a candidate to vote for that represents us.
So I'm willing to feed the Dems to the Republicans until the Dem Party collapses.