How exactly does blaming your neighbors create meaningful change?
I don’t know, short of trying to show people the errors of their ways in tacitly supporting a fascist. But what other options do we have? Lie to them and say “it’s totally not your fault that trump was elected, even though you chose not to put forth the bare minimum effort to stop him”? I get that electoral politics isn’t enough (and we all need to be out in the streets doing what we can to resist), but I’m tired of pretending that the third of the country that’s checked out of politics isn’t also responsible for the people that get elected while they chose to abdicate their responsibility as a member of the voting public.
If this was your neighbors dog is shitting in your yard and not cleaning it up, would you blame the neighbor for their choice (leaving shit in your yard you have to deal with because they couldn’t be bothered to pick it up) and try to help them see the error of their ways, or would you ignore the shit entirely and hope they do better next time?
I don’t care whether you think it’s right or wrong, I am asking how it actually helps improve the system.
Turning your question around, how does ignoring the culpability of nonvoters in election outcomes improve the system? Do you think we’ll see an improvement in turnout if we ignore that republicans only win through voter suppression and don’t point out that encouraging not voting is one of their preferred strategies?
Increased participation is one of the best ways we can get out of this hole, and I’m really tired of people supposedly in my side constantly getting own goals with this kind of rhetoric.
You can address the inaction of voters without making it about blaming individuals with as much power as yourself. But telling people “I told you so” serves a different need.
Sometimes motherfuckers need to be told that they fucked up. I don’t care if they’re 40 years old or 4. I’m not gonna sit and harp on it but I’m not seeing very many people realizing they fucked up.
On the contrary I heard an NPR piece a few days ago where there were Muslim community organizers in Dearborn MI expressing their regret. I wish more people had some kind of admit you were wrong system.
I don’t know, short of trying to show people the errors of their ways in tacitly supporting a fascist. But what other options do we have? Lie to them and say “it’s totally not your fault that trump was elected, even though you chose not to put forth the bare minimum effort to stop him”? I get that electoral politics isn’t enough (and we all need to be out in the streets doing what we can to resist), but I’m tired of pretending that the third of the country that’s checked out of politics isn’t also responsible for the people that get elected while they chose to abdicate their responsibility as a member of the voting public.
If this was your neighbors dog is shitting in your yard and not cleaning it up, would you blame the neighbor for their choice (leaving shit in your yard you have to deal with because they couldn’t be bothered to pick it up) and try to help them see the error of their ways, or would you ignore the shit entirely and hope they do better next time?
Turning your question around, how does ignoring the culpability of nonvoters in election outcomes improve the system? Do you think we’ll see an improvement in turnout if we ignore that republicans only win through voter suppression and don’t point out that encouraging not voting is one of their preferred strategies?
Increased participation is one of the best ways we can get out of this hole, and I’m really tired of people supposedly in my side constantly getting own goals with this kind of rhetoric.
You can address the inaction of voters without making it about blaming individuals with as much power as yourself. But telling people “I told you so” serves a different need.
Sometimes motherfuckers need to be told that they fucked up. I don’t care if they’re 40 years old or 4. I’m not gonna sit and harp on it but I’m not seeing very many people realizing they fucked up.
On the contrary I heard an NPR piece a few days ago where there were Muslim community organizers in Dearborn MI expressing their regret. I wish more people had some kind of admit you were wrong system.