• MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        It’s amazing how quick the “I just want someone other than Biden” crowd turned to “I’m voting 3rd party” the second Biden was no longer the candidate. Almost like they just want the Democrats to lose…

    • mctoasterson@reddthat.com
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      2 months ago

      Don’t mistake it for apathy. I didn’t vote for either major party candidate in either of the last 2 presidential elections because I didn’t like either of the options. I’m not going to be schoolmarmed by anybody on Lemmy for doing so, especially since many of the people participating in US politics discussions on Lemmy seem to be Canadians or Europeans who, just like Russian trolls, cannot vote in US elections.

      If you want viable third party options leading towards reform, you have to act accordingly. In '92 Ross Perot won 20% of the popular vote despite only re-entering the race in October. In June of that year he was polling as the leader in the 3-way race, before questions about whether he would qualify for all states ballots. He could have won that election.

      Since then, the two mega parties have done all they can to ensure no viable 3rd option ever emerges again. This year we were given a matchup of historically unpopular R, nominated pretty much by default through a party controlled process of primaries that couldn’t be meaningfully influenced by primary voters…and on the D side we were given a historically unpopular D for whom the party scuttled all potential primary challengers, then at the last second they replaced him via their national process, subverting the entire point of having primaries, with a candidate who won zero votes in that initial process or the previous election cycles primary process.

      That said, since as an individual I have no meaningful way of influencing or reforming either major party, and both continue to force candidates upon us I don’t like, I will be voting for whoever I want. It is not even remotely similar to “apathy”. Thanks.

      • cranakis@reddthat.com
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        2 months ago

        I don’t see how you tossing your vote away to a third party that will definitely lose, in any way creates a future with more than two major parties. It simply will never work. Your efforts would be better spent trying to reform either existing party from within. Maybe you’re not apathetic but you are delusional.

    • K1nsey6@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Capitulation in voting based on fear is apathy. I vote my conscience. Yours is a protest vote against something.

      • Bernie_Sandals@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I vote my conscience

        So you’re fine with Trump winning being on your conscience?

        Yours is a protest vote against something.

        What? Most people voting for her probably agree with at least half of her policy, they’re not just voting against Trump.

        • K1nsey6@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          What policy is that she has yet to disclose one? And she could have 99% policy that everybody wants and supports. But the mass slaughter and genocide of brown people around the world should be a red line for everybody.