Read on Twitter
I see Tweets tryin to shame/blame/condescend people into voting = I mute or block 
yay for boundaries!
https://twitter.com/EpicGlitterYay/status/1013785116760596481
yay for boundaries!
https://twitter.com/EpicGlitterYay/status/1013785116760596481
I mean this sincerely. it's been nice knowing some of you.
but if the QT thread above doesn't sway you, and it's realllly important for you to condescendingly insist, e.g., trans survivors of sexual assault & police violence vote for your duo- I'll miss you when you're blocked.
but if the QT thread above doesn't sway you, and it's realllly important for you to condescendingly insist, e.g., trans survivors of sexual assault & police violence vote for your duo- I'll miss you when you're blocked.
btw. bold of you to assume I'll still have a home address (still be able to vote) come November.
if I'm really lucky, there'll still be a polling place within walking/biking distance too
but who am I kidding? this is Georgia. I don't know who else remembers 2018, but I do...
if I'm really lucky, there'll still be a polling place within walking/biking distance too
but who am I kidding? this is Georgia. I don't know who else remembers 2018, but I do...
even if there's massive turnout for the blue ticket (idk maybe all the centrists they love will show up to the polls), even if they would win in a fair fight-
voter suppression & disenfranchisement, election tampering, refusal to step down, etc, could still mean 45 doesn't leave
voter suppression & disenfranchisement, election tampering, refusal to step down, etc, could still mean 45 doesn't leave
what's the plan then?
because in 2018 the result was, the guy who cheated still took office and went on to make the pandemic a lot worse in this state. he recently signed a "blue lives matter" type bill too. persistent, passionate GOTV didn't prevent his rise to power...
because in 2018 the result was, the guy who cheated still took office and went on to make the pandemic a lot worse in this state. he recently signed a "blue lives matter" type bill too. persistent, passionate GOTV didn't prevent his rise to power...
litereally, what is the plan.
if "vote 'em out" doesn't work, what is the plan?
if "vote 'em out" doesn't work, what is the plan?
if anyone's genuinely curious to know my thoughts about this issue (shamey vs. not-shamey approaches to GOTV), this thread was written when I was more patient, more thoughtful, less on-the-razor's-edge-of-surviving-at-all so maybe you'll find it palatable. https://twitter.com/EpicGlitterYay/status/1013785116760596481
the tl;dr isn't "don't vote." you do you.
it's not even, "don't encourage other people to vote." I'm sure not stopping you.
core point was, "don't be a bully about it / don't be mean to marginalized people / deeply consider the impact of *how* you try to convince us to vote."
it's not even, "don't encourage other people to vote." I'm sure not stopping you.
core point was, "don't be a bully about it / don't be mean to marginalized people / deeply consider the impact of *how* you try to convince us to vote."
this thread is a good example of positively-framed encouragement to vote, imo
they provide practical info about likely, concrete outcomes. he does not insult the reader or make disparaging assumptions about the reader. the enemy is clearly not the reader. https://twitter.com/chasestrangio/status/1293935813886124036
they provide practical info about likely, concrete outcomes. he does not insult the reader or make disparaging assumptions about the reader. the enemy is clearly not the reader. https://twitter.com/chasestrangio/status/1293935813886124036
a claim I have enough experience to doubt:
"sure, this 'isn't enough,' (eupheism) but after we win this 1 thing we'll fight super hard for the rest of it. pinky swear!"
in past campaigns, that's proven to be a lie. folks with little to lose, cast a ballot and go home for 4 yrs.
"sure, this 'isn't enough,' (eupheism) but after we win this 1 thing we'll fight super hard for the rest of it. pinky swear!"
in past campaigns, that's proven to be a lie. folks with little to lose, cast a ballot and go home for 4 yrs.
I know it's well-intended when the vote-or-dies say "we'll keep pushing 'em to the left" and "there's so much work left to do" and, basically, "we promise to come back for all the people Dems will hurt."
is there any reason to believe that would actually happen this time around?
is there any reason to believe that would actually happen this time around?
ok, I sometimes see deep, consistent, intersectional solidarity like that at the local level. an insufficient "victory" used as a real stepping stone to more meaningful change.
but even then. almost never from single-issue orgs, or anyone focused primarily on electoral politics.
but even then. almost never from single-issue orgs, or anyone focused primarily on electoral politics.
I don't think the only response is despair. we, collectively, aren't helpless or hopeless (yet?).
but I don't recommend hinging faith / hope / entire mental health & emotional well-being on a candidate or party. they'll very likely betray the interests/needs of oppressed people.
but I don't recommend hinging faith / hope / entire mental health & emotional well-being on a candidate or party. they'll very likely betray the interests/needs of oppressed people.
but if you're touch starved, facing eviction, low on food, struggling to leave bed, working through profound grief & anxiety alone-
maybe having strangers who don't (really) care or plan to help, smugly shout Vote!Vote!Vote!, won't exactly motivate you to their desired outcome?
maybe having strangers who don't (really) care or plan to help, smugly shout Vote!Vote!Vote!, won't exactly motivate you to their desired outcome?
imagine if the strategy for getting people to vote, started with getting their basic human needs met...
but also.
what if every 4 yrs, some portion of D voters didn't throw out all sense of kindness (much less strategy) and descend into a routinely vicious, belittling, purity-test-style campaign of -->shaming<-- people into supporting their candidate?
why is it always like this?
what if every 4 yrs, some portion of D voters didn't throw out all sense of kindness (much less strategy) and descend into a routinely vicious, belittling, purity-test-style campaign of -->shaming<-- people into supporting their candidate?
why is it always like this?
a suggestion.
every 4 years around now, there's an effort to focus *all* attention, imagination, and support on the election.
please resist that pressure. resolve to care / boost / act on other work. protests, direct action, bail funds, mutual aid, issue campaigns, all of it.
every 4 years around now, there's an effort to focus *all* attention, imagination, and support on the election.
please resist that pressure. resolve to care / boost / act on other work. protests, direct action, bail funds, mutual aid, issue campaigns, all of it.
that includes pulling away from daily headline trainwreck, to care for your own well-being.
that includes carving out time to check in on loved ones and others in your circles who are struggling.
you don't have to let that election urgency consume your me-time and social bonds.
that includes carving out time to check in on loved ones and others in your circles who are struggling.
you don't have to let that election urgency consume your me-time and social bonds.
if you are fortunate and awesome enough to know people who have been in the streets, who have faced down police violence & tear gas &etc and/or who are engaged in community organizing and building power *not* specific to elections
show them love. regardless their take on voting.
show them love. regardless their take on voting.
under fascism, a lot of things are already happening that are outside our immediate control/influence
but if you have friends, family, other loves (no shame if you don't) - reaching out and showing you care and offering support are all things you probably can control/influence.
but if you have friends, family, other loves (no shame if you don't) - reaching out and showing you care and offering support are all things you probably can control/influence.
I'm not saying "don't be angry." anger can be good, deeply healing, incredibly motivating.
but it's worth reflecting and being intentional on who that anger is directed at, and how it's expressed.
are you directing it at the enemy, the root cause of the anger-inducing problem?
but it's worth reflecting and being intentional on who that anger is directed at, and how it's expressed.
are you directing it at the enemy, the root cause of the anger-inducing problem?
if (and only if) interested in being considerate:
for a lot of people who have had certain personal traumatic experiences.
voting for the rapist and the cop would not be merely "unpleasant" or "imperfect" or "not ideal."
maybe don't gaslight or minimize that part.
for a lot of people who have had certain personal traumatic experiences.
voting for the rapist and the cop would not be merely "unpleasant" or "imperfect" or "not ideal."
maybe don't gaslight or minimize that part.
imagine. years of seeing those who abuse their power, praised and rewarded with even greater power
then seeing the same thing over and over and over again in national politics.
and heres social media to tell you, the impact on you is minor or nonexistent; to feel is "selfish"
then seeing the same thing over and over and over again in national politics.
and heres social media to tell you, the impact on you is minor or nonexistent; to feel is "selfish"
oops. didnt use enough hedge, qualifying, normalizing language. ignore pile, probs... oh well, said what I said
there were like two days during the primaries where not-badgering-survivors was a thing and yeah I miss those two days
harder to express political thought when I am very hungry (food insecure) and dealing w/ increased health flare ups from chronic illness, on top of the overwhelming stress and despair of this time. but here goes.
taking action for liberation, for social change, for a just and sustainable future and against white supremacy, fascism, settler-colonialism, capitalism, imperialism, the PIC and all forms of oppression- that is a long game. it takes many different types of actions & tactics.
I personally think it's counterproductive and fucking toxic to single out one tactic (vote for blue-know-who) and make a purity test of it, passing absolute moral judgment and projecting all sorts of assumptions on the imagined subject who doesn't pass your test.
white supremacists and fascists (and broader circles of empowered complicity) are responsible for the harm they cause, *not* marginalized people targeted by them. and *not* those who vote 3rd party or can't/don't vote.
(note: Dem politicians cause mass collective harm too)
(note: Dem politicians cause mass collective harm too)
your other political actions, unrelated to voting, matter.
-struggling for your own & loved ones' survival
-mutual aid (participate &/or donate)
-protest
-direct action
-strike
-boycott
-contacting electeds (calls to action)
-cmty organizing
-art & cultural work
-legal support
-struggling for your own & loved ones' survival
-mutual aid (participate &/or donate)
-protest
-direct action
-strike
-boycott
-contacting electeds (calls to action)
-cmty organizing
-art & cultural work
-legal support
while it's not be-all-end-all, changing routine behavior (when possible) can also be political.
self-educating on social issues. shifting language away from slurs & other loaded words. recycling & DIY. respecting boycotts, being more intentional about what you buy & from where
self-educating on social issues. shifting language away from slurs & other loaded words. recycling & DIY. respecting boycotts, being more intentional about what you buy & from where
working to heal and undo oppressive violence within ourselves- also can be political. and so necessary!
building skills for healthy relationships. recognizing and actively resisting racism, ableism, transmisogyny, sexism, in our own thoughts, behaviors, reactions. all political.
building skills for healthy relationships. recognizing and actively resisting racism, ableism, transmisogyny, sexism, in our own thoughts, behaviors, reactions. all political.
that's an incomplete and imperfect list.
point is, if you already put effort into living your values in these and other ways
it's bullshit to tell you, every 4 yrs, that none of that political activity matters. only voting, only in the presidential, only for the crimes bill guy
point is, if you already put effort into living your values in these and other ways
it's bullshit to tell you, every 4 yrs, that none of that political activity matters. only voting, only in the presidential, only for the crimes bill guy
when others on the left use guilt & shame to pressure you into voting, that's "vote shaming."
if they've got you down, I just wanna say, they're wrong. using guilt this way is fucked up, especially now.
your life & choices outside the electoral system are (also?) important!
if they've got you down, I just wanna say, they're wrong. using guilt this way is fucked up, especially now.
your life & choices outside the electoral system are (also?) important!
I hope to add thoughts here on why vote shaming feels so much like abuser tactics / abusive relationship dynamics, *especially* when it's the candidate or party doing it. hopefully soon.
If some of the passion to get out the vote is specifically about resisting fascism
Will that level of support also go to the day-to-day work of antifascists? Defending against fash violence, disrupting their organizing & recruitment, deplatforming?
Esp with 45 targeting them...
Will that level of support also go to the day-to-day work of antifascists? Defending against fash violence, disrupting their organizing & recruitment, deplatforming?
Esp with 45 targeting them...
"Just vote *against* his re-election; the rest doesn't matter" (aka lesser of 2 evils)
are there literally any limits to this?
how evil does the other option have to be before vote shaming isn't pushed as the only correct approach?
are there literally any limits to this?
how evil does the other option have to be before vote shaming isn't pushed as the only correct approach?
just some thoughts.
first, I actually do vote in a lot if elections. not just prez. I'm not registered to any party. can't remember when exactly I deregistered from the democrats. it makes no difference here anyway, since theres open primaries. & I still get D spam texts, emails
first, I actually do vote in a lot if elections. not just prez. I'm not registered to any party. can't remember when exactly I deregistered from the democrats. it makes no difference here anyway, since theres open primaries. & I still get D spam texts, emails
for a lot of reasons, casting a ballot (for me, in this state and country) usually feels like shit, and the months right before a major election are pretty awful too. vote shaming, empty promises, false hope, shitty choices.
and the foreboding sense this is providing only an illusion of government "by the people, for the people."
the lingering question - if this actually is a sort of charade to deflect real change, am I helping it along by participating?
the lingering question - if this actually is a sort of charade to deflect real change, am I helping it along by participating?
on top of that. acutely aware my own vote (if counted) doesn't exert the tiniest fraction of impact on this obscenely oppressive government, compared to influence wielded by, say, a defense contractor, police union, bank, Big Pharma or health ins company, or a single billionaire
to be extra ultra double dip cherry on top clear
by "this oppressive government" I mean both major parties. sadly, for marginalized people struggling the most in this country & many others, routine gov't neglect & early death won't change much even if (hopefully, when) 45's gone
by "this oppressive government" I mean both major parties. sadly, for marginalized people struggling the most in this country & many others, routine gov't neglect & early death won't change much even if (hopefully, when) 45's gone
campaign promises have a function (semi useful for pressuring candidate, after election, to do the right thing) - but I do not get my hopes up hearing them.
look to the voting record. and who's funding/donating the campaign.and what the politician actually does (not, says).
look to the voting record. and who's funding/donating the campaign.and what the politician actually does (not, says).
some false promises will come from the ones running for office
and some will come from those urgently trying to get another vote for Biden/Harris. "after we win, we'll keep up the fight for your community / the issues this ticket's bad on"
how I wish that were true, friends.
and some will come from those urgently trying to get another vote for Biden/Harris. "after we win, we'll keep up the fight for your community / the issues this ticket's bad on"
how I wish that were true, friends.
cn: sexual assault https://twitter.com/democracynow/status/1245030120026337280?s=20
cn: transmisogyny, anti transness
re: Kamala Harris
https://twitter.com/RNickGorton/status/1094048853693652992?s=20
re: Kamala Harris
https://twitter.com/RNickGorton/status/1094048853693652992?s=20
re: Kamala Harris, see previous Tweet upthread
https://twitter.com/RNickGorton/status/1094049005514838021?s=20
https://twitter.com/RNickGorton/status/1094049005514838021?s=20
1: how have you been?
2: not good.
1: oh what's got you down? wanna talk it out?
2: I feel like shit bc it's really sinking in that life isn't gonna get better for me, my loved ones, much of this country... *points to this thread*
1: *goes silent and leaves. "too political"*
2: not good.
1: oh what's got you down? wanna talk it out?
2: I feel like shit bc it's really sinking in that life isn't gonna get better for me, my loved ones, much of this country... *points to this thread*
1: *goes silent and leaves. "too political"*
I really appreciate this thread.
There's no vote shaming, contempt for people w/ real doubts, empty promises, false hope, or attempt to minimize the harm Biden will (also) cause.
Clear, honest, invites-in, names systemic power, gives lots to think about https://twitter.com/BreeNewsome/status/1297889613802024961?s=20
There's no vote shaming, contempt for people w/ real doubts, empty promises, false hope, or attempt to minimize the harm Biden will (also) cause.
Clear, honest, invites-in, names systemic power, gives lots to think about https://twitter.com/BreeNewsome/status/1297889613802024961?s=20
