this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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The message they are getting is that the majority of active voters are voting for the GOP. They are not competing for non-voters or people that uselessly vote for third parties without a chance, they are competing for voters. If you are incentivizing them to change in any way, you are incentivizing them to move right and court more moderate republican voters. Your strategy is inherently self-defeating.
Yes, they are competing for GOP voters, rather than trying to pull in leftists. When leftists are on the ballot, they get a ton of votes, but the Democrats spend their time shooting down leftist candidates, because they don't want to actually change. They have a choice: Pick up the voters that aren't voting for one of the big-two parties, or pull in the right-wing voters. Which has been more productive in the past few elections?
Hint: It's been the former.
Right, we dont disagree about that. And that is maddening as hell. But, again, the way to fix that is by voting out the incumbents, the same old lifetime career men that just want to maintain their positions rather than to seek change. Refusing to vote for the entire party at all because of them just removes your voice, one of the more critical reformist voices, from the conversation, from the vote that ultimately matters.
Again, we agree. The old guard are morons who are trying hold onto their old school party tooth and nail and are dragging it down. I want to take the party back from the old codgers and give them the boot. I want new voices, young voices, pissed off voices, and I get that by voting for them. I get that by making sure that the party itself isn't incentivized to move farther right. I get that by participating in the debate and through advocacy. Not by abandoning them wholecloth because the DNC is corrupt, so my voice doesnt matter anymore. We have to change it from within.
I do wish that other parties were viable on a national scale. I do. But they are nowhere near it. By all means, vote them into office when it is between them and a dem. By all means vote your conscience when the stakes are low or the choice is safer. But if a right wing nut job is the likely outcome of a split vote, especially on a national scale, please for the love of god, dont split the vote.
I think our disagreement boils down to this: You think there's a higher likelyhood that the Democratic ledership changes their ways, than there is that a third-party gains power.
I'm in direct opposition. I think there's a higher chance that a third-party gains power, than there is that the Democrats start fighting for what I want.
Prove me wrong. I'd love to not be "politically homeless", and have one of the big-two fight for what I want. But the Democrats have been very clear that they'd rather lose, than fight for what I want.
Ehh, not exactly. You think there is a higher likelihood than I do that third-party gains power spontaneously without any indication that they are catching up to, much less overtaking either of the two major parties. When the winds of progress start making themselves apparent and a new legitimate challenger enters the stage, I will, of course, seriously consider them. Until such time though, my vote will go where is has a chance to matter in the current election.
I also acknowledge, though, that the Dems are doing very little for me and other progressive currently, nor even for your typical liberal. Short of not actively trying to dismantle the US government and our democracy, they are not exactly a shining light in the darkness that is our current situation. But while they are the only left-of-Fascism party with any chance in the running, I will continue to do what I can to correct their direction from a position that matter to them, as one of their voters. At the very least, if nothing else, they MIGHT be concerned about losing me if they go too far too fast to the right. But if I already dont vote for them and they arent moving in a way that is likely to reabsorb my vote, they can just forget about me. Can't boycott something you already dont buy.
Why would they think this? You've openly stated that you will vote for them no matter what. They don't need to care about you, because you've already given up the negotiation.
Imagine you went to your boss and said: "Hey, no matter the outcome of this conversation, I'm gonna keep working here until the day I die. I will support you no matter what. Now, lets talk about giving me a raise."
Do you think you are gonna get that raise?
No, I said I will vote for them while they are the lesser of two evils and while no one else stands a chance. If they shoot to the right, a d become functionally indistinguishable from the GOP, or if a viable and better alternative presents itself, I'm gone.
You are saying the same thing as I am, with more words.