Re: [marxmail] The Lesser Evil Gambit - CounterPunch

[Susan Redge MD via groups.io]

I agree. Here in South Carolina, any vote not for Trump will be tossed  Susan B Redge MD On Jun 13, 2024, at 10:47 AM, Mark Lause via groups.io <markalause=gmail....@groups.io> wrote:  The assertion that a vote for A is actually a vote for B because it wasn't cast for C is just an excuse to wallow in the systemic mass hysteria of self-deluded hard cider partisanship currently fueled by all the BS that mass media can produce for us. Those on the left also enjoy a straight shot from the sectarian moonshine of self-righteousness. The question for us is what's most likely to aid the prospects of an independent mass movement. Just look at how much Gaza solidarity activism has changed the discourse on the Mideast and forced government officials to respond. Having that or BLM or Occupy is vastly more important than whether Biden gets to act against immigrants' rights at home and Palestinians abroad instead of Trump.  The simple fact is that there is absolutely no justification to vote for Biden in most states. My brother is in Kansas, a state that's going to go for Trump, so my brother's vote for Biden would be simply pointless.  I live in Illinois, a state that Biden is sure to carry, so my voting for him would be redundant and pointless. In most states, voting for Biden would not only fail to have the impact of blocking Trump, but it would also do nothing in terms of highlighting the kinds of issues that would encourage a movement. In the vast majority of states, a vote for Biden isn't going to contribute anything to defeating Trump. If you're not in a swing state, then, there is no justification not to vote for West or Stein or anyone else with a generally progressive agenda and an implicit critique of capitalist policies. I have serious problems with both campaigns, though both are offering an opportunity for voters to express their dissatisfaction over government policies on climate, racism, bodily autonomy, wealth polarization, etc. Those expressions can contribute to making a political environment friendlier to the rise of movements around them. Between them, I suggest adding our ballots to whichever of them is likely to do the best in terms of making a public impact.  Last polls I saw that included them had Stein at 2% and West at 3%. And West's on the ballot in Illinois (I think) while Stein isn't. But what's most important is beyond the ballot box, and what we do there is valuable only insofar as it affects what happens out there in the wider world. For what it's worth, that's my two cents. Solidarity, Mark L. _._,_._,_ Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#30756) | Reply To Group | Reply To Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [arch...@mail-archive.com] _._,_._,_