• kofe
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    That’s what elected officials are meant to be doing already, anyway. They’re only there through our votes. Elections need to be modernized, imo, to at least guarantee every qualified citizen a mail-in ballot.

    I’d be down to occupy some local, state or national land for that message, but organizing also takes a fuckton of resources. Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, men’s rights, whatever - everyone should feel unified by the right to vote. Who gives a damn what anyone votes for; it’s none of my business. But when local elections get less than 15% turnout, states <50, and presidential maybe 65, I’m just enraged that the people left out are the most needing to be heard.

    • AfricanExpansionist
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Democracy isn’t only elections. It’s organizing. It’s hard work. It’s punching nazis in the face. It’s standing up for marginalized people and groups.

      But our system is set up to make that process difficult or impossible. It is set up to make us vote and then forget it for four years, until we can vote for another turd sandwich or giant douche from the same two parties that caused our problems in the first place.

      If people show up in large numbers, shit gets done. If they threaten to harm government officials or destroy the tools of capital, shit gets done. Why do you think the CPC immediately prevents any spontaneous public gatherings and limits wechat groups to 500 people? Why do you think Korea could unseat a president?

      • Pohl@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        1 year ago

        If you only vote every four years you are not participating in our system.

        There is an election every year. There are party primaries that are critical if you have strong political views.

        Participate! People should be showing up in large numbers on the second Tuesday in November if they want to get shit done.