I don’t know how you square the circle of asserting that ‘both sided are bad’ is what got us here and still echoing “less bad” to buttress their thesis
Waiting for the left to be “good” instead of “less bad” is what makes “both sides are bad” such an effective demobilization tactic.
What does that fight look like, in your mind? Standing and shouting for Bernie and then sitting out the general when Clinton wins? Or arguing for Bernie in the primary since he’s the best choice and then arguing just as hard for Clinton in the general since she’s the best choice then?
Primary-only voting doesn’t force anyone to do anything but ignore us harder in the primary.
And if that isn’t what you mean by your objection to framing all elections as choices for “least bad”, then why are you echoing the rhetoric of those who do?
If you reward rightward shifts with your vote just as well as you reward leftward shifts. Why would they ever move left, instead of banking your vote and trying to secure more and more rightist votes by moving right? How do you beat fascism by marching along a fascist line?
That fight looks like placing your line in the sand, and once it is crossed those on the other side are your enemies, lest you end up following and drawing new meaningless lines.
That fight looks like working within your communities to spread education and recognition about who those enemies are, and building structure in your community so that when the enemy is identified you can work together to ensure the enemy feels your resistance.
After which, they may just cross that line back over, recognizing that you now see them as an enemy and not an ally, and that they need you if they wish to have success.
If they don’t, then that just further reveals their intention was always to march rightward regardless, the only difference is you are no longer marching alongside them and have instead set the groundwork for opposing fascist enemies.
I don’t know how you square the circle of asserting that ‘both sided are bad’ is what got us here and still echoing “less bad” to buttress their thesis
Waiting for the left to be “good” instead of “less bad” is what makes “both sides are bad” such an effective demobilization tactic.
No, settling for “less bad” instead of fighting for good is what makes the “less bad” continue their march towards fascism.
Very telling you see the only option as voting for “less bad” or “waiting” for them to magically change leftward…
They will never change leftward unless you force them to change.
What does that fight look like, in your mind? Standing and shouting for Bernie and then sitting out the general when Clinton wins? Or arguing for Bernie in the primary since he’s the best choice and then arguing just as hard for Clinton in the general since she’s the best choice then?
Primary-only voting doesn’t force anyone to do anything but ignore us harder in the primary.
And if that isn’t what you mean by your objection to framing all elections as choices for “least bad”, then why are you echoing the rhetoric of those who do?
If you reward rightward shifts with your vote just as well as you reward leftward shifts. Why would they ever move left, instead of banking your vote and trying to secure more and more rightist votes by moving right? How do you beat fascism by marching along a fascist line?
That fight looks like placing your line in the sand, and once it is crossed those on the other side are your enemies, lest you end up following and drawing new meaningless lines.
That fight looks like working within your communities to spread education and recognition about who those enemies are, and building structure in your community so that when the enemy is identified you can work together to ensure the enemy feels your resistance.
After which, they may just cross that line back over, recognizing that you now see them as an enemy and not an ally, and that they need you if they wish to have success.
If they don’t, then that just further reveals their intention was always to march rightward regardless, the only difference is you are no longer marching alongside them and have instead set the groundwork for opposing fascist enemies.