I recognize, along with you, that there is no such thing as a truly democratic government. I concur that the vast majority of politicians are corporate lackeys who serve their paymasters rather than their constituents. In reading your article, Jared, I was reminded of the old anarchist slogan, “If voting changed anything, they’d only abolish it”.
Yet, despite understanding your reasons for choosing not to vote as well as knowing how far the US falls short of being a true democracy, I shall nonetheless vote in November’s election. Here’s why. The coming election is not your normal contest between the two corporate parties where one is slightly less evil than the other. This election will determine whether the very limited freedom that we enjoy right now is going to be forever obliterated. One party is led by a man who has stated his willingness to be a dictator. One party that is running is a fascist party who will abolish whatever limited choices we have if they win the election. If they win, then sooner or later people like you and me will be rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
You have rightly spoken in your writings about the importance of community. When I vote I do so not for my own sake but for those who are unlike me who would be the first victims of the fascists should they come to power. I’m talking about the undocumented immigrants, the LGBTQI community, the people whom the fascists will eliminate first. It was the inability of the German left (the Social Democrats and the Communists) to form a united front in the 1932 Reichstag elections, that allowed the Nazis to get 33% of the vote and persuade their president, Hindenburg, to appoint Adolf Hitler as Chancellor. Let’s defeat today’s Nazis first. Then, we can credibly deploy the argument that “fascism is the decay of capitalism” and argue for a society where power derives legitimacy from the consent of the masses.
We should remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller about Nazi Germany;
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
You’re saying the quiet part out loud. I don’t necessarily disagree. The question is how do we mobilize the masses to organize in a way that 1) convinces them of this reality, 2) gets them to donate) 3) continues an organization that either continues with a representative government by running candidates from an independent people’s party or fund an app that enables all eligible voters to vote on all government spending (which assumes individuals will educate themselves enough to make informed decisions on every issue and vote.) Do we disband congress? How to prevent this from devolving into bribes and fraud?
The concept appears simple, but the implementation is anything but. Let’s draw out a map/plan and circulate. Maybe just the threat of it would change the dynamics of politics some?
Jared, are you aware of Citizens Assemblies? Elections were not considered democratic in Ancient Athens for the reasons you outlined. Instead people were randomly chosen to deliberate and decide about issues. Money could not buy policy. Here’s a Ted talk about it.
I recognize, along with you, that there is no such thing as a truly democratic government. I concur that the vast majority of politicians are corporate lackeys who serve their paymasters rather than their constituents. In reading your article, Jared, I was reminded of the old anarchist slogan, “If voting changed anything, they’d only abolish it”.
Yet, despite understanding your reasons for choosing not to vote as well as knowing how far the US falls short of being a true democracy, I shall nonetheless vote in November’s election. Here’s why. The coming election is not your normal contest between the two corporate parties where one is slightly less evil than the other. This election will determine whether the very limited freedom that we enjoy right now is going to be forever obliterated. One party is led by a man who has stated his willingness to be a dictator. One party that is running is a fascist party who will abolish whatever limited choices we have if they win the election. If they win, then sooner or later people like you and me will be rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
You have rightly spoken in your writings about the importance of community. When I vote I do so not for my own sake but for those who are unlike me who would be the first victims of the fascists should they come to power. I’m talking about the undocumented immigrants, the LGBTQI community, the people whom the fascists will eliminate first. It was the inability of the German left (the Social Democrats and the Communists) to form a united front in the 1932 Reichstag elections, that allowed the Nazis to get 33% of the vote and persuade their president, Hindenburg, to appoint Adolf Hitler as Chancellor. Let’s defeat today’s Nazis first. Then, we can credibly deploy the argument that “fascism is the decay of capitalism” and argue for a society where power derives legitimacy from the consent of the masses.
We should remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller about Nazi Germany;
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Excellent comment. This time is different.
You’re saying the quiet part out loud. I don’t necessarily disagree. The question is how do we mobilize the masses to organize in a way that 1) convinces them of this reality, 2) gets them to donate) 3) continues an organization that either continues with a representative government by running candidates from an independent people’s party or fund an app that enables all eligible voters to vote on all government spending (which assumes individuals will educate themselves enough to make informed decisions on every issue and vote.) Do we disband congress? How to prevent this from devolving into bribes and fraud?
The concept appears simple, but the implementation is anything but. Let’s draw out a map/plan and circulate. Maybe just the threat of it would change the dynamics of politics some?
Thought provoking. Thanks
Jared, are you aware of Citizens Assemblies? Elections were not considered democratic in Ancient Athens for the reasons you outlined. Instead people were randomly chosen to deliberate and decide about issues. Money could not buy policy. Here’s a Ted talk about it.
https://youtu.be/cUee1I69nFs?si=zzqHLsCA5CUV_gYB