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ziq wrote (edited )

The lesser evil system is how they keep neoliberalism afloat. By convincing the majority of the population that they've 'won' by electing a proto-fascist instead of a full-fascist, they don't struggle. Voting is designed to stifle dissent. Even anarchist forums are full of people shaming anarchists for not voting. 99.999% of politically active people then spend all their energy on campaigning for the lesser evil instead of struggling for actual change. I want nothing to do with this perverse game.

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LostYonder wrote

Electoral democracy is by far one of the most powerful tools of the capitalist system to pacify people, distract them into "struggling" for their own party whose platform and policies are not significantly different from their opponent, and creating divisiveness between those who should be collaborating.

But, once again, there are some differences that are meaningful for some people. Rights to minorities, abortion, openness to sexual and gender differences matter to some people. The policies may be minute in the end, but for many people's lives, they make a tremendous difference. It is a privilege to not vote...

Another point is that ultimately, as a non-voter your rejection of the farce goes unnoticed and unmarked. Rather than a resister to the system you are viewed as apolitical and apathetic. There needs to be a more productive means of resisting the electoral system as anarchists and not merely be ignored...

Finally, as in my first post, I do think Trumpism and the Trumpites are a different breed of fascism in the US. Yes, they have a long history and are an inherent part of American culture and socio-political history, but it doesn't deserve such a prominent platform. Just imagine how the fascist forces were to react if Trump was to get a resounding defeat in 2020! No, they won't go away, and yes, the victors will court their own proto-fascist policies and practices, but it won't be Trumpism...

It is anti-anarchist to participate in electoral democracy, but sometimes praxis has to be modified in abnormal circumstances and I believe Trumpism is one of those moments...

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[deleted] wrote

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ziq wrote (edited )

Yes there are US anarchists stumping for DSA candidates all the time, and shaming people for not voting. If anarchists want to vote I wish they'd just do it and keep it to themselves instead of yelling at me for not voting and calling anyone that doesn't vote a fascist.

Literally - I've seen countless anarchists be called fascists this week (by other anarchists) for being anti-voting - including an indigenous anarchist that didn't want anything to do with electing a settler to rule them. They were mercilessly attacked by dozens of settler-anarchists calling them ableist slurs, fascist scum, etc.

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arduinna wrote

If anarchists want to vote I wish they'd just do it and keep it to themselves

Exactly. I think voting's a good move, but I think making a show of it is the opposite of a good move- spend your twenty minutes voting, and shut the fuck up about it. When you make a show of it, you're not arguing for anarchist ideals but liberal ideals.

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ziq wrote (edited )

I also don't believe in lesser evilism because the entire system is designed for the 2 capitalist parties to take turns. Party A gives the people who elected them a few (largely meaningless) 'rights' while in power (while brutalizing minorities and bleeding the global south), then party B is elected and takes those rights right back (while brutalizing minorities and bleeding the global south).

And both parties take every opportunity to knock some (actually important) rights off during their respective rule in the name of fighting terrorism/drugs/immigrants/hackers/pirates/etc.

It's a nauseating charade designed to maintain the status quo. Voting just doesn't work. It affects no change. It only perpetuates the fatalistic system. It's like choosing which foot you want to be shot in.

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[deleted] wrote

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ziq wrote (edited )

If the lesser evil helped minorities, Obama wouldn't have deported more poc than any president ever, built concentration camps for poc, maintained offshore prisons for holding/torturing poc without trial, and used drone strikes to destroy poc countries more than any president ever.

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