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What I meant was, aren't all these calls for "compromise" and "lesser of two evils" just teaching the progressive electorate to accept any mediocre/bad Democrat candidate, because the Republicans will always run someone worse? There's every chance the 2020 election will feature a Republican worse than Trump and a Democrat more compromised than Hillary. When does a voter say enough?
Honestly? Voters saying “enough” during a presidential season won’t do anything, not unless it comes out that both presidential candidates are, like, space invaders in disguise or engaging in human trafficking on the deep web, or something. Our political system as it stands now is a two-party system, for all intents and purposes. Yes, third parties exist, but their existence does not make them a viable option. The way our electorate works, they have no chance. The only way a third party could gain traction in a presidential election within our current system is if one of the two major parties completely collapses, and that third party takes its place. At which point we still have a two party system, it’s just that the parties have changed.
The problem here is that every four years, we get a group loudly shouting “Enough is enough” and declaring that they refuse to compromise and vote for a lesser evil. But these same people are most often nowhere to be found during midterm elections. These same people are less likely to vote down-ballot. Like clockwork, every time we’re picking a new president, there’s a loud contingent who refuses to endorse anyone who doesn’t pass their purity test. Some of these people don’t vote at all. Some of them vote third party to “make a point.”
Except with how our system works currently, a third party vote is either the same as not voting, or will actively count against the major party most closely representing that person’s interests. It’s most likely that the major party that voters wanted to make a point to will ignore them altogether. If they do notice? They’ll conclude that the further to a political extreme people in the party are, the less reliable they are as voters. And then the party will do more to appeal to moderates, getting the protest voters the exact opposite of what they wanted.
The solution here? Don’t make presidential elections your hill to die on. Don’t play the game as if the rules have already changed to be what you want them to be. We have to start reforms at the lower levels: Local and state elections. Only when we can consistently elect senators, governors, state representatives, mayors, and city council members who are independent or much further to the right/left than the major parties will our two major parties consider those people as serious presidential contenders. Only then will third parties ever be seen as an option the electorate could actually support.
Holy shit that list is incredible thank you
It's so weird talking to people who's view of "here's the way life is for everyone" is shattered as soon as they talk to someone with disabilities (physical, mental illness, any). Like you'll say you'll have a problem and instead of helping you they'll argue with you about how you're not actually facing that problem. Like,
Me: Hey, I'm really struggling to find a job and a part of it is my resume. I was depressed & psychotic during highschool so I didn't do anything to gain skills or achievements to put on my resume. I also don't have anyone to put as a reference. What can I do?
Them: You can add your skills, hobbies, clubs you're in, and different volunteer work you've done! You can also get your teacher as a reference.
Me: I already know what to put on a resume, my issue is that I don't have things that I can use. Also, I'm in my mid 20s so I don't know if I can put my highschool teacher as a reference.
Them: Well if you're a part of a church or an activity group, you could add that. Also, think of any projects you've worked on in the past.
Me: I already know you can put these things on a resume. I'm not looking for suggests of things I've already done, I'm looking for what I can do now if I haven't done anything.
Them: There's no way you didn't do anything during highschool?? What about some odd jobs you definitely did for extra money, like babysitting or mowing the lawn?
Me: I spent all of highschool either in modified classes or in bed doing nothing - not even hobbies, what about that do you not understand?
And then you talk to someone who's also disabled and they're like "Here's a bunch of jobs you can do from home that don't pay much but look good on a resume, here's some free online courses that also look good on a resume, here's how you can be making small amounts of money in the meantime, here's some things you can put besides a professional reference, and here are your rights if your future employer tries to take advantage of your disability - which you probably shouldn't tell them about unless you need accommodations."
And suddenly my will to continue trying returns!
