Something that will always annoy me:
How any structural critique of electoral politics is read as “don’t vote” and inevitably a bunch of liberals jump in to make sure you’re voting Democrat. Most leftists I know vote, and I don’t disagree with the idea of it as damage control of whatever, but there’s this massive Cult of the Vote™ in liberal circles that treats ballot-casting as the indispensable political act. Like, even leftists who endorse voting are still going to adamantly declare afterwards that unionizing, direct action, food drives, indigenous rights, resistance to white supremacy, community solidarity, dissemination of radical ideas, workplace democracy, prefiguration, etc. are all far more important in tilting the landscape leftward; and some liberals will concede that “sure, those other activities might be important”, but voting is still the only one that’s fetishized so strongly in these circles. Probably because “non-partisan” “rock the vote” sentiment is one of the least threatening movements in the eyes of the rich and powerful, and so it’s a sentiment that’s allowed to flourish and receive all these endorsements from celebrities and war criminals. In other words, you rarely see liberals wear shirts that say “unionize” or “restore the commons”, but you always see liberals wearing “rock the vote”-type shirts or “I just voted” stickers.
This isn’t me saying “don’t vote”. In fact, do vote. Damage control is good. But the way liberals approach this conversation perpetually shoots down any and all left-wing mobilization beyond the capitalist voting booth.
Haven’t posted politics in a while, but damn. This is the shit. I respect the choice to vote. I also respect the choice not to vote. As long as you are making a choice for good reasons.