• Euphorazine@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    51
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    Alaska, a red state, is reportedly trying to remove their rank choice voting. This isn’t a “Dems” problem, it’s a two party problem.

    https://ballotpedia.org/Alaska_Ballot_Measure_2,_Repeal_Top-Four_Ranked-Choice_Voting_Initiative_(2024)

    Even if state and local elections are ranked choice, the presidential election will still be a first past the post election and the electoral college is still designed for a two party system.

    • GarbageShootAlt2@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      22
      ·
      2 months ago

      Obviously the Republicans are completely hostile to rcv, but the nominal progressives here aren’t hoping the Republicans will implement rcv, they think Dems will. I have someone arguing exactly that to me in another thread because three congresspeople are currently setting a proposal up to be shot down.

    • venusaur@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      2 months ago

      It is a two party problem but dems and their cult-like followers act like the politicians they worship can do no wrong. Both parties are businesses and that’s it.

  • lengau@midwest.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    2 months ago

    My city had ranked choice voting implemented by Democrats in the 1970s. They elected the first black mayor, who is still one of our most beloved mayors in the city’s history, under RCV.

    Then Republicans made it illegal at a state level when they had a trifecta. Democrats keep introducing bills at the state level to allow RCV, and Republicans take more and more drastic action against it. So yeah… I want more Democrats in my state government so we can have RCV.

    • bastion@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      2 months ago

      Those three Democrat are focusing on the thing all of the Democrats and Republicans should.

      • OmnislashIsACloudApp@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        8
        ·
        2 months ago

        oh yes the standard reply.

        Rs actively tearing it down like in Alaska

        Ds putting forth a bill to do it but only started by three of them this time around

        “both sides are the same!”

        yawn

        • bastion@feddit.nl
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          2 months ago

          Did you even read what I wrote?

          Those few Dems are clearly the ones pushing this. But that it should be bipartisan and should have more support in general has nothing to do with false equivocation.

          The irony here, though, is that because of your partisan BS, you clearly interpreted that as an insult to the Democrats.

    • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      18
      arrow-down
      7
      ·
      2 months ago

      If a solution doesn’t have a realistic path to implementation, it doesn’t matter. The system itself is designed against change, RCV is something neither party actually wants.

      Some few Democrats or states are allowed to support it as far as it gives RCV supporters some semblence of power, without actually pressuring the system.

      Even if RCV was implemented, and a Third Party candidate won, the 2 establishment parties would work against any radical change.

      • would_be_appreciated@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        2 months ago

        It pressures the system in those cities or states, which is actual pressure to the system, just not direct pressure on the federal government. History shows you can mount pressure through local and state changes until it gets overwhelming support on a federal level.

        You can make the argument there might be more effective or quicker solutions, but this is unquestionably one path toward it.

        • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          2 months ago

          My point is that tiny, inconsequential pressure is allowed so that you think it applies pressure. Whenever it gets close to making a difference, it won’t.

          • serendepity@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            2 months ago

            You say that with a lot of certainty, but without any evidence to back it up. If history is any indication, lasting change is won from the bottom-up. You have to get the masses at large on your side first and the best way to do it is to show them, in small steps, that it can be done and that it’s effective.

            • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              2 months ago

              If history is any indication, lasting change is won from the bottom-up. You have to get the masses at large on your side first and the best way to do it is to show them, in small steps, that it can be done and that it’s effective.

              This is the opposite of correct, the ruling class will never do something because it’s right or effective, but because they need to. Read Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, you’re repeating the errors of the Owenites.

              • serendepity@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                2 months ago

                I don’t disagree that the ruling class won’t do something that doesn’t align with their interests. I’m saying that they will be forced to enact reforms once the political zeitgeist changes. The state has an exponentially larger capacity for violence than us. Our only viable option is the threat of non co-operation. The nuance lies in doing it in a way that we don’t lose the progress we have already made. That means aligning with the Democratic Party until we have enough political capital to form a viable third party. Owen was apolitical, I am not.

                • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  ·
                  2 months ago

                  I’m saying that they will be forced to enact reforms once the political zeitgeist changes.

                  Are you suggesting genuine revolutionary pressure, or suggesting that public opinion meaningfully sways the parties?

                  The state has an exponentially larger capacity for violence than us.

                  Correct.

                  Our only viable option is the threat of non co-operation.

                  Not sure what this means, are you suggesting working outside the electoral system, or within it?

                  The nuance lies in doing it in a way that we don’t lose the progress we have already made. That means aligning with the Democratic Party until we have enough political capital to form a viable third party.

                  Where does this political Capital come from? How do you grow it if not working with Third Parties to begin with?

                  More importantly, if we side with the Dems, why does that increase the political capital of leftists? The GOP will not go away, even if the party itself crumbles, what will replace it will be another far-right party, because the material conditions for that remain as long as we continue to exist in decaying Capitalism.

                  Owen was apolitical, I am not.

                  Not sure what this means.

                  Out of curiosity, what do you consider yourself? Marxist, Anarchist, Liberal, etc.?

    • linkhidalgogato@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      10
      ·
      2 months ago

      if they wont give us what we want or need they dont deserve our votes, maybe next time they will offer more than “im not the other guy”, if the democrats will not be pushed left then they should be destroyed.

      • StinkySocialist@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        2 months ago

        You are correct, but everyone is too afraid to work together to find a better candidate/ new party. We no longer can organize ourselves. We can only be organized by institutions apparently. I’d love to be proven wrong on this but watch how much resistance you get. Just trying to suggest that maybe we could do better. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

  • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    21
    arrow-down
    10
    ·
    2 months ago

    The Dems will preserve a political model that’s at least malleable. 3rds will need to work together to push ranked choice more and more into voters’ field of view.

    Republicans will swan-dive into fascism, in which case 3rds (and everyone else) are fucked.

    Dems aren’t going to help 3rds directly, but any one who wants the possibility of a 3rd party victory later is committing political suicide by failing to vote blue as a means of buying time. Voting 3rd when that 3rd has no potential for victory is self-destructive.

    • isaaclw@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      Also just following the green party a bit and educating your self about them… you learn that the green party is as focused on selfish personal horse race politics that deals with power plays, as the dem party (though on a smaller scale) instead of actual change.

      This political cycle, Green party had a chance to radically push the Dems on palestine, by putting up a candidate that would drop out if Dems changed their position on support for Israel.

      Jill Stein rejected it.

      Just the fact they rejected it shows to me that they’re not serious about actual political change. They just want to be a spoiler. They continue to only run in general elections instead ofnpushing in states.

      So I guess i have no home party, but Ill vote for the lesser of two evils still.

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        6
        ·
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        This is incredibly dishonest. The Greens actually did the compromise thing in 2020 and didn’t go as hard so Dems could beat Trump.

        In return they got Democrats doing Genocide and AOC Pelosi now yapping about how Greens are “predatory” honest because they dropped in the 2020 polls.

        Democrats can not do Genocide they don’t need to Greens to bow down for them.

        • isaaclw@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          4
          ·
          2 months ago

          In return? Dems have always been for genocide. Joe Biden has been terrible for Israel Paleatine.

          Dems are better on this issue than they ever have been (Biden excluded) due to activist pressure, no thanks to Greens.

          Pelosi actuall said in March that we should limit sales to Israel. I don’t think people realize how incredible that is.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            5
            arrow-down
            5
            ·
            2 months ago

            Dems are better on this issue than they ever have been

            Which is why Harris is saying she’s going to keep sending bombs to israel to burn Palestinian babies with and she’s signaling that she wants to start a war with Iran right?

            Pelosi actuall said in March that we should limit sales to Israel. I don’t think people realize how incredible that is.

            Ok… Did they do it?

    • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      The Dems will preserve a political model that’s at least malleable.

      Much like during covid when they gave preferential treatment to themselves while simultaneously working to remove the Green party from ballots.

      -More to the point your comment runs contrary to reality and the very nature of the joke pointed out in the meme.

      • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        …and a swan-dive into fascism is preferable to that because…?

        Our political model is janky as fuck. I don’t need to explain the pitfalls of a two-party system to you - I already know you fucking hate it or you wouldn’t be eyeing a 3rd in the first place. I hate it too. But a two party system is what we have, which means you have three options:

        • Red (fascism)

        • Blue (not fascism)

        • Let the other voters choose Red or Blue for you (abstain or vote 3rd).

         

        Which of those options will do the best job of accomplishing YOUR goals?

        What even are your goals? 3rd party as POTUS? You gotta lay the groundwork first. 2016 was the perfect stage for a 3rd party victory within our current model: we had an absolutely hated candidate running on both of the big two; a voterbase just as sick of the status quo as they are now; a Libertarian with a genuinely likable personality, some solid policy stances, and who managed to shift the “crazy” that Libertarians were reputed for to an honestly charming variety of “quirky”, and a surprisingly steady stream of coverage by the media. We will never see better conditions for a 3rd victory in our current model.

        So how did the Libertarians do with that perfect storm? 3%. They got fucking 3% of the vote. How do those conditions compare to today’s? Red is running that same hated sack of shit Trump; but Blue couldn’t find a candidate hated as much as Hillary if they tried to - to the contrary, Harris is churning up optimism like I’ve never seen before. The die-hard Reds and Blues aren’t going to change their votes over that, but the folks in the middle are going to be far less inclined to vote 3rd than they were in 2016. 3rds have gotten pretty much zero media attention this time around. They literally do not stand a chance to beat even 2016’s 3%, let alone enough to actually win.

        Your only way to the top is to change the political model into one that’s more favorable to you; and the easiest way to do that is to keep not-fascism in power long enough to get the general population pissed off enough about not having ranked choice that it starts making its way into bigger and bigger elections. Your next-easiest path to victory is insurrection… that most likely both fail and get yourself killed, so please don’t do that. Your least-easy path to victory is to allow fascism to take root, as that will push the model even further away from your reach: if that happens it’s game over for everyone except the fascists.

        If you see a different option that’ll lead to a 3rd victory in our current model, I’m all ears; but if not, you still need to set the stage with favorable conditions, to include preventing the stage from being burned to the ground.

        • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          2 months ago

          Your only way to the top is to change the political model into one that’s more favorable to you; and the easiest way to do that is to keep not-fascism in power long enough to get the general population pissed off enough about not having ranked choice that it starts making its way into bigger and bigger elections. Your next-easiest path to victory is insurrection… that most likely both fail and get yourself killed, so please don’t do that. Your least-easy path to victory is to allow fascism to take root, as that will push the model even further away from your reach: if that happens it’s game over for everyone except the fascists.

          Why do you think fascism exists, and why is it present in America?

      • Skyrmir@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        arrow-down
        9
        ·
        2 months ago

        The green party only exists because the GOP keeps giving them money. The only time anyone ever hears a damn word out of them, is when they’re showing up to split the Dem vote for the GOP.

        • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          arrow-down
          12
          ·
          edit-2
          2 months ago

          You might want lay off the Blue MAGA conspiracies for a bit.

          Commission certifies Jill Stein eligible to receive federal matching funds (2024)

          Based on documents received on June 3, 2024, Jill Stein and Jill Stein for President 2024 (JSFP) fulfilled the agreement and certification requirements and contributions

          To become eligible for matching funds, candidates must submit Candidate and Committee Agreements and Certifications as well as raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states in amounts no greater than $250 from any individual.

          Also the entire Democratic party runs on AIPAC which is actually funded by Republicans. Dems reaching unprecedented levels of projection.

            • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              8
              arrow-down
              10
              ·
              2 months ago

              When everything Democrats don’t like is a Russian GOP state agent because someone drew some text on an image and they did zero fact checking, you know they’ve reached MAGA levels.

              If any of these insane conspiracies were actually true the Green party would not even be allowed to run. The Democrats have done everything to try to concern troll the Greens off ballots in most “democratic” fashion.

              • mashbooq@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                6
                arrow-down
                4
                ·
                2 months ago

                They might label some people incorrectly as russian agents, but the reality is that there is a concerted effort by russia to undermine the US democracy, mostly directed at the Democratic Party, and making some mistakes doesn’t make them delusional.

                It’s pretty hard to prosecute propaganda in the US due to the First Amendment, so it’s not accurate to say that just because the Greens can run, they must not be russian agents.

                The concern about the Greens is eminently logical: they are never going to win, so the best they can do is take votes from the Democrats, allowing the fascists to win. This is in fact what happened in the election of Polk, leading to the Mexican-American war and the theft of Texas from Mexico, which was then admitted as an additional slave state. Further, the Greens do little to nothing other than run in big national races, so it’s not a leap to think they’re deliberately running a spoiler campaign.

                Finally, none of that has anything to do with the silly attempt to label Democrats as “Blue MAGA”, since MAGA is a quasi-religious fascist personality cult, none of which can be credibly attributed to Democrats.

                • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  arrow-down
                  3
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  2 months ago

                  Top Democrats like Biden and Harris are bought and paid for by AIPAC. Which is funded by you guessed it: Republicans. And israel.

                  The reason it’s called Blue MAGA is because Democrats are also Zionists.

                  Zionismis a religious fascist Death Cult. And the Democrat Zionist cult is currently complicit in Genocide and the denial of Genocide.

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      13
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      This is a few people not the party as a whole.

      Notably there is a platform out there for the Democratic candidate. Unless I missed something RCV is not on the agenda.

      • Psychodelic@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        2 months ago

        Do those goalposts have little feet on them?

        “Democrats wouldn’t do this”

        Democrats do this

        “No, not like that”

        Look, I said it in a dumb meme format so you know it’s true

        (I appreciate you for posting here, just making fun of you 😊)

        • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          9
          ·
          edit-2
          2 months ago

          This is like saying Republicans oppose sending weapons to israel because Thomas Massie exists.

          The meme says implement. If you think a small minority of a party can implement RCV you don’t understand how the system works.

          Especially if you actually look into what was linked and see that this is not the first time. The Democratic party has already shot it down in the past.

          • _stranger_@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            2 months ago

            Implement doesn’t mean “manifest from the aether with zero work”. It means do every step until it’s done. This is like step 5 of a lot.

  • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    Some will at small, minor levels, but never enough to cause a serious threat. It’s like how it’s socially permissible and legal to make worker co-operatives and the like, the fact that it’s non-threatening to the status quo keeps it a useful carrot that will never arrive at a scale that causes drastic change.

    • lengau@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      2 months ago

      It’s amazing how close they get to making good points before veering off into “Dems bad, do <thing that gets Republicans more power>.”

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      10
      ·
      2 months ago

      I don’t even know what you said before but it’s pretty amazing you’re proudly boasting about a comment with zero content calling users republican trolls.

  • Keeponstalin@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    2 months ago

    Progressive Democrats will and do. Neoliberal ones do not as they only care about the donor class