Didn't Vote Yet? Consider This
If you have not yet voted for president and Congress in this existential election, please consider this. We can expect two very different categories of protest votes.
The first will come from the many millions of voters who will cast their ballots for Trump, not despite his racism, misogyny, authoritarianism, and encouragement of violence, but because of it.
The second protest group is appalled, horrified, and angry at Kamela Harris's and other Democrats’ continued support for the Israeli and U.S.-enabled genocide in Palestine and Lebanon. They may either withhold their votes or cast them for a third party. The former Trump-aligned group is electorally far, far larger than the latter, as are its donors and lobbyists. I identify with the latter progressive group.
However, I voted early today for Harris and Walz and our incumbent Democratic congressperson. I did so even though I blame centrist Democrats not just for the genocide but for their abandonment of working people and ensuring insecurity in the face of the unregulated global capitalism that fostered the rise of Trumpism.
When Democrats lose elections to right-wingers, whether it is because of leftist third-party candidates or withheld votes, the lesson they learn isn't to become more progressive. It is the opposite. We are where we are because progressives have not yet built a strong enough base to build sufficient power to win elections. That takes day-to-day organizing around the issues that press on everyday lives. That takes the hard work of coalition and relationship building.
For those of us who are committed to bringing into being a government that respects democratic and human rights and eschews genocide, the organizing work will continue no matter who or what party assumes the presidency or controls Congress.
A Democratic victory in November will, by no means, end the genocide or install a progressive government. But it will avoid a fascistic one that promises to lock up and deport immigrants, criminalize dissidents, persecute and deny the rights of LGTBQ people, deny women's reproductive rights, and unleash untold sanctioned violence. We need to believe Trump and his supporters will carry out every hateful promise. To imagine they will not is a risk I am willing to take.
A Democratic defeat due to a genocide-driven protest vote will not undermine the stranglehold of the two-party system except possibly in an unintended but predictable way. Once in power, fascists use every means at their disposal to keep it.
Arthur taught and led science professional learning and curriculum and assessment development projects for 50 yrs. He writes about education and social justice. He loves spending time with friends and family, hiking, and gardening.
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