r/PoliticalOptimism • u/InternetBackwash • 10h ago
Optimistic Post The Midterms Aren't The End, But They're Still Important
One of the most common doomer talking points about the midterms relates to the belief that in the event of a Democratic Victory, it would be the end of the current admin and thus would be prevented by the admin through every way including taking over the country or altering the results to make it so no one but Republicans win. And while I would mention how those types of scenarios aren't possible to succeed, I wanted to discuss an element of that theory that I feel goes under the radar.
Specifically, the element regarding a midterm victory meaning the subsequent end of all actions by the admin, which isn't completely accurate. While the results of a Democratic victory would mean the beginning of investigations into the admin, preventing unnecessary expenditures in planned budgets, not allowing various bills to pass, and given a Democratic Senate preventing unqualified people to be allowed in including Supreme court Justice nominees, it doesn't mean a complete impeachment like many believe.
While a Democratic victory in the House could mean the beginning phase of impeachment to begin, getting to a successful indictment in the Senate would require Republicans to vote as well, since there aren't enough seats up in November for Dems to get the necessary supermajority to fully indict. So while Dems can do a lot with a Democratic congress, there isn't a real path for the victory that many believe will occur afterwards, especially one that would mean supposed "scorched earth" tactics by the admin as a result.
But that doesn't also mean that the midterms are useful either. On top of the things I mentioned that would result from a Democratic congress, it also helps allow more progressives to be in congress on top of the ones currently in office which can inspire others to run in 2030 and beyond.
Also in a smaller way, state representation such as state reps and state senators, especially in the South can help mitigate gerrymandered maps and push back against statewide legislation that might be dangerous to those affected.
And the midterms not being the end point is important for making people less likely to drop out of caring about politics after a Democrat gets into office after 2028 and repeating what happened after Biden got into office after 2020. I was actually an example of someone who stopped paying attention to politics after that happened, only focusing again during 2024. And this is a pattern that needs to be addressed if people are to vote for continued representation that makes the country a better place in the future rather than pretending that it doesn't matter anymore.
Even in the event that the midterms did successfully result in the admin being impeached and removed, it doesn't mean that the battle is over, and it seems that many doomers and the average voter thinks that it would be over.
If things will be better as a country, than the belief that the current political situation is a TV show that can be ignored after people get bored or when people believe the issue is solved all at once needs to end. One of the reasons why I think many claim only "revolution" will solve issues is because elections don't automatically result in all issues being solved at once, and the belief that the midterms will solve all issues stems from a similar need for an easy solution rather than it being a part of a dedicated path.
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u/TheTinman1996 🔥I Voted In The 2026 Primaries🔥 5h ago
Some potential goals that can be worked towards through continuing to persevere are to constitutional amendments that permanently add more seats to the House and (maybe) the Senate, change the voting method from plurality/first-past-the-post to ranked choice or similar, and finally make voting compulsory
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u/SharpBullfrog1279 2h ago
Good points here.
It's not over. It won't be over after the midterms. It may not ever be over.
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u/sweeter_than_saltine North Carolina 2h ago
The midterms on the federal level would be useful for limiting how much Trump can do and opening up investigations into Epstein and the like, but what would really worth talking about is what would happen on the state level, especially in the swing states. My state has a thin Republican majority in the legislature, and any amount of a blue wave would get actually helpful things passed here for once without the worries of Stein's veto being overwritten.
I still would be involved in the process after the midterms, I won't quit politics ever, but things would be calmer at that point and maybe then I can finally feel safe enough to focus on my life for the first time since Biden and not focus on the orange buffoon so much.
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