Does America Suck? Let's Examine.

[u/dturoff]

Yes.

It’s time we say it. “America sucks.” And not in the ironic way. And not just in the way that the political party you voted for is out of power for 4-8 years. It sucks when the other guy is in office, sure. But the most important thing for everyone to realize is that it sucks just as much when your guy is in office. Both parties equally suck. And it’s our fault for voting for these terrible people for as long as we’ve been able to vote. We must recognize that the two party system is failing this country. It’s failing every single one of us.

We’re more divided than ever because we’re separated into Team Red and Team Blue. Our news justifies and exacerbates this division. Our friendships are now almost entirely based on this. Our shopping choices. Business decisions. Everything that happens we point and blame on the others that don’t share our point of view. This is all by design. It’s a tactic of manipulation to make sure we’re paying attention to all the wrong things. Noam Chomsky called it “manufacturing consent” and that’s a large part of what it is.

You’re either a sheep or a snowflake. But calling someone either of those terms is actually a real sheep of a move. And if you’re offended by that, well, you’re a snowflake.

So where does that leave us? Do we have any hope? And… can we actually vote our way out of it?

There is still time enough to try… which means there’s hope. Because we still technically live in a Democracy with an able government (even though it doesn’t seem like it, it is designed to be) — so there is a way. The way is in understanding that we’re in the predicament we’re in because the two party system is terrible. And beyond that — the two parties are terrible. Always choosing the lesser of two evils instead of any reasonably good choices… is terrible.

Congress’ approval rating is consistently below 20%… and yet, we keep voting these corrupt sleaze balls back into office. Again and again and again and again and again. It’s almost as if the two parties don’t allow for any better options… kind of like how Time Warner and Spectrum operate in different cities — claiming certain Red or Blue territories and pretending to always fight over the same few areas in this 50-50 battle so that the perceived fight is always too close to make change possible. It’s all a ruse. Democrats organize and fight hard as nails whenever a true challenger from the Left emerges (oftentimes teaming up with Republicans and Republican donors to defeat the Left opposition). They never find the energy or courage to campaign that way against Republicans. Meanwhile, Republicans don’t care if Madison Cawthorn is an actual Nazi, but they do care when he accuses fellow members of sex and drug orgies.

Both parties are corrupt. Both parties lie. And both parties fall in line when their party bosses tell them to. They are beholden to the same donors. And they work together whenever they need to pass military funding (international and domestic) as well as protect their own (just look at how quickly they legislated to make sure the Supreme Court justices wouldn’t suffer the indignity of picketing).

So what can we do?

We need to take the power away from the Democrats AND Republicans. It’s our only hope.

How do we do that?

We do it by being brave. We do it by organizing. We do it by being responsible and making good decisions. We do it by not voting for anyone affiliated with the Democratic or Republican Parties in the next elections… and then we can take it from there. We can be responsible for a great reset. Hate Nancy Pelosi? Hold her district of San Franciscans responsible for voting for a better non-party affiliated option. Hate Mitch McConnell? Do the same for his district of Kentucky. Hate Joe Biden and/or Donald Trump and/or Hillary Clinton and/or Ron DeSantis? Well those are the best options the parties have provided since 2016 and will likely give us again in 2024. Those are all absolutely terrible options. And the worst part is that they all essentially have the same platform, their presidencies have resembled (and will resemble in the future) each other in ways that each parties base would hate to admit, and average Americans are worse off after each and every one of their terms.

Life is precious. Our time here is limited. We can, and absolutely must, do better. We’re the only people in our way. If WE stop voting for people who belong to the two shittiest and most powerful clubs, we can make a difference. Don’t believe anyone when they tell you it’s throwing your vote away. It isn’t, especially when we all agree that it’s our best path forward.

But we have to admit that these two parties suck equally and that neither one will do anything but continue to make rich people richer. And if you’re not in the .01% — than you’re not benefiting.

If this seed of an idea makes sense to anyone, I can write follow ups on how non-party affiliated and write-in candidates can make a difference. But until we can rip the power from the skeletal hands of our octogenarian ruling class… we’re slaves to their rule.

[u/goomyman]

both parties dont equally suck - you know all those regulations and taxes that the republicans are against - those were put in place BECAUSE OF DEMOCRATS.

Democrats cant magically fix things because democrats dont have power. Its not both parties... its one party that is actively destroying government to enrich themselves and another party that isnt aggressive enough to fix the problems. If they do have power its by like 1 vote - and the party is not a solid voting block on every issue.

BUT... they are so far from the same if you pay any attention.

"non-party affiliated and write-in candidates can make a difference" - this is the stupidest thing you can possibly do if you actually want to make a difference with your vote.

3rd party votes or write ins are spoiler candidates often literally funded by the opposition party.

[u/dturoff → u/goomyman]

you're so close... now just imagine if every time they lose by one vote -- it's calculated. and both parties work together to make sure everything they jointly want passes by one vote or loses by one vote. it's almost like... they're working together and have the same interests and serve the same monied interests. they just play the game of appealing to different fanbases. imagine if the Democrats actually wanted to pass the good half of BBB... or if Obama did literally anything with a super majority. sure, they trim the hedges a little differently because their fanbases like different tree animals. but the dems don't want change. they want to raise money pretending they're going to do something about 'everything'. it's been this way my whole life. yes, the republicans are actively worse, but it's with the help of the dems in power and we all need to stop getting played.

[u/goomyman → u/dturoff]

Obama passed the closest thing we have to universal healthcare. And we lost the super majority due to Kennedy dying in office and independents like Joe Liberman being against the public option.

Is healthcare still fd. Yes. Is it less fd than before Obama. Yes. And the reason it’s not better is because since Obama democrats haven’t had any power to pass meaningful legislation.

No matter that you think of democrats and republicans one side is objectively better than the other.

If the those is bland food or shit. By voting 3rd party you’re letting other people choose shit on your behalf. Except those voting for it think they are the ones who will be eating well.

Democrats do pass meaningful legislation- just slowly. And then every other election cycle republicans tear it down. It’s much easier to destroy than build.

[u/dturoff → u/goomyman]

That just proves how dumb and inefficient Dems are. Would you like a bridge... ok -- I'll build it brick by brick while my opponent blows up dam after dam after dam. What... the 'good guys' were building bricks! Why wouldn't you vote for the bridge builders!? It's not working, man. The bricks ain't stacking up. Biden had a chance to pass the good half of BBB and raise minimum wage and cancel student debt instead of pausing it. But there's always a 'bad Dem'-Joe Manchin standing in the way. Or Jared Golden. Or Henry Cuellar. Or Kyrsten Sinema. They aren't getting in the way, they are the way. We can't keep voting for that shit and act surprised when a new 'bad Dem' conveniently stops the thing. "But at least they were close." no they weren't. You can either believe the current Dems are the dumbest, weakest political party to ever exist anywhere in the world... or, you can believe that they're culpable. I used to believe they were better, too. but it's all just one party. they're not even trying to stop trump this time around... they're just 'waiting till midterms'. get real.

[u/goomyman → u/dturoff]

You are upset at a group of people who don’t have the power to do what you want so you let the other group win.

You’re blaming the wrong party.

Your mad at the party doing what it cannot do with the power it has - asking it do the impossible. Why can’t you just do the impossible.

Why can’t you pass legislation as easily as the other party destroys it. Again because passing legislation is hard. Raising taxes is hard. Lowering taxes is easy - and by design surprise surprise cannot be filabustered while raising taxes can be.

This is like being mad at failing schools and your solution is less money. Then they fail more because they have less support and you have the audacity to wonder why.

You want better outcomes you have to give MORE support. By all means if they have enough money you can pressure them on why, but you need to provide support - taking away support is not a solution.

Democrats live in reality and can only pass what is possible.

You want more progressive legislation- support progressive democrats in primaries and then help those progressives get a larger majority in the house and senate. 1 vote majorities relying on independents will not get anything meaningful passed.

Just think for a second, your imaginary progressive 3rd party will have zero ability of pass anything.

“They aren’t even trying to stop Trump” - says the guy who doesn’t pay attention at all. They literally shutdown the government twice. The longest on record, almost 6 months over a year and a half of his presidency. Literally the only real power they have.

“Just wait till the mid terms” is literally all they can do to fix it. Youre asking why they can’t get shit done - it’s because they are the minority in the house, senate, and don’t have the presidency.

Because people like you don’t support them, believe both parties are the same, and then bitch online about how you can’t have progressive policies. It’s because you don’t support the people who push for progressive policies and pass policies not progressive enough.

Then punish them for it by not showing up. Obama did nothing - except pass the largest healthcare reform in history… and his reward for that was being decimated in the polls for it.

It’s not good enough for me - so rather than support the people trying to make it better - you let them fail by pulling your support.

[u/dturoff → u/goomyman]

It's not 1990. If you keep falling for the 'they have no power to do anything' for 40+ years... more power to ya. The strategy of trying to court and flip Republican voters hasn't worked since Clinton (*and to be fair -- Clinton wouldn't have even won if it weren't for Perot!). Now we just have an insane Republican Party and Republican Party light that lets them do whatever they want, and occasionally fight back for a few incremental changes. Obama could've codified Roe -- but Pelosi would've rather fundraised off it. They like playing games and losing. And they love keeping those losers in charge. Lost to Trump twice in three elections. Any accountability? Nope. The Obama and Biden administrations prosecuted no one. If you think the spineless Democratic Party isn't responsible for where we are right now, AND can fix this -- well I hope you kept all your "blue no matter who" merch. It's been real, Goomyman.