3 ms·

Yeah, the people who suggest voting doesn’t matter are either suffering from some nihilistic delusion or they’re spreading a self-serving lie.

atmavatar 1y ago
Or, they live in one of the 40-something states where the election margins are large enough that it doesn't matter whether they vote. My state hasn't voted Democrat since 1964. The only two elections with less than a 10-point spread since then were in 1976 (7.5% spread) and 1992 (5% spread due to Perot stealing votes from Bush Sr.). I moved to this state in 1993.
- throwaway173738 1y ago
  Local government and utility commissioners are very important too.
- ssl-3 1y ago
  I have three general questions: --- 1. So it's about odds? By what mechanism do you think that refusing to vote will improve your favored diminutive party's odds in your state? --- 2. Or maybe it's about cost, instead? What does it cost to vote in your state? How much time, and how much money, does a voter need to put forth in order to cast a vote in [wherever you are]? --- 3. Are you a masochist? (Are you sure about that?)
gishh 1y ago
Hmm. Possibly. I predict that California will “go blue” in the presidential elections for at least the rest of my lifetime. Someone who “votes red” in California can say that their vote doesn’t matter, and a reasonable person would understand why they feel that way. You don’t seem like a reasonable person, or you’re also suffering from some nihilistic delusion, possibly.
- ssl-3 1y ago
  The most sure method any of us can individually enact to help to ensure that our favored candidate is not elected is to declare that it doesn't matter, and then just give up and not vote. This method is literally an example of nihilism.
  - gishh 1y ago
    So are you saying that, in this instance, understanding your vote doesn’t matters is delusional, or not? You never addressed that. You latched onto the nihilistic part, which I suppose isn’t surprising.
    - ssl-3 1y ago
      Your vote always matters. Your vote gets tallied up along with all of the other votes, each of which individually have exactly equal weight compared to your own vote. By extension: Any suggestion to the contrary is delusional.
      - gishh 1y ago
        I reject your premise. Your vote doesn't always matter.
        ssl-3 1y ago
        The vote that is never cast is absolutely worthless. You're correct. (I vote every single time unless my ballot would simply be empty. I'd like to say "I'll see you at the polls!" but that is seemingly a lost cause -- it's apparent that only one of us has any chance at all of imparting any change at this level, and that this person is not you. But you do you. The folks who aren't nihilists will do what we can to steer the ship without your help.)
        gishh 11mo ago
        Ah, I also vote in every election I can. Thanks for the assumption though!

atmavatar 1y ago

Or, they live in one of the 40-something states where the election margins are large enough that it doesn't matter whether they vote. My state hasn't voted Democrat since 1964. The only two elections with less than a 10-point spread since then were in 1976 (7.5% spread) and 1992 (5% spread due to Perot stealing votes from Bush Sr.). I moved to this state in 1993.

throwaway173738 1y ago
Local government and utility commissioners are very important too.
ssl-3 1y ago
I have three general questions: --- 1. So it's about odds? By what mechanism do you think that refusing to vote will improve your favored diminutive party's odds in your state? --- 2. Or maybe it's about cost, instead? What does it cost to vote in your state? How much time, and how much money, does a voter need to put forth in order to cast a vote in [wherever you are]? --- 3. Are you a masochist? (Are you sure about that?)

gishh 1y ago

Hmm. Possibly. I predict that California will “go blue” in the presidential elections for at least the rest of my lifetime. Someone who “votes red” in California can say that their vote doesn’t matter, and a reasonable person would understand why they feel that way. You don’t seem like a reasonable person, or you’re also suffering from some nihilistic delusion, possibly.

ssl-3 1y ago
The most sure method any of us can individually enact to help to ensure that our favored candidate is not elected is to declare that it doesn't matter, and then just give up and not vote. This method is literally an example of nihilism.
- gishh 1y ago
  So are you saying that, in this instance, understanding your vote doesn’t matters is delusional, or not? You never addressed that. You latched onto the nihilistic part, which I suppose isn’t surprising.
  - ssl-3 1y ago
    Your vote always matters. Your vote gets tallied up along with all of the other votes, each of which individually have exactly equal weight compared to your own vote. By extension: Any suggestion to the contrary is delusional.
    - gishh 1y ago
      I reject your premise. Your vote doesn't always matter.
      - ssl-3 1y ago
        The vote that is never cast is absolutely worthless. You're correct. (I vote every single time unless my ballot would simply be empty. I'd like to say "I'll see you at the polls!" but that is seemingly a lost cause -- it's apparent that only one of us has any chance at all of imparting any change at this level, and that this person is not you. But you do you. The folks who aren't nihilists will do what we can to steer the ship without your help.)
        gishh 11mo ago
        Ah, I also vote in every election I can. Thanks for the assumption though!