this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2024
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Political Memes

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[–] penquin@lemm.ee 110 points 4 weeks ago (32 children)

This is the most horrible way to convince people to vote with you. I, personally, would tell you to go fuck yourself if I weren't already voting for Harris. Please stop that. You need to convince people why they should vote for your candidate by showing them the difference, not this "or else" bullshit. and if they are not convinced, you let it go. People are free with their damn votes.

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[–] LoreleiSankTheShip@lemmy.ml 74 points 4 weeks ago (42 children)

Not an American, but yikes does this have "Vote with us... Or else!" vibes.

That's not to say I support Trump, but I personally don't think this is the way to convince fence-sitters at all.

[–] twinnie@feddit.uk 32 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

And it’s crazy how normal Americans think this two party system is. It’s like no matter how bad you think your guy is, you have to vote for them because the other side is worse. They always talk about the Labour Party and the Tories as if they think they’re carbon copies of the Democrats and the Republicans and project all their issues into them. They don’t seem to realise there’s like five or six other parties that get a considerable number of votes and have representation in Parliament.

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[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

you are 100% correct, and I'm glad to see you speaking up here as well.

these kind of posts are disgusting pablum and should be discouraged.

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[–] rsuri@lemmy.world 15 points 4 weeks ago

It's exactly the kind of thing that feels good to say, but doesn't convince anyone at all. Which is why Republicans keep winning despite ideas that should be extremely unpopular. They tie themselves to emotions about masculinity and patriotism and paint the other side as a source of disgust and fear. While Democrats look at people who support or don't seem eager to stop Trump and say angry things at them, which just makes them not want to help Demcorats.

The "I'm voting, are you?" argument featuring nutty alt-right Maga crazies is far better because it says "hey, you can help stop this nutjob."

[–] bibliotectress@lemmy.world 13 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

But it's literally how it works in the USA with voting. It shouldn't, but it DOES.

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[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 71 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (69 children)

Abstaining or voting 3rd party to "make Dems listen" doesn't work. If anyone thinks they can play Mexican Standoff, you can't because the Dems have an out: the center voter. Every time they lose, they go to the center to find voters.

And remember they need all 3 of presidency, house of representatives, and senate to pass pretty much anything. If they don't have all 3 they will go to the center to find voters. Some people call this rachet effect, but really they're looking for voters. Want them to stop 'racheting'? Then give them consistent and overwhelming victories.

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[–] douglasg14b@lemmy.world 55 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (19 children)

This is exactly why we need ranked choice voting.

Winner takes all essentially demoralizes and alienates voters and drives people who agree with each other to fight because they're trapped in a broken system.

So instead of fighting the system, it's easier to just blame other people and alienate more of them against your cause, shooting yourself in the foot with ignorance. It's kind of disgusting.

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[–] Lux18@lemmy.world 50 points 3 weeks ago

Unrelated to the message - that's a bad use of the meme, doesn't fit at all.

[–] voldage@lemmy.world 46 points 3 weeks ago (17 children)

As non-american I agree you guys should definitely vote Harris, despite Dems being terrible Trump would absolutely be worse on each topic Dems are bad. That being said, rethoric of this post is straight up facist. Using threats of personal consequences for "wrongly" exercising ones right to vote is wild.

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[–] VerbFlow@lemmy.world 42 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I'll vote Dem, but I am ashamed beyond measure of the Dem party. Despite the public doing all they can to stop Trump, the actual candidates running against Trump are sitting on their asses and refusing to take serious action. This "Blue Wave" is not approval FOR Harris-Walz, but rather DISAPPROVAL for Trump. Dems are ultimately more responsible for fascism in the U.S. than their voters.

All in all, the entire United States Government is at fault. This is just one reason why I want an independent Cascadia.

[–] Hamartia@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

It's sadly the same story in the UK the public are sick and tired of the Tory's bullshit. Unfortunately the Labour Party has never been soo right wing. Normally they they wouldn't have have stood a chance on such an authoritarian, uninspiring manifesto but here we are. The cynicism of the people in charge of the Labour Party stinks to high heaven. They fucked the party while the left were in charge then purged them when they retook control. I'll be lucky to still be about by the time the left ever get control again.

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[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 37 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Interesting how everyone blames the people and not the corporate party that doesn't represent the people. If Democrats are struggling to get leftist votes then I suggest they do things that will make leftists vote for them.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (12 children)

I don't understand what is so difficult to grasp... In a first past the post system, a candidate that panders to leftists will never win. Not in the current political climate at least.

Conservatives line up behind their chosen candidate, but the left can never agree on fucking anything. And conservatives vote.

So we have a situation where only two parties can emerge, and the person representing the left-leaning party (relatively speaking, I know Democrats are not really "left" in general) has a to walk a tightrope in order to get elected. It is impossible for them to please every faction or individual leftist opinion, and trying to do so would end in certain failure.

Harris could very much be privately supportive of Palestine, but if she were to openly condemn Israel prior to the election, she will 100% lose. Yes, that is shitty, but that is reality right now. That's what needs to be changed, and it doesn't happen one month before the most important election this country has ever had.

So if you want a Democratic candidate to pander to progressives, then progressives need to make themselves impossible to ignore when there is not an election of this importance going on. That's how you move the party to the left. Vote down ballot, vote in local elections, organize for progressives candidates, etc.

But until we get rid of this bullshit first past the post system, voting for anybody besides a Democrat or a Republican is an objective waste.

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[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 37 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

If you have a problem with this line of reasoning then your actual problem is first past the post voting.

Abolish first past the post voting and you can finally actually vote for things you like, rather than against things you hate, but we're stuck in first past the post voting, so, you must vote strategically.

[–] Bonskreeskreeskree@lemmy.world 27 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

Just curious, do you really expect Republicans or democrats to support legislation to end their stranglehold on American politics?

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 44 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (13 children)

"In 2023, 74 bills were introduced supporting ranked-choice voting and 57 of these bills had only Democrat sponsors. In fact, just eight percent of the total bills received bipartisan support."

No, but there's one party that has shown support for it and one party that has attempted to outright ban it.

It's an easy choice.

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[–] ModestMeme@lemm.ee 35 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

You wanna change the Democratic Party? Maybe vote more than once every four years. State and local elections have garbage turnouts and this is where right wingers shore up their power (because they ALWATS vote). You need to vote every election, always. You want left leaning Democrats in office? Their careers start small, at the local and state level. Vote for them there and support them as they gain experience and reputation.

But this griping about the electoral process and lack of choices in a national election is just lazy bullsh*t. Yes, a vote for anyone other than Harris is a vote for Trump at this point.

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[–] Forester@yiffit.net 32 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I am a libertarian minarchist. Look it up before you form ideas.

I don't like Harris but I'd much rather have her over Trump. And that's how I'll vote.

I strongly recommend everyone should research your local elections and vote for candidates that best represent your views and mindsets on a local level. The FPtP system makes third parties mostly unviable in influencing national policy.

[–] MarjorineFailureGroan@lemmy.world 18 points 4 weeks ago (33 children)

I too will vote Harris, but I think it's important to understand that voting out of fear is not going to fix our extremely broken two party system. Voting third party is not a vote for Trump, I think it's often a vote born of a broken two party system.

Despite knowing that I can't bring myself to vote third party out of fear that I may not get another chance to vote if Trump takes power.

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[–] bruhbeans@lemmy.ml 31 points 4 weeks ago

Negging is a normal and effective way to pursuade people. Things must be going great for you.

[–] zanyllama52@infosec.pub 28 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

Abstaining or voting third party is an exercise of choice. If you want your candidate to win, vote for them, as we all should do.

Vote for the candidate you support. If you don't support any, you can choose not to vote.

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[–] zante@lemmy.wtf 27 points 4 weeks ago

These aren’t memes they’re shite propaganda

[–] Lux@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

This is false

Every county in my state always votes red. Due to the way elections are held in this country, it does not matter how I vote. I could vote for Harris, on the tiny chance that enough others will as well, or I could vote 3rd party, and at least increase the percentage of voters doing that so that it doesnt seem as useless next time. Hell, I could vote for trump and there would still be no difference.

Don't alienate your allies if you want them to stay allies

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 13 points 4 weeks ago

The people that dont even understand the electoral college always yell the most about just shutting up and voting straight party.

It's what Republicans do, and it is a lot easier to live life like that, basic tribalism is what we evolved for:

Us good, them bad

They're 100% right on the "them bad" in this case...

But half of that basic tribalism is never criticizing "us good", which is incredibly fucking dangerous.

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[–] MoonRaven@feddit.nl 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This is why the American system is weird af.

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[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If you're voting for the lesser evil, you are still voting to reduce harm.

Remember that. You can't save everyone, but if you save NO ONE that's on you.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 22 points 3 weeks ago (35 children)

No, the blame lies squarely on the DNC for deliberately ignoring the loud and clear message from third party voters that genocide is a red line in the sand. The blame further lies with the liberals supporting a decaying Empire and never lifting a finger to help anyone, just showing up at the ballot box every 4 years while the US commits manmade horrors beyond comprehension.

Join an org, like the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) or Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), this mess can't be undone by supporting the Dems harder.

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[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Smug liberals will be condescending regardless of who wins any election.

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[–] Rooskie91@discuss.online 17 points 4 weeks ago

Threatening people is a great way to win them on the side of your cause I hear. /S

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 3 weeks ago (23 children)

If Kamala looses: All of the blame gets put on third party voters for not "voting hard enough" (especially if she wins the popular vote and looses in the electoral college). Absolutely none of the blame gets put on her supporting genocide, her vague positions, the fact that her campaign page contains very little about her views or policies, her support of fracking, her general support of oil and gas, her support of genocide, and her support for imperialism. Of course that could all be incorrect but Kamala refuses to dispute those claims.

If Kamala wins: She will do basically nothing, compromise with the Republicans, allow states to ban abortion, allow states to restrict womens rights, allow states to ban trans healthcare, generally allow the far-right to do whatever they want, and continue to fund genocide. When all of this happens third party voters will be blamed for "not voting hard enough" and Kamala will take no responsibility whatever.

Regardless of outcome the next election: The Democrat candidate will be even more right wing because leftists didn't "vote hard enough", they will be even more bipartisan and even less progressive. All of the Liberals will demand everyone vote for this candidate yet the candidate will make no attempt to implement any popular policy. Americas rapid decline into fascism will continue and nobody in power will do anything to stop it.

Once again I ask the question what harm is reduced by "harm reduction"? If anything a more accurate term would be slowing down fascism. But what Liberals refuse to answer is what practical purpose is there to slowing down fascism? Congratulations you get maybe a few extra decades from fascism but then what? Clearly Liberals are buying their time but what exactly are they buying their time for? What is the grand strategy? We've already seen the Democratic Candidate clearly use fascist rhetoric, how long is it until these compromise candidates compromise the rights of minorities? How long until they compromise on Fascism? I would vote "harm reduction" if I knew that at the end of it all theres a plan to eventually fight back but I dont think there is one. I think the Liberal plan is to keep doing "harm reduction" indefinitely, however even if you're a hardcore liberal you have to acknowledge thats a fundamentally unsustainable plan.

TLDR: The only people responsible for Democrats not getting elected are the Democrats themselves and their corporate sponsors who hold them back from instituting popular policy, I get its easy to pin the blame on some group but fundamentally thats little more then a logical fallacy.

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[–] AidsKitty@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago (11 children)

The old "if you're not with us then you're against us" position. How about the dems adopt policies that inspire people to vote for them.

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[–] multifariace@lemmy.world 15 points 4 weeks ago

Funny, Republicans are saying the same thing the other way around. I hope both parties die out fast.

Both sides saying the other will destroy us. The parallels go way farther than anyone is willing to admit. Voting for the "lesser evil" has only led us to this two party system where substance is lost. It is impossible to vote objectively (I always vote) and expect less than regression. My state has become a haven for one side with over a million people moving to this state for political reasons.

I can vote Republican to pretend like things are better while not changing, or getting worse. Or I can vote Democrat to pretend like they aren't going to approve everything Republicans want anyways. Or I can vote for the best candidate who has no chance to win but I have a semblance of pride while the election is predictable in my district and state anyways. Yet I have to not share who I voted for because I will be blamed by both sides for their own engineered and predictable failures.

I am going to get a lot of hate on here for being honest about the situation. I no longer care about that. No I am not a plant from Russia or one of the parties. And, yes I do believe those entities are really helping the division, pushing false narratives and mal-information. However, I do not blame them for the problems. The problems have been engineered from within our own borders. That is a whole other topic with volumes of evidence and books.

We the people have been made ignorant and angry. I don't know how we can recover from this, but I know life is going to suck, no matter who is elected president next month. It WILL only "get worse for working class Americans, minorities and women." And I have no clue how or when it will end. Everytime there is progress and opportunity, there are Americans turning against it while using it for self destruction. I feel horrible for the generations inheriting our chaos and possible destruction.

[–] TheShadow277@slrpnk.net 15 points 4 weeks ago (9 children)

"I don't want to vote for the party giving free weapons to a genocidal dictator."

"Oh, so you're literally a fascist?"

🤡

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