• ToastedPlanet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    8 months ago

    Since Bill Clinton until Trump the choices were between neoliberals and neoconservatives. Neoliberalism leads to fascism, so if we stick with neoliberalism it’s going to become harder and harder to delay fascism. We need socialist candidates like Bernie Sanders to win the presidency and Congress. But we’re stuck with the incumbent president for this election, which is typical of American politics. If our democracy lasts that long, we will have another shot at a progressive president in 2028.

    Give the polling on progressive policies, it would seem the country’s population is more progressive overall than our elected representatives. Republicans are definitely overrepresented. That means it is essential that as many progressives vote as possible to give Democrats room to move the left. All the Democrats are interested is being where the Overton window is in order to gain the most votes. Progressives have to shift the Overton window to the left by voting Blue if we want to see change. edit: typos

    • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I disagree that the country is progressive, because we have a government that represents us and there aren’t that many progressives at any level of government.

      Accepting that Americans are shitty and dumb makes it easier to understand why our government sucks ass.

      • ToastedPlanet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        8 months ago

        The country is more progressive than our current representatives. Our democracy has many different flaws in it, that have been there since the constitution was written, that undermine majority rule. Our current government does not accurately represent the population’s views. Fascists are exploiting these flaws to perform their takeover. We need more people voting, especially progressives, to correct for these flaws. Mother Jones did a great job of reporting on this topic.

        https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/minority-rule-is-threatening-american-democracy-like-never-before/

        • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Being more progressive than our current representation isn’t hard, and doesn’t make them “progressive.”

          And if progressives don’t move to the flyover states en masse it won’t matter how much they vote.

          • ToastedPlanet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            8 months ago

            And if progressives don’t move to the flyover states en masse it won’t matter how much they vote.

            There are progressives in every state. The margin of victory in swing states is so narrow that every vote counts. And even in non-swing states, there are plenty of races where progressive voters can make a difference. But more importantly, even if a progressive is in a non-swing state they should still vote, because it’s important for Democrats to see that progressives make a sizable portion of the electorate and specifically their voting base across the country.

            Being more progressive than our current representation isn’t hard, and doesn’t make them “progressive.”

            No where in my argument did I say that being more progressive than their representatives make them progressives. Just that the current state of affairs in the United States with its current policies is not representative of the people. Whether that issue is abortion, trans rights, the minimum wage, universal healthcare, or whole host of other issues. The majority is not being represented properly at present on these issues. By assuming that where we are now as a country on these issues is reflective of the people is to miss an incredible opportunity. There is the potential to shift the Overton window to the left and radically change the US for the better. edit: typo