Campaign for a candidate, sure, though the effect is hard to measure. On the other hand, a million dollar contribution to a candidate…..
Run for office? Yeah, except you’ll need about $100,000 just to run for office in a city council and even then you’ll probably need friends in high places.
Speak out? To whom? Talk is cheap. And impossible to measure its effectiveness.
For the most part, protesting doesn’t really accomplish much.
I know there are other things we can do but, in the end, voting is totally, 100% effective.
Voting is great, but it would be better if we could have an actual democracy, wherein we could all vote on policy matters, instead of hoping that our elected representatives will represent us and not their big money donors. The Founding Authors were apparently wary of mob rule by largely uneducated members of society. But look at what we have instead! Oligarchs! We could build an Internet-based system of true democracy. All sorts of problems to solve, with security, and auditing, etc. I think we need true democracy.
A true democracy: I would like that. Living in Massachusetts, I'm under one of the least transparent state governments in the US (rated 'F'). Over the years, I've seen them (and yes, the legislature has been controlled by Democrats for decades) ignore the will of the people, expressed by ballot initiatives, unless it suits them. I have my state rep and state senator on speed dial and do not hesitate to give them my two-cents worth.
It’s hard not to feel disempowered, but there truly are so many other things you can do other than just vote. Call, text or write postcards to voters in critical elections, donate to organizations that are getting out the vote, talk about it with those in your circle (not hardcore MAGA). Find people of like mind. What just happened in Wisconsin was a result of 10 years of efforts to turn out the vote. The arc of change is long, but we do have agency over it.
You can also campaign for candidates you support.
You can also run for office yourself.
You can also speak out about the things you support.
You can also peacefully protest the people and issue you are against.
There’s plenty you can do. And VOTE
Campaign for a candidate, sure, though the effect is hard to measure. On the other hand, a million dollar contribution to a candidate…..
Run for office? Yeah, except you’ll need about $100,000 just to run for office in a city council and even then you’ll probably need friends in high places.
Speak out? To whom? Talk is cheap. And impossible to measure its effectiveness.
For the most part, protesting doesn’t really accomplish much.
I know there are other things we can do but, in the end, voting is totally, 100% effective.
Voting is only effective if the voter is not in a gerrymandered district and if the candidate wins and remains true to her/his party and constituents.
Voting is great, but it would be better if we could have an actual democracy, wherein we could all vote on policy matters, instead of hoping that our elected representatives will represent us and not their big money donors. The Founding Authors were apparently wary of mob rule by largely uneducated members of society. But look at what we have instead! Oligarchs! We could build an Internet-based system of true democracy. All sorts of problems to solve, with security, and auditing, etc. I think we need true democracy.
A true democracy: I would like that. Living in Massachusetts, I'm under one of the least transparent state governments in the US (rated 'F'). Over the years, I've seen them (and yes, the legislature has been controlled by Democrats for decades) ignore the will of the people, expressed by ballot initiatives, unless it suits them. I have my state rep and state senator on speed dial and do not hesitate to give them my two-cents worth.
It’s hard not to feel disempowered, but there truly are so many other things you can do other than just vote. Call, text or write postcards to voters in critical elections, donate to organizations that are getting out the vote, talk about it with those in your circle (not hardcore MAGA). Find people of like mind. What just happened in Wisconsin was a result of 10 years of efforts to turn out the vote. The arc of change is long, but we do have agency over it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wisconsin-and-chicago-elections-expose-liabilities-in-gop-case-for-24/ar-AA19wgjT