Sitting out the elections? Think again

[babylonsister]

http://peoplesworld.org/sitting-out-the-elections-think-again/

Sitting out the elections? Think again
by: Sam Webb
October 13 2010

snip//


Yes, many people stay home on Election Day, but it is not an expression of political acumen nor is it the majority. The most active layers of working people organize others to vote and vote themselves.

While many of them express dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, it hasn't risen to the point where they are ready to bolt it in any near term that I can envision.

Moreover, the rise of right-wing extremism reinforces this sentiment. Broad unity, not division, not attacking people's leaders as the "super leftists" love to do (they see these leaders as the main reason that people stay put in the Democratic Party - how simple-minded) is the blood that flows through the veins of the people's movement at this moment.

Politics is a contested, complex, and impure process. There are waves and breaks - progressive and reactionary - in continuity to be sure, but in between there are longer periods in which the struggle doesn't soar to new heights or sink to new depths, but still is consequential to the breaks that do come.

In 2008, politics, economics and mass thinking became unhinged from their old moorings and a political turn, albeit partial, occurred. Since then the completion of this turn has become a more protracted and difficult process than many, including myself, thought.

The elections in less than three weeks, for good or bad, will mark a new phase in this process. No one with an iota of common sense will sit it out. Shoot yourself in the foot if you like, but don't do it on Nov. 2 because the buckshot will hit the rest of us!

[stray cat]

1. Voters truly appear to have learned nothing since 2000

[Exilednight]

2. Yep, because we still keep voting in conservadems. n/t

[Cirque du So-What]

3. What's the alternative? REAL conservatives! No thank you!

Work for change while there's still time - in the primary season. To piss & moan about your plight NOW is the political equivalent to Typhoid Mary, spreading apathy & disappointment.

[tblue37]

6. There don't seem to be *any* real conservatives any moe. The ones that

call themselves conservatives are actually shockingly radical!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Voting for democrats

1. You may not get pure or remotely close progressives, but at least you won't get republicans who are controlled by corporations, rightwing nutjobs, and social/religious conservatives.

2. Your vote for democrats is a win/win: your vote either cancels the vote cast for a republican or it gives the democratic candidate an advantage.

3. In reality, you may not be voting for what you want but rather for what you don't want.

[Froward69]

5. Just Yesterday, a republican Friend of mine said flatly

"Had the Party (republican) not nominated this bunch of ignorant hardcore clowns, I would still be exited to vote. As it looks now I have to hold my nose and vote to keep them away from screwing things up any more." I asked "so you voting for Bennet/ Hickenlooper?"
He replied Hickenlooper is far better than Tancredo, Maes is corrupt! Bennet is at least sane compared to Buck."

I respect this guy and his business sense if one straight ticket voter like him is goin to vote Dem then more will also. we just might win this go around.

[CrispyQ]

7. I hope you're right! ~crosses fingers

I have seen about a dozen Buck signs & zero Bennet signs in Boulder county. I have seen some Hickenlooper signs & lots of NO on 61, 62, 101 signs, but not one Bennet sign. Maybe I should call my local dem office & start a trend. ;)

:hi:

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

9. Welcome to DU, Linda fabrizzia and your vote will

help! :hi:

[donheld]

10. only an ignorant fool would "sit out" this election

[denimgirly]

11. I was thinking of sitting it out cuz the WH sold us out..but seeing Repubz its way worse

Honestly, id rather have another party to vote for who won't make back room deals and give away the queen without fighting but seeing as how republicans are even more sellouts than our own party my hands are tied and am forced to chose the lesser of two evils. So i will hold my nose and go D this year, then go home and wished we had a real political system.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. DUers aren't going to "sit out" this election. Real DUers aren't...

Anyone who posts here and DOES sit out the election isn't a real Democrat OR a real DUer.

I think you're barking up the wrong tree here.

Their numbers are so small as to be statistically insignificant in the context of the results we're going to see.

[mikekohr]

13. Don't Let Perfection Stop the Possible

70 Years of Democratic Economic Success Versus 70 yrs of Republican Fubar

Republicans come in a distant second to Democratic economic accomplishment see: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/economic-record.html
and lay claim to being economic wizards.

Republicans explode the National Debt. http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/national-debt.html
and lay claim to being fiscally responsible.

Republicans CRUSH job creation see: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/job-growth.html
and claim to understand how to control the business cycle.

Republicans have been in charge when 9 of the last 10 recession have occurred see: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/history-of-recessions.html
and claim to be experts on the economy.

Democrats have the record, the facts and history on our side. Republicans have fear, fubar and "F" up on theirs. And when they win, working people lose. And that's how they like it.

mike kohr
Bureau County Democrats
http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com

[BlueGirlRedState]

14. Not me.

I was there at 8 a.m. when the doors opened for early voting.