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Why are so many Pro-Palestine (I am pro-Palestine and anti-genocide) Americans refusing to vote for Harris due to her stance on Israel? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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As the title states I am confused on this matter. The way I see it, the USA has a two party system and in the next few weeks they’re either going to have Trump or Harris as president, come inauguration day. With this in mind doesn’t it make sense to vote for the person least likely to escalate the situation even more.

Giving your vote to an independent or worse not voting at all, just gives more of a chance for Trump to win the election and then who knows what crazy stuff he will allow, or encourage, Israel to get away with.

I really don’t get the logic. As sure nobody wants to vote for a party allowing these heinous crimes to be committed, but given you’re getting one of them shouldn’t you be voting for the one that will be the least horrible of the two.

Please don’t come at me with pro-Israeli rhetoric as this isn’t the post for that, I’m asking about why people would make such choices and I’m not up for debate on the Middle East, on this post, you can DM me for that.

Edit: Bedtime here now so will respond to incoming comments in the morning, love starting the day with an inbox full 😊.

Edit 2: This blew up, it’s a little overwhelming right now but I do intent on replying to everybody that took the time to comment. Just need to get in the right headspace.

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[+] leidkultur@lemmy.one -6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

It’s not as easy as you make it out to be.

The Democrats have to try to achieve the impossible: trying to retain left-leaning voters while getting enough centrists/swing votes to overcome the systematic disadvantage the electoral college poses for them.

In a de facto two party system that puts them between a rock and a hard place.

But what does that mean for you as a (I assume) left leaning voter?

It’s actually quite simple: vote for the least bad option.

By not voting for Harris you may successfully show the democrats your discontent for their policies. But you pay for that by helping a possible fascist into power (remember: we already found out that not voting, helps republican candidates in most cases), who will be far worse on most policies you care about.

[–] Cherries@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

It really doesn't feel like the Democrats are the least bad option when they keep adopting Republican policies. Sure, they don't want to kill trans people or conduct mass deportations now, but it sure feels like 4 years down the line I'm gonna be asked to vote Democrat even though Harris or whoever is trying to increase police budgets to "fight rising crime" or something ridiculous.

I keep having to vote for "the least bad option" while the Democratic party only ever courts neo-liberal/conservative voters. It really seems like my options are Fascist Now Party or Fascist Later Party. If the Democrats don't listen when I vote and don't listen when I abstain, why should I vote?

I feel like it is not a winning campaign strategy to say, "vote for Democrats because the Republicans are far worse". Progressive left policies are popular amongst centrist and swing voters, so it isn't like the Democrats will lose centrists by adopting progressive policies. Everybody likes expanding healthcare. Nobody likes genocide. So if adopting progressive policies attracts voters from all across the spectrum, why are the Democrats only focusing on stuff like, "build the wall" or "stay silent about genocide"?

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