Anarchism

I agree, it's a terrible shame that people will become so deeply involved with a broken system instead of putting that effort into prefigurative politics, direct action, or mutual aid.

Though at least for some people, the outcome of an election may indeed be a life or death scenario, such as those who may be deported back to countries that may be seeking asylum from political prosecution, or back into living conditions that are difficult to survive in, or women who cannot access a life saving abortion, or the stripping of medicaid for those who have medical conditions that would make it impossible to afford survival.

It also would likely effect the ability for people to unionize or strike, or to engage in rent strikes without legal prosecution.

I will say, at least in this particular election, I don't begrudge people getting politically involved quite so much, since it's not out of the question that one party may genuinely install a full on fascist dictator for life, and that'd suck way harder than the normal fascist-lite we've usually had. I hope that more people will do so with their eyes open as to what they're engaging with this time, and do not become deceived that it is a solution in itself.

But yeah, ultimately agree. Voting should've just been a box you tick quickly in between more important direct action, and it sucks that it ends up being more of what you describe instead.