Privilege: Many Jill Stein Voters Have It, and Many Hillary Clinton Voters Do, Too

[rainbows_]

As an outspoken supporter of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, I often get questions akin to the one Stein was asked at the Green Town Hall on August 17: "Given the way our political system works, effectively you could help Donald Trump like Ralph Nader helped George Bush in 2000. How could you sleep at night?" More often than not,

Comments

[richeiieu]

I don't know what different perspective this article is supposed to provide considering every "point" they've written about has been regurgitated by the ~true progressives~ a million times in the past several months.

One major point: If these people supposedly care so much politics, why do they only focus on the presidency? If it matters so much to these "progressives", they should start at the lower levels where impact can actually be achieved. Start voting in your local elections. Why these people insist on starting at the very top when they have absolutely no ground game whatsoever reveals how out of touch with reality they are. Do these people have a clue about how the political system works (from what I've seen, pretty much no) and think that by electing a third-party candidate that somehow, things will be different with a Congress make-up that has not changed whatsoever

[amw]

I don't agree with most of what you said, but I totally agree with the "start at the bottom" sentiment. I wrote about this in my journal the other day... for the first time in my life this month I am finally eligible to vote. Not for a federal election, because just like everywhere else I lived in my adult life I am not a citizen, but for the city council, where Germany allows non-German EU citizens to vote. I couldn't be more excited. I love the drama of federal politics as an observer, but it's in local elections where I can make a real difference. I am not going to waste my vote on a major party - I'm going to vote for a minor party that has little to no chance of even making a blip in Berlin proper, and isn't even running on the federal level. But my 0.005% contribution to my local district might just push my candidate up past 5%, or 6%, and that will send a message to the mainstream parties who own the district (currently the Greens) that some of us are not here for rampant consumerism, police brutality and gentrification. On the

[liz_marcs]

Working Families Party, represent!

Sorry. I rather like them. They've been around for 20 years and they've been building a lot of grassroots and local networks over the years. They're also looking to expand. I also really like their platform as a whole.

I just got excited that someone outside of the U.S knows who they are.

[amw]

It's altogether possible they sprung to mind due to you posting about them on here recently :) Keep it up! People need to keep hearing about parties like these guys, the SPUSA, the CPUSA, Socialist Alternative etc. The more people realize these minor parties are real and valid choices, the better America's democracy will become.

[richeiieu]

That's fine if you disagree with most of what I said. I figured most people will. But, I did want to say amen to this:

It's hyperbole to say the system is rigged. But America's major parties are funded generously by private investors, which disadvantages minor parties who can't afford ad campaigns or an equivalent ground game. But you know what'd change that? If the other 55% of eligible voters who normally never vote actually fucking voted. So vote your conscience, and if that isn't R or D than so be it. Just fucking get out and vote. But for sure don't forget that your vote counts for a whole lot more in the locals than any other election. And whatever happens never stop loudly protesting for getting the money out of American politics. That's a "bi" (pan) partisan issue.

I would have a lot more respect for this movement if people actually participated in the local bids.