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1. Embed this notice
   Amadi Lovelace (amaditalks@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 10:55:17 JST Amadi Lovelace

   I find it fascinating that as Republican controlled legislature after legislature is tumbling down a path of criminalizing healthcare, and the existence of LGBTQ people in different ways, when the Republicans in charge of the US House want to make senior citizens and disabled people pay for their tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires we still have people saying that Democrats are failing to sufficiently demonstrate the difference between them and Republicans for disgruntled voters.

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     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:38:02 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     @amaditalks It is exactly that. People get so confused, thinking that voting for somebody…I don’t know, means you joined their fan club or married them or something?! To quote Mpls abortion rights activist and all-around sharp person Stacey Burns: I have zero cognitive dissonance about both voting for and protesting any given politician.

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     Amadi Lovelace (amaditalks@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:38:03 JST Amadi Lovelace

     in reply to

     Every candidate can’t give civics lessons as part of their campaign. Every candidate can’t provide answers to every individual question every individual voter in their district or state might have.

     And honestly, at this point, when the differences are more stark than they have ever been in any of our lifetimes it shouldn’t be so difficult to make that case.

     People who say they don’t see the difference between Democrats and Republicans don’t want to. It’s a lie and a copout.

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     Amadi Lovelace (amaditalks@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:38:04 JST Amadi Lovelace

     in reply to

     At some point, voters have to do the work. At some point, voters have to decide what they personally stand for, and they have to assess candidates and parties, and figure out which one is closer. They can’t be handheld in that process and pulled along one by one.

     Having a society of 330 million people is complicated and messy, and voters have to be willing to step up and do the tiniest part, reading a voter guide or asking a question, talking to friends or even phonebank callers. Something.

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     Nire Bryce (nirebryce@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:39:50 JST Nire Bryce

     in reply to

     • Paul Cantrell

     @inthehands @amaditalks

     it's about picking your opponents, and who would require the least fighting so you can actually get the work done.

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     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:42:36 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Nire Bryce

     @NireBryce Yup. “Withhold your vote from them, and then they’ll •have• to listen to you!” is just the stupidest scam in the Plurality Voting book, and people still keep falling for it over and over.

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     Nire Bryce (nirebryce@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 11:42:38 JST Nire Bryce

     in reply to

     • Paul Cantrell

     @inthehands

     (but a lot of the leadup to primaries is going to have rhetoric like that, because they think (and there's truth to it, though from observation, 60%) it will make the politicians try to actually represent constituents instead of... whatever it is they'll do. but it hasn't worked the last 30 times)

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     Nire Bryce (nirebryce@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 13-May-2023 12:19:45 JST Nire Bryce

     in reply to

     • Paul Cantrell

     @inthehands if you look at voting patterns, most of those people end up voting once it actually becomes time. But yeah after 8 cycles bluffing sorta loses it's power.

     i don't like the sitch we're in, but, well.

   • Embed this notice
     Amadi Lovelace (amaditalks@wandering.shop)'s status on Sunday, 14-May-2023 04:47:23 JST Amadi Lovelace

     in reply to

     • Paul Cantrell

     @inthehands I will have an absolute blast telling Stacey that she was just quoted in this context.

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Sunday, 14-May-2023 04:47:23 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     @amaditalks Please tell her I said hi and we miss her here on Mastodon!

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     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Sunday, 14-May-2023 08:36:48 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Stacey Burns 🤷🏻‍♀️

     @WentRogue @amaditalks Hi Stacey!!

     The structure here is…bollixing to say the least, but not so bad once you get your bearings. I’m enjoying it! Like lots of community-built stuff, it’s built first for those already there, and doesn’t do a great job rolling out the welcome mat.

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     Stacey Burns 🤷🏻‍♀️ (wentrogue@mastodon.world)'s status on Sunday, 14-May-2023 08:36:49 JST Stacey Burns 🤷🏻‍♀️

     in reply to

     • Paul Cantrell

     @amaditalks @inthehands 👋 I miss both of you (and many others), too! I really should wade around some more, having become frustrated by the structure months ago. I’m on Bluesky and enjoying it, but the criticisms (another Jack product: why on earth would anyone trust him?) are valid.

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     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Sunday, 14-May-2023 08:37:30 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Stacey Burns 🤷🏻‍♀️

     @WentRogue @amaditalks The experience can be miserable depending on who ends up in your replies. Being on a server that’s already blocked the worst offenders can help, but the techy origins can make it especially pedantic. Like everywhere, moderation is chaotic.

     If we do get to hear your thoughts here sometimes, we’d be lucky!