It’s so hard, I live in a non-swing state that is very heavily republican. I have conversations with these people daily. They all want the same things as me, have families, great values, and are genuinely great people. But as soon as politics comes up they shut down. It’s only republican or nothing else. I don’t know if what a candidate in states like mine believe matters anymore. It’s just what they have always voted and always will vote. Politics just lives almost in a different universe for these people. It’s so far removed sometimes it feels like a fantasy that doesn’t really change your daily life. There is just no way to have a productive conversation anymore. Terrible and makes me sad because I think if they really understood, they would switch their vote because they often are hurting themselves.
There is no shame anymore. Or maybe there is too much shame, and people repress thinking about it because it’s too painful.
We live in a democracy. We have a representative from of government. These elected officials represent us, they reflect our values. Yes, even if we did not vote for them. Your neighbors are not aliens or NPCs. They are your community.
I cannot contenence choosing to not vote and pretending you are not a part of it all. Long ago I came to terms that many of my neighbors wish I did not exist. I’m trans, and they wish I would stay inside a closet, a basement, or a grave. I take comfort that many others recognize my humanity and celebrate my achievements.
Our government reflects our values. If you don’t like that, then work to change it. Tea partiers did, and they shifted an entire party towards racism and authoritarianism. Maga fans a Qultists worked to make the country reflect their values and now Vannce has a chance to turn the white house into the Handmaid’s Tale.
If that happens then it’s our fault. I can’t pretend that people are not my neighbors just because they think I’m a groomer or a predator no matter how wrong they are. Neither can anyone else pretend that the electorate is not voting for dictatorship.
Hopefully I didn’t come across as advocating for not voting. I was just expressing my disappointment in how good people are unwilling to have hard conversations where opinions flow and change. 100% we need to vote and be the change we want to see. I just fear the changes will be slower than we want. The first step is keep tyrants away from the office then move forward.
It’s so hard, I live in a non-swing state that is very heavily republican. I have conversations with these people daily. They all want the same things as me, have families, great values, and are genuinely great people. But as soon as politics comes up they shut down. It’s only republican or nothing else. I don’t know if what a candidate in states like mine believe matters anymore. It’s just what they have always voted and always will vote. Politics just lives almost in a different universe for these people. It’s so far removed sometimes it feels like a fantasy that doesn’t really change your daily life. There is just no way to have a productive conversation anymore. Terrible and makes me sad because I think if they really understood, they would switch their vote because they often are hurting themselves.
There is no shame anymore. Or maybe there is too much shame, and people repress thinking about it because it’s too painful.
We live in a democracy. We have a representative from of government. These elected officials represent us, they reflect our values. Yes, even if we did not vote for them. Your neighbors are not aliens or NPCs. They are your community.
I cannot contenence choosing to not vote and pretending you are not a part of it all. Long ago I came to terms that many of my neighbors wish I did not exist. I’m trans, and they wish I would stay inside a closet, a basement, or a grave. I take comfort that many others recognize my humanity and celebrate my achievements.
Our government reflects our values. If you don’t like that, then work to change it. Tea partiers did, and they shifted an entire party towards racism and authoritarianism. Maga fans a Qultists worked to make the country reflect their values and now Vannce has a chance to turn the white house into the Handmaid’s Tale.
If that happens then it’s our fault. I can’t pretend that people are not my neighbors just because they think I’m a groomer or a predator no matter how wrong they are. Neither can anyone else pretend that the electorate is not voting for dictatorship.
Hopefully I didn’t come across as advocating for not voting. I was just expressing my disappointment in how good people are unwilling to have hard conversations where opinions flow and change. 100% we need to vote and be the change we want to see. I just fear the changes will be slower than we want. The first step is keep tyrants away from the office then move forward.