@Black_Flag I bemoan it too, but a short survey of history and the world's many forms of social organising sadly testify to the reality that a huge majority yearn to be led. I suspect it's a daddy thing.

@Black_Flag Then you have just deep sixed about 9.5 billion people. Because whether it offends you or not, most humans have a desire to be lead.

Hopefully by someone competent and not murderous.

But to fantasise that the entire planet is ready to self-organise is delusional.

It is ALWAYS worth it to vote.

Always.

The only people who say otherwise have never lived in a place were you can't vote.

My friend Elnaz who lives in Iran can't vote. She lives with the consequences of not being able to vote.

Do not disrespect her.

@SuneAuken The fact that 48% of white voters are voting somewhat altruistically... that's heartening. I guess. @chrisstoecker

@SuneAuken @chrisstoecker So, I guess it is important to remind ourselves that 48% rejected him.

And that those 48%, probably more than anyone else, votes against their own narrow, short-term interests when they vote Democrat. So, if I look at it that way, I feel a tad better.

@chrisstoecker @SuneAuken

That's an awful lot of sick little puppies.

@drahardja It seems bonkers, but we're living in an era of zero coherence.

@VeroniqueB99 Yay

@stux

@SuneAuken As is yours, Sune. And I agree. Plus I think there is more of a handle on blatant misinformation. It gets reported and taken down much faster. @stux

@potatosandwichjen Yours is coming up two days after mine! @stux

@NatureMC ditto! Right back atcha

@ghost_shit @stux you just made me blush!

@CAWguy right back atcha

It's coming up to my 4th year on Mastodon.

Four years of a much happier SM experience.

Thank you to my admin, @stux and to the wonderful people I follow. You have made my life much richer, kinder, and more interesting. #anniversary

@SuneAuken I think this is not only true, but vital to keep repeating.

It's far more constructive to take the position "our side has a lot of work to do" but the other side is an existential threat.

This posturing as above the fray, beyond the need to push your own camp to be better, fosters disengagement and apathy - which serves the fascists. Exactly as it did in the 1930s.

Had those on the left held together in Germany, history would have been very different.

@SuneAuken Meanwhile, I think saying that 90% of dems are okay with this hate is an exaggeration. But it is fair to say that few openly and forcefully speak out, and an embarrassingly large number do indulge in at least a certain level of compartmentalisation. Mostly out of funding fears. That and the horror of being accused of antisemitism which might result in death to their careers.

It is not a pretty thing.

@SuneAuken While I can absolutely see your point here, I think intention matters.

I do not think this drives people into the arms of Republicans, but I agree that this quite common demand for absolute alignment on every issue drives apathy.

And apathy is what is really at play in the current deterioration of many flawed but progressive ideas and institutions.

And this... this is evil

And yes, I'm using the word very consciously.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/oct/22/how-alabamas-republicans-are-disenfranchising-black-voters-video

Of course, if you enjoy making other people anxious about you, that's because you do not feel loved enough.

1. No one is ever loved enough. That's the human condition.

2. There are better ways of finding out you're loved.