Seeing some people on Tumblr still bitching about how it’s too late for voting and the only thing that will fix things is revolution.
How about you fucking vote anyway? It’s not going to seriously cut into your “sitting on the couch waiting for a revolution to start” time.
There’s no “none of the above” option here. You want a revolution, fine, but there’s still little shit to do in the meantime.
You can vote AND protest. They’re not exclusive. Hell, you can even protest the person you voted for when they fuck up. You’re not signing a blood oath with your ballot. But a desire for an ideologically pure candidate or nothing only serves the status quo right now.
I find those people hilarious. Tell me the date of your revolution. You’ve been talking about it for decades. When’s it happening? What are you waiting for? Are things not quite bad enough for you yet?
In the meantime, think about all the environmental protection laws Trump is currently dismantling right this moment and FUCKING VOTE.
Also, consider this:
People say “your vote is your voice” like it ends when you leave the polls.
THAT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
I have straight-up called my senator and said “I worked for you, I voted for you, and if you don’t move your ass, in 2024 I will be running against you, because I’d rather be a volunteer than a senator but if you won’t do your job, I WILL.” Threats like that (CREDIBLE threats like that) are powerful. Being able to say “I voted for you” IS A BIG DEAL.
And on the flip side? Remember when John McCain’s “thumbs down” vote was the tiebreaker that kept Obamacare afloat?
I called his office, introduced myself as a constituent, and said I knew he’d be getting a lot of shit for his vote but that while I’d never voted Republican in my life I was incredibly grateful he put his people above his party, and asked the staffer to pass on my good wishes for his health and family (this was after he was already known to be terminally ill, so it wasn’t some weird archaic greeting). That kind of feedback can help to change minds. On the occasions that Lisa Murkowski has broken from her party line on votes, she’s almost always credited constituent response.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU POWER. Organize, rally, even run against! Be vocal. Protest outside your representative’s office. Make phone calls, write letters. When I was in college I was that person marching with a sign. (My health wouldn’t take it now, or I still would be.) Send letters to your local editorial page. Donate to an independent media organization or a candidate you like. (If you’re low on cash, do you know what we love? PENS AND WATER BOTTLES. We can never get enough of either. Snacks are great, too, but sadly in this day and age I have to ask you to bring only sealed ones, not homemade, unless the campaign knows you.)
People shouldn’t be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
And if the idea of dying in revolution is too frightening for you (believe me, I get it)….you can always show up with some pens and a case of water.
