Traditionally I respect people's right to vote as they see fit, as a freedom of choice that we embrace in our system of governance. But I can't extend that same sympathetic perspective to those who in 2016 allowed an irrational personal dislike or hatred for Hillary to outweigh their common sense in choosing Trump instead or sitting out the election. There were so many clear signs that he would be a disaster for this nation and the world. We were warned. The information was there, in plain sight. The MAGA crowd was a lost cause, but so many others should have seen the carnage coming. I often wonder how they sleep at night, especially in those swing states where simply connecting the dots and voting accordingly could have saved us all so much grief and misery, with the potential of still more and worse to come.
People have the right to vote as they see fit, for whatever reason (stupid or not) they have.
And that is part of the problem in electoral representative politics. Many people vote on the basis of identity rather than rationality. They are going to support candidate X not because of policy or plans or character, but because Candidate X has the right letter next to their name.
That's it.
There are other people that vote in predictable patterns (and this is, again, identity-based).
Then there are a few people that actually vote on a basis of rationality.
There is a veneer of thoughtful in many cases, but it is only a veneer. It is people looking for an excuse to vote the way that their "gut" wants them to vote.
Distaste for HC, provided many people with an excuse to vote Trump (or in their distaste for both, not vote or vote for a sure loser). Most of that wasn't really policy based.
Very little voting is--unless you FORCE people to vote on actual policies, themselves (rather than people who "represent" policies).
In rare instances (usually highly emotionally charged) people WILL vote on policy. Abortion is an example of that.
But the policy linkage and outcomes need to be emotionally charged, linked to identity, and seen as immediately affecting the voter.
Bernie quietly endorsed their write in by not giving a full blown endorsement to Hill.
I respected Bernie for giving her a run for her money. I lost all respect when he basically took his ball and went home and enjoyed watching the Bernie Bros as they took out their anger on Clinton and allowed Trump to win. Eff him
I blame the people that actually did it.
Traditionally I respect people's right to vote as they see fit, as a freedom of choice that we embrace in our system of governance. But I can't extend that same sympathetic perspective to those who in 2016 allowed an irrational personal dislike or hatred for Hillary to outweigh their common sense in choosing Trump instead or sitting out the election. There were so many clear signs that he would be a disaster for this nation and the world. We were warned. The information was there, in plain sight. The MAGA crowd was a lost cause, but so many others should have seen the carnage coming. I often wonder how they sleep at night, especially in those swing states where simply connecting the dots and voting accordingly could have saved us all so much grief and misery, with the potential of still more and worse to come.
People have the right to vote as they see fit, for whatever reason (stupid or not) they have.
And that is part of the problem in electoral representative politics. Many people vote on the basis of identity rather than rationality. They are going to support candidate X not because of policy or plans or character, but because Candidate X has the right letter next to their name.
That's it.
There are other people that vote in predictable patterns (and this is, again, identity-based).
Then there are a few people that actually vote on a basis of rationality.
There is a veneer of thoughtful in many cases, but it is only a veneer. It is people looking for an excuse to vote the way that their "gut" wants them to vote.
Distaste for HC, provided many people with an excuse to vote Trump (or in their distaste for both, not vote or vote for a sure loser). Most of that wasn't really policy based.
Very little voting is--unless you FORCE people to vote on actual policies, themselves (rather than people who "represent" policies).
In rare instances (usually highly emotionally charged) people WILL vote on policy. Abortion is an example of that.
But the policy linkage and outcomes need to be emotionally charged, linked to identity, and seen as immediately affecting the voter.
This on so many levels ! I still have trouble interacting with people who thought it was a good idea to vote for him in 16.
Bernie quietly endorsed their write in by not giving a full blown endorsement to Hill.
I respected Bernie for giving her a run for her money. I lost all respect when he basically took his ball and went home and enjoyed watching the Bernie Bros as they took out their anger on Clinton and allowed Trump to win. Eff him
My understanding/perception of the thing is somewhat different.