Is Kamala Harris The Best Candidate For Black People?
- Thread starter Goldie
- Start date
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
My logic is one of them are going to be president so I might as well try to get the one in office that’s going to do the best by me.
If we could organize and make a point by withholding our vote I’d be down, but I’m not throwing it away for nothing.
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
When you say incentivize the people who pick candidates, are you referring to the democratic or republican parties? Just want to clarify so I can answer appropriately.
Rubato
it only matters to us
I guess that depends on who you are but let’s say Democrats for the sake of discussion
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
Got it.
It’s pretty simple actually. The only incentive driving either party is winning.
So the real question is can we find a candidate to get behind that will keep our best interests at heart AND be able to win.
How do they do that? Convince 80 million people that our best interests matter to them too or make them feel indifferent to them. Indifference comes from our best interests not impeding on their life or being countered with benefits of their own.
Only problem for black people is the racism in our country. Black benefits impede on the sensibilities of racists on both sides. It’s a sad reality I hope we can overcome one day.
Rubato
it only matters to us
So we can only encourage better candidates by helping them lose so they do better next time? Which also hurts us in process? Kind of a fucked up process when you think about it lol
And if I understand your reply, this is what the non voting crowd premise is. They lose by us not voting so if they want to win the next time, they'll have to give us something to get our vote
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
That’s actually what the don’t vote crowd says. So yes, that is a fucked up way of going about it.
I would propose to be proactive because as soon as they figure out a way to win without you you’re out of the game.
@Rubato
I think the issue is understanding that if we are going to really shake shit up, we may not see immediate results for maybe 2-3 voting cycles and some people aren't in this for the long haul. They want things like __________ next fall or they burning shit down.
It's a slow burn. It takes time to strategize then mobilize. The brother Gary Chambers here in baton rouge ran for a Senate seat that was going to be vacated by another brotha. He was the definition of grass roots. He was talking the talk and walking the walk and when it came time to vote, people stayed home.
1.3M people voted and 18% voted for him. He didn't even win the parish he was born and raised in. 62% voted for a cac Republican who has not done shit for Louisiana since he's been in the US Senate.
Using my example from earlier. My kids might be adults so things I'm voting on might not impact them, but my vote along with their votes will impact any kids they may parent in the next 1-5 years as they will be direct beneficiaries of those voting acts/policies.
Simply put, you can't afford to stay home
You don't get to stay home and keep complaining about things while also being part of the problem.
I think the issue is understanding that if we are going to really shake shit up, we may not see immediate results for maybe 2-3 voting cycles and some people aren't in this for the long haul. They want things like __________ next fall or they burning shit down.
It's a slow burn. It takes time to strategize then mobilize. The brother Gary Chambers here in baton rouge ran for a Senate seat that was going to be vacated by another brotha. He was the definition of grass roots. He was talking the talk and walking the walk and when it came time to vote, people stayed home.
1.3M people voted and 18% voted for him. He didn't even win the parish he was born and raised in. 62% voted for a cac Republican who has not done shit for Louisiana since he's been in the US Senate.
Using my example from earlier. My kids might be adults so things I'm voting on might not impact them, but my vote along with their votes will impact any kids they may parent in the next 1-5 years as they will be direct beneficiaries of those voting acts/policies.
Simply put, you can't afford to stay home
You don't get to stay home and keep complaining about things while also being part of the problem.
Rubato
it only matters to us
Voting doesn’t exempt one from being part of the problems going on…still don’t agree with your last point. And my gripe is limited to presidential candidate selection not congressional races. I plan to vote at the congressional level.
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
Exactly this. There are a lot of good candidates and good people out there but they aren’t getting the shine because non-presidential election cycles and local cycles don’t get our turnout. Then when the presidential election comes around and the politicians who were able to mobilize a base gets the nomination, everybody is up in arms.
Or they find a way to be divisive with the few that do get through and demonize them on a few missteps or opinions.
That’s why this don’t vote stuff is nonsense. It ignores the process it takes to get someone in then complains when someone they don’t like gets in.
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
But it’s typically congress members or governors that get the nominations. So you can’t just focus on the presidential nomination, it starts at the state and local level.
So if your gripe is with the presidential nomination, that gripe has to be extended to the state and local level too.
Rubato
it only matters to us
If you’re trying to talk me out of voting at all it’s kinda working
TheNightKing
J.A.P.A.N.
Definitely not. Just saying by time we get to the presidential you’re stuck with voting for the lesser of two evils. And in this one there’s an huge gap.
But if you’re not happy with either the work to get someone better starts at the state and local level.
I don’t mind if you don’t vote, that’s your prerogative. All I’m doing is arguing why I vote and countering reasons people say they don’t.
As well to this point...while I definitely understand that logic of withholding a vote to make a larger point my question always is...who will be there for those most vulnerable to these decisions being made begin to affect their lives. It's easy to say withhold a vote and/or wait for what you want. But there's people who will feel that blowback more than others. And when folks are dismissive of that to me it shows they're not really thinking about what's good for the whole but more what's good for them.
Inori
NAWF
Id actually be curious to hear from the no vote folks... if rank choice voting was a thing across the country..which it 100% should be... and you could pick your top choice of candidate without having to worry about them being a potential "spoiler"... who would you vote for? Who are the options?
Appreciate the response fam
In my experience, people aren't able to compartmentalize those different branches of the election process.
I don't know anyone in real life who actually votes locally but not presidentially. It sounds nice to say on a tweet but it's not done in practice
They view voting as a whole a waste of time
Rubato
it only matters to us
That would certainly open up a more viable field of alternatives
As of right now no one comes to mind