As mentioned, I’m not even whole enough to walk more than a few blocks, and I live self-employed and under the poverty line. All I can do is donate when I can and speak to those close to me. I write my reps, but that’s pretty in-line with representative democracy, and I get the feeling that you’re looking for non-voting action outside of the norm. I’ve notably reddened my social circle, but that’s all I can claim.
I miss being able to march. But I have neither the physical nor emotional fortitude for that anymore.
You seem to balk at direct action
I don’t balk at direct action. I decry the idea that it’s a replacement for voting. Direct action is important. Voting in certain elections is, likewise, important. Dedication to direct action does not and should not preclude taking one day out of the year, or less if you live in a state with good mail-in voting laws, for harm reduction, especially when that harm is at an exceptionally bad precipice point. Nor does voting preclude direct action.
We’ve gone back and forth with each other in the past about voting, but I understand why it’s so prominent for you now. I’m of the belief that it’s the easiest and least effective method of change, so it’s been frustrating to seemingly see no real plan to put on the pressure folks are telling us to wait for.
It is the easiest and least effective, on its own. But its the least effective in large part because it is an action taken only one or two days out of the year. Each of those days are a significant junction from which massive changes are possibly. Often bad ones, which is why it’s all the more important to use those one or two days.
Direct action is food and water, but voting is medicine. Medicine won’t save you without direct action, but refusing medicine when ill will ensure that direct action does that much less in keeping you alive. Or ensure that the problem kills you outright before you can get your body the necessary nutrition to sustain itself.
As mentioned, I’m not even whole enough to walk more than a few blocks, and I live self-employed and under the poverty line. All I can do is donate when I can and speak to those close to me. I write my reps, but that’s pretty in-line with representative democracy, and I get the feeling that you’re looking for non-voting action outside of the norm. I’ve notably reddened my social circle, but that’s all I can claim.
I miss being able to march. But I have neither the physical nor emotional fortitude for that anymore.
I don’t balk at direct action. I decry the idea that it’s a replacement for voting. Direct action is important. Voting in certain elections is, likewise, important. Dedication to direct action does not and should not preclude taking one day out of the year, or less if you live in a state with good mail-in voting laws, for harm reduction, especially when that harm is at an exceptionally bad precipice point. Nor does voting preclude direct action.
We’ve gone back and forth with each other in the past about voting, but I understand why it’s so prominent for you now. I’m of the belief that it’s the easiest and least effective method of change, so it’s been frustrating to seemingly see no real plan to put on the pressure folks are telling us to wait for.
It is the easiest and least effective, on its own. But its the least effective in large part because it is an action taken only one or two days out of the year. Each of those days are a significant junction from which massive changes are possibly. Often bad ones, which is why it’s all the more important to use those one or two days.
Direct action is food and water, but voting is medicine. Medicine won’t save you without direct action, but refusing medicine when ill will ensure that direct action does that much less in keeping you alive. Or ensure that the problem kills you outright before you can get your body the necessary nutrition to sustain itself.