General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumssomething I just posted on Facebook
I am writing to those of you who believe Joe Biden to be some sort of corporate Democrat beholden to special interests someone who isnt interested in common folk, and someone who would govern far too close to the center.
Two words Supreme and Court should be enough to get you to the polls to vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. Nevertheless, Ive encountered people who seem to think theres not much difference between Biden and Trump. Some declare that they could never vote for Biden and would sit out the election or vote for a third-party candidate (which is the same thing as sitting out the election). I am writing to you in particular.
Yes, its your right to sit out an election. Its also your right to go from store to store and buy every available bottle of hand sanitizer. Both are extremely selfish. You're basically saying that your feelings matter more than the common good.
Biden is in no way my ideal candidate. Hes way too centrist and way too old. I havent forgotten Anita Hill, nor have I forgotten his vote for the Iraq War. But the idea that hes at all as bad as Trump is laughable. It should be dismissed as irrational by everyone living in the real world. Jupiter and Pluto are both further away from the sun than you, but that doesn't mean they're in the same orbit.
Consider two basic facts. First many of the more contentious recent Supreme Court decisions have been 5-4. This includes Citizens United and the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act. Have you noticed that the four reasonable votes came from justices nominated by corporate Democrats? And second as many as three justices may retire during the next administration.
I haven't forgotten Anita Hill, but I haven't forgotten Ruth Bader Ginsburg, either. Do you want Biden to replace RBG, or Trump?
Ive heard some of you claim that corporate bought candidates wont act on climate change or the environment. Unlike other politicians I can name, Biden doesnt think climate change is a hoax. Obama, who arguably governed like a 1950's-era progressive Republican, signed us into the Paris agreement. Like Obama's, Biden's EPA and Department of the Interior wouldn't be staffed by pseudoscientists interested in selling National Parks to mining companies. (Obama increased the amount of National Park and Monument land; Trump has reduced it.)
I agree that we need Medicare for All, and I would rather vote for someone who will support it, but Biden at least wouldn't try to dismantle whatever public health care we have in the US. Nor would he put unqualified people like Betsy DeVos in cabinet-level positions.
I don't care how high your ideals are. Getting Trump out of the White House should be everyone's top priority, and deciding not to vote because neither candidate suits you is selfish.
And this goes for me as much as it goes for you. Im not a fan of Bernie Sanders, but if hes the nominee, I will enthusiastically vote for him.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)indicating to you that they will not vote in November? I preferred Yang, but voted for Sanders today in our Primary. If Biden wins the nomination I will certainly vote for him. But first we have more important things coming up such as the local school board and a city council election.
cab67
(2,992 posts)but it's more than a few. And any number greater than zero is unacceptable.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)but my experience seems to be different.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)marlakay
(11,451 posts)Folks will vote for him, more than Hillary even because we all hate Trump. And this time we all know Trump, I remember last time people thought he might not be that bad.
Right now he is doing his best to get rich off of us being sick or dying, people wont forget that. Especially if Bloomberg does some great ads showing Trump golfing and partying in Florida during this.
Ptah
(33,024 posts)I'm writing about the general election. Not the primaries.