General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTo Those 400,000 Climate Change Marchers: Here is how to Make an Even Bigger Impact. VOTE.
http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/to-those-400000-climate-change-marchers-here-is-how-to-make-an-even-bigger-impact-vote/The march was impressive by any objective measure: people across the world held similar events, but none approached the size or intensity of the NYC protest. The media kinda-sorta reported on it in a desultory manner (if at all), as usually happens when Lefties do something significant (but let one Teabagger hold up a misspelled sign and its breaking news for days). So the questions of what good did it do? and what next? are very important today.
Sadly, because of the Infotainment industrys biases and the general lack of mainstream political support for the climate change movement, the march itself may or may not have much of an impact at all. If it didnt make a big impression on the nation, it wont result in pressure on the politicos. And pressure on politicos was the point of the exercise.
This makes what next? an even bigger and better question. And the answer is plain and simple: VOTE. Vote at every election, on every race, every issue, every time.
Voting can make changes that the biggest marches cannot, the more so since politicians assume that you wont do it. They ignore the electorate and focus on the big-money types who bribe our public servants: those bribing bastards ALWAYS participate in politics, because they know it is important.
If those 400,000 marchers would all show up at the polls, the outcome of any number of races in the 2014 election would be changed for the better. Deniers would lose and reality-based candidates would win. Legislation would be written to change the way we pollute.
Marches and civil disobedience are powerful tools to help effect change. But unless we take that same spirit and work ethic to the polls as well, nothing will change. Only when politicos are afraid of being voted out of office will they respond to the will of the people.
March. Then vote. But if you can only do one of the two, vote.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)There are a lot more of us, and we may not be quite as motivated.
Coronary limitations preclude me marching very far. But I am motivated to vote.
Not all the marchers are voting: in fact, I wrote the OP after speaking to several marchers who pooh-poohed the idea of voting.
No doubt many of the marchers will already vote. Many non-marchers will vote. But not all of those in either category are going to vote as of now, so the message needs to be sent.
Carry that commitment and passion to the polls. Locally, statewide and federal.
GOTV
riqster
(13,986 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Those who vote end up making the decisions about who represents them. Often, the choices aren't great, but there's always one who will represent you better than the other. The candidate who will vote on legislation the way you would even just 50% of the time is a far better choice than the one who will never vote as you would.
The candidate who will vote with you 90% of the time is great, but to do that, that candidate has to get elected. If that's clearly not going to happen and you vote for a certain loser, you'll probably get the candidate who won't represent your views at all. Voting, in most races, is a binary choice. One of two candidates will win. Make your choice wisely, and bring others to the polls with you.
GOTV 2014 and Beyond!
riqster
(13,986 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)Thanks.
riqster
(13,986 posts)And urged that they vote as well. Because voting is not as easily suppressed by media coverage.
leftstreet
(36,109 posts)Took longer than usual though
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)I'd assume others are of like mind.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Most, schmost: we need everybody to vote if we are to use the power of our numbers against the wealth and corruption of the Teapubbies.
Autumn
(45,109 posts)votes.
riqster
(13,986 posts)Disillusioned to the extent that they don't use all of tools the Constitution gives them.
I would like to think that most marchers vote. But since I know some who don't, I wrote the OP.
Autumn
(45,109 posts)to vote? A social thing? Just stupid, protesting is great but voting is the only thing that works, any person should know that.
If your friends don't vote they are doing nothing. They are taking no direct action, they are wasting their time.
riqster
(13,986 posts)I try my best to get them to use their right to vote, just like I do any disengaged person. But it can be frustrating.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)we would have a f-----g revolution.
riqster
(13,986 posts)Those who willingly choose revolution are the most vile and inhumane among us.
If we have a choice, we should never choose revolution: instead we should use the tools we have. Like, you know, voting.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)classykaren
(769 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)redruddyred
(1,615 posts): :
been helping out team D for election season and am a little annoyed to run into people who don't even know who's on the ticket.
riqster
(13,986 posts)I got LOTS AND LOTS of energy for GOTV this year!
redruddyred
(1,615 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)From people who love any Clean Coal/Pipeline/Fracking/Oil dickcheese with a D after his name and who dismiss anybody else as unserious or disloyal.
How persuasive.
riqster
(13,986 posts)No, it is nothing of the sort.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)There will be other local actions and registering voters will be on the agenda, thanks.
riqster
(13,986 posts)whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)And they are quite the opposite of saviors.
.