I agree with pragmatism in elections, but experience has shown that centrist liberals are generally not capable of turning around a drift towards the far right, because they buy into the same economic policies and priorities that make people desperate enough to give the fascists an opportunity. At best, electing a liberal puts the brakes on for a while. The only way to turn it around electorally would be to put up candidates who are very clearly working for the people, and to convince voters that these candidates work for their interests while the fascists serve the oligarchs. Liberals will never do this because they work for the wealthy too.
If you’re hurtling towards disaster, shouldn’t you try the brakes even if you think they aren’t going to work? We can’t move the United States to the left as long as far right authoritarians are being voted into office. Once some stability is established, we can start working towards more progressive policies. If given the chance between voting for the right and voting for the centrist, I’m going to pick the centrist every time. The only alternative is violence, which is a last resort in my mind (and we’re getting awfully fucking close).
Absolutely, that kind of pragmatism and willingness to vote for someone you don’t like is necessary when the stakes are this high. And then continue to apply the pressure for more progressive policies, and continue to organize and engage in progressive politics outside of voting.
I wouldn’t vote for him in the primary, but if he was the option in the general, I’d vote for him. Compromise is inherent to democracy.
I agree with pragmatism in elections, but experience has shown that centrist liberals are generally not capable of turning around a drift towards the far right, because they buy into the same economic policies and priorities that make people desperate enough to give the fascists an opportunity. At best, electing a liberal puts the brakes on for a while. The only way to turn it around electorally would be to put up candidates who are very clearly working for the people, and to convince voters that these candidates work for their interests while the fascists serve the oligarchs. Liberals will never do this because they work for the wealthy too.
If you’re hurtling towards disaster, shouldn’t you try the brakes even if you think they aren’t going to work? We can’t move the United States to the left as long as far right authoritarians are being voted into office. Once some stability is established, we can start working towards more progressive policies. If given the chance between voting for the right and voting for the centrist, I’m going to pick the centrist every time. The only alternative is violence, which is a last resort in my mind (and we’re getting awfully fucking close).
Absolutely, that kind of pragmatism and willingness to vote for someone you don’t like is necessary when the stakes are this high. And then continue to apply the pressure for more progressive policies, and continue to organize and engage in progressive politics outside of voting.