this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2026
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This is such an annoying discussion at this point. The "let's keep doing what we've always done because obviously that's working" folks never really engage with any arguments. They just ignore what people say and keep attacking the same strawmen over and over.
"Both metallica and the strokes have a guitar player"
"Oh so you're saying that metallica and the strokes are the same? That's so ridiculous, they don't even have the same number of members, you idiot."
It's so tiresome and pointless. And quite upsetting as well, because in attacking some of the strawmen, the "stay the course, this is going well" folks sometimes say some really heinous thing, bordering on full on genocide denial, or even worse, acknowledging the genocide but essentially saying "not my problem". It's really upsetting to read such things.
I guess that's at the core of it actually. It's one group of people that look at the millions of people that American imperialism has killed, and the way both parties have toed the exact same line on imperialism specifically, and consider this absolutely unacceptable. And on the other side you have people looking at this and thinking "yeah but what about my problems, the parties are different there". It's a fundamental difference in values, and there's no amount of convincing that either side can do to bridge that gap.
Anyway, here's my favorite Hannah Arendt quote, because I refuse to accept that we cannot somehow learn, eventually, from the holocaust:
Is voting the end all be all of one's political choices? Or perhaps after mitigating the worst outcome, people could have recognized that there is more work to be done?
Because voting democrat is not necessarily an endorsement of them, at least in a two party system. It is a condemnation of the other party. Thus, voting democrat is not choosing a lesser evil it is rejecting a greater one.
I've previously voted democrat because of great deal many completely unselfish reasons that would have helped people other than myself. Sure, self interest played a role, but it was far from the main reason.
Now... spite and self interest is kind of is my main reason this midterm election, but that's because I've grown to simply hate most people after November 2024 as its dawned on me the number of selfish imbeciles I'm drowning in and assume we're fucked anyway so might as well get some relief before the big funny kills all/most/many of us, whatever it may specifically be.
I am not sure the group that thinks American Imperialism has killed millions is significant in American politics. Perhaps here on Lemmy there are quite a few people who rightly say this, but the vast majority of Americans reject this thought outright.
I view it as one group who is fine with the status quo so much they will fight to keep it that way. They are resistant to change and feel that the strong hierarchal orders are good and that people have their place and should stay there. They are a strong minority.
You have another group of people who don't really care and kind of just go where the wind takes them. They don't have particularly strong political beliefs. They are mostly self serving but generally good natured. These people are the majority.
You have the last group of people who are against the status quo for a myriad of reasons. They embrace change and are resistant to hierarchal structures. They are not really organized as they are incredibly diverse in their reasonings and are generally a weak minority.
I think the annoying part comes from the lack of critical thought and introspection. There are so many good ways to solve our problems we have never even thought of. There are solutions to moving forward and we absolutely have to find them.
I agree with this, and my comment really focusses on the discussion here, on this niche forum. But I do think that a slightly amended version of this sentiment is broadly popular in the electorate. Something along the lines of "bring our boys home" or "we don't need to be spending our tax dollars on this". The motivation is much more selfish, but the desired outcome has significant overlap with the anti-imperialist sentiment, namely the cessation of war or funding genocide (the anti imperialist stance is broader than this, and would for example also be against the sanctions on Cuba, but this people really just don't give a shit about generally). I believe it's a big part of why the candidate promising "no new wars" won over the candidate promising to "ensure that america has the most lethal fighting force in the world" in the last presidential election.
No notes on the rest of your comment. "Fuck you I got mine" is infuriating.
You knew it was going to shit the moment the" no new wars" candidate's administration changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. While a certain part of me does feel that the US deserved what it got it is hard not to see the epic rug pull here.
In that case, Trump is probably the best option for them. He's too stupid to lie effectively, and wil destroy the American Empire that this refusal to engage with reality allows for now.
It should also be noted that choosing not to choose, is also a choice, and not necessarily the lesser evil.
In other words, just because you didn't choose for one of two poor options, doesn't mean you didn't make a choice for a third option you believe to be a lesser evil.