Please don’t stop, Jessica. I group you with Umair Haque and (lucky for us) others, all well educated, informed brave writers. We need you to continue speaking up.
Sure, they call you fear-mongers. Ignore that.
Re the mess of voting alternatives. Well, I know you know the following:
1. no way can you vote for the party of Trump (which really is the party of Bannon, the pillow guy, Miller and a band of others). You cannot support through your vote, what will inevitably happen to the country, world and humanity under their rule. And “rule” is the operative word.
2. You cannot vote independent because as much as that is true to your principles and a beautiful expression of what the country needs right now…it won’t get you anywhere close to your goal.
It WILL be a wasted vote simply because the independents don’t have the meaningful numbers and if you hang in untill the day they do, most likely( huge sigh) the minions of Trump will have been in control again and for way too many years.
3. You cannot abstain from voting. See #2 above.
4. Yes, in order to move closer to what the country and world needs (democracy) you do have to continue to vote Democrat. Because yes, it IS the only alternative that even has a few whiffs of hope.
But at least it is the best place for the country to hang while people like you Jessica, and others, continue to work tirelessly to make the planet a better world for all and not just some.
Oh and for the record. I speak knowing full well that the label of “socialism” as a means to silence voices, criticism and possible solutions is just a smoke and mirrors tool.
Many countries with excellent government injected health care programs, social programs, childcare, retirement, the list goes on…enjoy all the enviable and desired freedoms and standards of living.
It is possible to have capitalism AND programs caring for a population. I like to call it “good capitalism”.
I am sick and tired of that “socialism” label shutting down all progressive conversations. Talk about gaslighting and silencing at its finest.
