• @Sordid@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    The NRA sways a lot of people with threats that the democrats want to “take their guns” but Republicans don’t hear that as a funny eye roll phrase. They 1000% think electing a Democrat is electing someone who will send the army to search their house and steal their property. They fully believe that is months from happening at all times.

    That’s my point precisely. These people keep believing that the Dems are about to seize their guns regardless of how many Dem administrations come and go without it happening, so there’s no point trying to persuade them or reason with them. (At this point one might draw some parallels with expecting the imminent second coming of Jesus, which is also a popular belief in these circles.) Even if a pro-gun leftist party were established, these people would just be fed propaganda that its pro-gun stance is a scam, and they’d buy it hook, line, and sinker and vote against it. These entrenched right-wing voters are beyond saving, and focusing on them is a waste of time and resources that would instead be better spent mobilizing the apathetic left-leaning masses.

    • @Didros@beehaw.org
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      11 year ago

      mobilizing the apathetic left-leaning masses.

      And how does voting for Joe Biden help us reach them? We need democrats to believe they need to reach left, not right. But they are a center/right party at this point and expecting them to go left because you want them to is lunacy.

      Republicans got you believing that voting for democrats that support them is your only option.

      • @Sordid@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        It is, that’s how a two-party system works. The Democratic Party needs to be reformed from within. Creating competition for it only ensures the failure of both and the rise of conservatism to power.

              • @Sordid@beehaw.org
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                1 year ago

                No, that’s how you forestall a fascist takeover. You reform the Dems by getting jobs in the party and pushing it to the left from within.

                • @Didros@beehaw.org
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                  11 year ago

                  Well, best of luck trying to convince the center right that they should be left instead of starting a leftist party. I don’t think the dems should change, I think they are a great right wing party that I wish I didn’t have to vote for anymore.

                  • @Sordid@beehaw.org
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                    1 year ago

                    I understand your frustration, but again, that’s the nature of a two-party system. Your choice is between center-right and fascism. Adding more parties to the left of fascism just splits the vote and ensures fascist victory. Adding more to the right would be hard, since the Reps are pretty far right already. Though my hope for 2024 is that Trump get snubbed for the Rep nomination and makes his own party out of spite. I’d be pretty happy if that happened.

                    Getting a party to change its ideology is hard but not impossible. The Reps and Dems switched platforms once already.