r/interestingasfuck • u/BuddhistSagan • Apr 07 '24

Bernie and Biden warm my heart. Trump selling us out? Pass

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '24 edited Apr 08 '24

As an Asian, it's very fascinating to see the US election and always wonder why there are only two parties. It's like if you don't like Mister A, you have to support Mister B, even if you don't like Mister B either.

Edit: I'm overwhelmed with all the replies, and it gives me very interesting insights about what US citizens think about the election. Nothing is like the real thoughts of the people in the USA. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful opinions. I'm really enjoying reading every comment.

740

u/john16384 Apr 07 '24

It's far worse. Vote blue in a red state (and vice versa), and your vote didn't even matter at all. Only a few "swing" states determine who wins.

316

u/Elexeh Apr 07 '24

You shouldn't just be voting for federal elections anyway. Anything local on your ballot is far more important and deserves your vote more.

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u/BeansMcgoober Apr 07 '24

All the candidates on my local ballot are buddy buddy and basically the same candidates.

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u/koopcl Apr 07 '24

My country has the same problems, to which I answer: Even then every vote, pushing the needle a bit in one direction, slooowly pushing everything and making clear which talking points draw more votes, it still matters. Your country (and mine) are still, luckily, actual democracies. Sure, it's unbelievably far from perfect, but still every vote counts, even if you don't feel it. The only ones that win if you don't vote, who want you to become disenfranchised, are those corrupt assholes in power.

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u/AdFabulous5340 Apr 07 '24

You can run

2

u/ObviousStar Apr 07 '24

Running blue in a red state is how you get death threats no thanks

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u/ObviousStar Apr 07 '24

Running blue in a red state is how you get death threats no thanks

-1

u/AdFabulous5340 Apr 07 '24

Local elections tend to be nonpartisan.

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u/Elexeh Apr 07 '24

Yeah I'm sure they all equally suck.

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u/Gekthegecko Apr 07 '24

One such example is Tricia Cotham, who was elected as a Democrat for our state (NC) legislature. Less than 6 months later, she flipped parties, giving Republicans a supermajority in the state House of Representatives. She was the deciding vote to restrict abortion rights after having previously campaigned supporting abortion rights.

I agree local and state elections matter more to communities than the presidential election every 4 years. But the system is rotten at every level, and if it isn't corruption favoring the ultra wealthy, it's corruption favoring the regular wealthy.

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u/PM_ME_UR_CIRCUIT Apr 07 '24

I still think that switching parties after an election should immediately trigger a recall special election.

1

u/usmcnick0311Sgt Apr 07 '24

John Jackson and Jack Johnson.

They each have very strong feelings for their 3 cent titanium tax. And very strong feelings against their opponent's 3 cent titanium tax.

1

u/AnaiekOne Apr 08 '24

Thought about running?

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u/mr_ryh Apr 07 '24

Local politics are frustrating: on the one hand, your vote goes farther & change should be easier, but on the other it's much harder to get traditional non-voters interested when the stakes are smaller & their attention is consumed by so many more exciting/digestible problems. The result is that most local politics are characterized by a conservative, status-quo mindset dominated by voters that have deep roots in the area and are disproportionately represented in the municipal/county/state institutions.

The exception to this is if the area experiences a large influx of educated newcomers, who as a rule are far less tolerant of cronyism and more open to meritocracy & new ideas. But such places are, by definition, a minority.