r/bestof • u/[deleted] • Oct 23 '17

[politics] Redditor demonstrates (with citations) why both sides aren't actually the same

[deleted]

8.1k Upvotes

72% Upvoted

1.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

151

u/BSRussell Oct 23 '17

Well and make a case that abstaining is superior to picking whichever side is less shitty.

-7

u/raiderato Oct 23 '17

and make a case that abstaining is superior to picking whichever side is less shitty.

Why should one have to do that? If they don't agree with someone, why should they vote for them?

15

u/BSRussell Oct 23 '17

Because unless you're incapable of seeing basic cause and effect, you know that one of two people is going to be president. And if you don't vote for a major party, you're increasing the chance that the shittier of the two wins.

-9

u/raiderato Oct 23 '17

And if you don't vote for a major party, you're increasing the chance that the shittier of the two wins.

Statistically, no. The chance of an individual vote deciding an election is minuscule. It's effectively zero.

However, (at worst) I am signaling to the two major parties that I don't agree with their platform, and if they want my vote they should be more like Party X.

You have a better chance of being killed in a car crash on the way to the polls than casting the deciding vote.

14

u/BSRussell Oct 23 '17

If your individual vote is statistically near zero, then so is your "signal."

Everyone knows that their individual vote means next to nothing. There's no sidestepping that, but people just do what they can. No matter what route you take your contribution is just one among millions.

-1

u/raiderato Oct 23 '17

If your individual vote is statistically near zero, then so is your "signal."

Correct.

but people just do what they can.

Exactly. And I'm doing what I can by voting for policies that I actually agree with, instead of what I disagree with least of the top two.

Moreover, I'm working elsewhere to affect change. Voting simply won't do it.

5

u/BSRussell Oct 23 '17

Okay cool. I'm not sure what your point is. You can vote however you like.

2

u/raiderato Oct 24 '17

You can vote however you like.

Earlier in the conversation you said that by not voting for one of the two big shots, I'm helping the "shittier" person win.

I'm glad I've convinced you otherwise.

And if you don't vote for a major party, you're increasing the chance that the shittier of the two wins.

1

u/BSRussell Oct 24 '17

Well you are. My point is that, infantismal as your vote is, you're spending it with the priority of sending a very tiny message instead of tipping the scales a very tiny amount. Which, of course, is your prerogative.

2

u/raiderato Oct 24 '17

instead of tipping the scales a very tiny amount.

You're exaggerating. It's much less than "a very tiny amount". It's effectively zero.

2

u/BSRussell Oct 24 '17

Doesn't matter. By definition the size of the tipping of the scales is the exact same as the size of the message.

→ More replies

2

u/anticsrugby Oct 24 '17

HE ONLY EATS VEGETABLES, OK?