Notices by Robert_R_Freitag_II (robert_r_freitag_ii@mastodon.social)

@Gargron Washed out palette with a 70s vibe.

@lain I think this is become a more general trend--Bai Lan, The Great Resignation. There are measurable effects--Sinema has effectively been forced out of the Democratic Party. Small measurable effects that may eventually be reversed, but success is never guaranteed in any ambitious project.

@lain Electoral abstention is a legitimate political strategy when trying to force the hand of an entrenched establishment. If done mindfully, it's still a type of participation because it is expected or hoped to have a practical effect, even if not in the short term.

But to pretend you can fly off to Oz and ignore the consequences is delusion.

It's the difference between consciously accepting the steep price of a desperate action (or inaction) and the self delusion that choices don't matter.

@lain I haven't voted for years as exactly this type of abstentionist strategy. It's a small act of protest.

I can't worry about when exactly it will have an impact, but it definitely will have an impact, even if it is acceleration towards a totalitarian crisis.

@lain You do get to opt out of participating in government.

You don't get to opt out of being governed.

So faulty analogy.

@lain But that's pretty much the definition of government. Participate, don't participate, but life is a lot harder if you don't.