this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
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United States | News & Politics
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Not disputing anything you've said, but the reality is also that the winner of pretty much every election at the state and federal level will be won by either the Democratic or Republican nominee. Fewer than 99% of state and federal legislative seats in the country are held by third party or independent (2 out of 535 federally are Independent, none are third party).
https://ballotpedia.org/Current_independent_and_minor_party_federal_and_state_officeholders
Both parties weaponize this, for sure. But the only message not voting sends to those in power is that your opinion doesn't matter and they don't have to waste any effort trying to win you over. One of the two will win whether you participate or not. And clearly, there is a real difference with real consequences as to which one it is.
I'm aware. 3rd parties are not viable in the US. I think the only way to change that is to encourage local already established leaders be it advocates, activists, reporters, teachers or other working class people with a fundamental core of values to run for political office under Democratic banner, but who are also willing to criticize and call out corporate slaves of the party. This upcoming election cycle there seems to be a lot of new new faces primaring useless corporate goons that are raising huge amounts of money with a message of working class first.