Every time the Eternal Voting Discourse returns, I hear the same argument for leftists to vote 3rd party:
"Both parties are the same. Blue or red, nothing changes."
That's wrong. Dems are better than Reps on nearly every issue, but fail progressive goals.
Graphs below:🧵
"Both parties are the same. Blue or red, nothing changes."
That's wrong. Dems are better than Reps on nearly every issue, but fail progressive goals.
Graphs below:🧵
QUEER RIGHTS
The strongest leftist case for Democrats is on queer rights.
Take gender-affirming care for trans youth.
2/3 of Rep states have banned it in the last 2 years -- all of which are currently halted in courts.
1/2 of Dem states have legally protected it. 🧵
The strongest leftist case for Democrats is on queer rights.
Take gender-affirming care for trans youth.
2/3 of Rep states have banned it in the last 2 years -- all of which are currently halted in courts.
1/2 of Dem states have legally protected it. 🧵
QUEER RIGHTS
It's not just healthcare.
On virtually every queer issue -- spousal rights, visitation, discrimination, bullying, adoption -- Dem states are absurdly far ahead of Rep states.
Gay rights on left, trans rights on right: 🧵
It's not just healthcare.
On virtually every queer issue -- spousal rights, visitation, discrimination, bullying, adoption -- Dem states are absurdly far ahead of Rep states.
Gay rights on left, trans rights on right: 🧵
ABORTION RIGHTS
After the Supreme Court (6R, 3D) ended Roe v Wade, every single Republican state which *could* ban or heavily restrict abortion did so.
(The rest have a state constitutional right to abortion.)
7/8 of Dem states have actively protected access to abortion. 🧵
After the Supreme Court (6R, 3D) ended Roe v Wade, every single Republican state which *could* ban or heavily restrict abortion did so.
(The rest have a state constitutional right to abortion.)
7/8 of Dem states have actively protected access to abortion. 🧵
DRUG WAR
Every single Dem state has decriminalized or fully legalized marijuana.
Just 2/5 of Rep states have done so.
Biden recently asked DEA to reschedule marijuana from Class I to Class III (less illegal). He had promised to fully decriminalize it, but has not done so. 🧵
Every single Dem state has decriminalized or fully legalized marijuana.
Just 2/5 of Rep states have done so.
Biden recently asked DEA to reschedule marijuana from Class I to Class III (less illegal). He had promised to fully decriminalize it, but has not done so. 🧵
MASS INCARCERATION
Dems are less progressive on criminal justice.
The median Rep state incarcerates 8 people in 1,000, about 10x higher than the median rich country.
The median Dem state incarcerates 4 in 1,000, still 5x higher, and has slightly lower violent crime rates. 🧵
Dems are less progressive on criminal justice.
The median Rep state incarcerates 8 people in 1,000, about 10x higher than the median rich country.
The median Dem state incarcerates 4 in 1,000, still 5x higher, and has slightly lower violent crime rates. 🧵
WORKING CONDITIONS
Dems are also less progressive on economic issues.
For example, Dem states have much higher minimum wages than Rep states -- but not one reaches 50% of a living wage.
Only Dem states have paid family leave -- but only 1 in 3 do! 🧵
Dems are also less progressive on economic issues.
For example, Dem states have much higher minimum wages than Rep states -- but not one reaches 50% of a living wage.
Only Dem states have paid family leave -- but only 1 in 3 do! 🧵
WORKING CONDITIONS
It's almost comical how much better Dem states do on OxFam's index of Best States to Work In.
But much of that is just because Rep states are so bad for workers -- even strong Dem states fall short of European countries (and far short of social democracy). 🧵
It's almost comical how much better Dem states do on OxFam's index of Best States to Work In.
But much of that is just because Rep states are so bad for workers -- even strong Dem states fall short of European countries (and far short of social democracy). 🧵
UNIONIZATION
For example, take "Right to Work" laws, which destroy unions' ability to collectively bargain with employers.
7/8 of Rep states are RTW -- making them worse than any Euro country.
7/8 of Dem states are not -- but that's a very low bar! 🧵
For example, take "Right to Work" laws, which destroy unions' ability to collectively bargain with employers.
7/8 of Rep states are RTW -- making them worse than any Euro country.
7/8 of Dem states are not -- but that's a very low bar! 🧵
UNIONIZATION
About 2/3 of European countries have mandatory or widespread sectoral bargaining, where the union contract covers an entire economic sector.
Zero US states do.
Just 5 have wage boards, which CAN serve a similar role -- but only New York has recently used it. 🧵
About 2/3 of European countries have mandatory or widespread sectoral bargaining, where the union contract covers an entire economic sector.
Zero US states do.
Just 5 have wage boards, which CAN serve a similar role -- but only New York has recently used it. 🧵
HEALTHCARE
Nearly all countries on Earth have a public option (good) or single-payer (better) healthcare system.
Zero US states have single-payer.
Just 3 have *started* a public option program -- and all contracted private firms instead of building a public-owned insurance! 🧵
Nearly all countries on Earth have a public option (good) or single-payer (better) healthcare system.
Zero US states have single-payer.
Just 3 have *started* a public option program -- and all contracted private firms instead of building a public-owned insurance! 🧵
What do we learn from this?
First, Dems are much better than Reps.
If you want more queer rights, abortion rights, drug decriminalization, decarceration, worker protections, or union rights:
You want Reps to lose, badly.
The parties are not the same. It's not even close. 🧵
First, Dems are much better than Reps.
If you want more queer rights, abortion rights, drug decriminalization, decarceration, worker protections, or union rights:
You want Reps to lose, badly.
The parties are not the same. It's not even close. 🧵
Second: Voting Dem is not enough.
Even strong Dem states fail basic progressive goals.
If you want to re-unionize America, healthcare for all, or even just paid sick leave:
You need to replace centrist Dems with progressives, through realignment or ranked-choice voting. 🧵
Even strong Dem states fail basic progressive goals.
If you want to re-unionize America, healthcare for all, or even just paid sick leave:
You need to replace centrist Dems with progressives, through realignment or ranked-choice voting. 🧵
We need a mass movement that can make demands & remove those who refuse, to pull politics left.
Just voting -- whether for Dem or Green or [Tiny Socialist Party] -- builds nothing.
Vote for the leftmost viable candidate (likely a Democrat) and then get back to organizing. 🧵
Just voting -- whether for Dem or Green or [Tiny Socialist Party] -- builds nothing.
Vote for the leftmost viable candidate (likely a Democrat) and then get back to organizing. 🧵
For the first time in decades, that movement has started to form.
There were 15,000 organized socialists in 1990. Today, there are 120,000.
Unions are more aggressive now than any time since 2000.
Let's build social democracy in America -- and more. 🧵 act.dsausa.org/donate/members…
There were 15,000 organized socialists in 1990. Today, there are 120,000.
Unions are more aggressive now than any time since 2000.
Let's build social democracy in America -- and more. 🧵 act.dsausa.org/donate/members…
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