Only, the lady who drives me to medical appointments , told me several
months ago that she is supporting Trump. She does volunteer work for her
Catholic church, grew up in New York City, and her racism is submerged and
subtle, only evident in circuitous statements in discussions. And last
summer, my son-in-law was a Trump supporter. He attended a community
college, is the son of a New York City police detective, and makes quite a
lot of money as part owner of a company that distributes products to
drugstores, beauty shops, and barber shops. He watches a lot of TV and never
reads books. Neither of these people fit your picture of Trump supporters.
I'm not sure who these virtuous working class people are that some folks on
the left seem to idealize. Yes, we certainly have been victimized. But many
of us spend our time watching reality TV, wanting to rid our towns of
mosques, and applauding measures that will remove undocumented immigrants
from our midst.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2016 12:20 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: applying the Jarvis Logic
I don't know, Miriam. My elder sister is mentally ill and would make a
great vindictive President. But neither she nor Donald Trump will win a
spot in the Oval Office. Trump may be a nut case, clever enough to build a
huge house of cards as well as conning enough Red Neck White Supremacists to
beat out the likes of Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Doctor Ben Carson and all those
other Losers.
However if we put all the angry White Flat Heads end to end, they couldn't
elect a dog catcher. Trump will not win! I have far too much belief in the
working class to believe that they will vote for this man who seems to be
bouncing off the walls in the Rubber Room.
Clinton will win by a landslide. Sure, the Mass Media is going to try
making a race out of it in order to keep them dollars coming in, but keep
the Faith in Americans. Only other nut cases will want to turn the nation
over to Trump. And there are simply not enough of them.
And by the way, if Trump really did win, well...I'll see you in Canada.
Carl Jarvis
Carl Jarvis
On 8/12/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
But Carl, I know all that and I agree. We do seem to be talking atattack.
cross purposes. . I'm trying to say that Trump is truly mentally
unstable. That's different from Paul Ryan whose politics I despise or
Romney whose politics I despise. Trump is dangerous in a different
way. But I must admit that it was big banks and government which
allowed him to do the horrible things he's done. I also have to admit
that the difference between many of his business actions and those of
Wells Fargo or Goldman Saks is that he was less skilled and a lot
cruder. But it's also true that he's devoid of certain capacities that
are necessary for a public servant. Perhaps Bush was also. But Bush's
main problem was lack of intelligence. He wasn't narcisistic,
vindictive, and a woman hater.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 2:25 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] applying the Jarvis Logic
No Socialist Analysis here, Miriam. Just good old Jarvis Logic.
First, Washington is seldom out of the Democratic column. I'd have to
look up the last time we went for a Republican president...maybe Bush
Senior, And the last Republican Governor only served one term. Back
in the 60's we did have Dan Evans as a three term governor, but he was
rather middle of the road. He may have been our last Republican
senator, too. So we still fly under the flag with the Jackass on it.
But here's the thing about voting for either of the two protected parties.
At the top, neither has the working classes needs on their agenda.
Both have succumbed to the gold of the Ruling Class. Both existing
parties began life as representing the Common Citizen. Both followed
the tune being played by the Master's Pipers. While my people were
busy tending to their fields, laboring in the factories, the mines and
the forests, the Landed Gentry slipped in and took political control.
They did not do this through joining the existing parties. Instead,
they bought the spineless, weaklings, and poured money into
advertising promoting these Marionettes, spinning half truths and bare
faced lies.
They dangled before us the promise of riches and freedom. And we
bought the fantasy. And to set the hook, the Ruling Class allowed us
to believe we had choices. We could vote for one of two hand picked
candidates. Like in the old wrestling matches, one played the "good
guy" while the other was the "villain". And, depending upon our mood
of the day, we always went for the, "Lesser of two evils".
Now I am not some hysterical doomer and gloomer crying, "The sky is
falling in!" But I do read history and look back through the growing
number of years that I have lived in this Land of the Free and the
Home of the Brave. And I can see that despite our voting in the
lesser of two evils more often than we voted in Evil, we have lost
ground. From the high water mark of the 40's, 50's and 60's, we began
sliding back toward the grim times of Hoover, Coolidge, Harding and
beyond into the horror days in the 1880's and 1890's.
Have you noticed how we have been cut from the herd? We used to stand
more or less in solidarity. We had organized labor and guilds and
fraternal organizations and churches, where we would gather and
discuss events, and join forces with like thinking people. And we
would make modest gains, thinking each time that this was the
beginning of the "good times". But if we did not guard these gains
constantly, they were slowly dissolved, and we had to mount another
We are not being good stewards of democracy. Our public schools areconstant attack by mad dog, mindless murderers.
in retreat, our Medicare and Social Security are under constant
attack. Our privacy is no longer private. We've gone over the list
before, so I'll stop there. Yes, we do still have it better than our
great grandparents living in the 1880's and 1920's. But that is a sad
comparison. Compared to the mid 1940's through the late 1970's we are
in far worse shape.
I faithfully voted for the lesser of the two evils(Democrats) from
1956 until 2012, when I voted for Jill Stein. Oh yes, I did take time
out to vote once for Ralph Nader. What I have gained from my loyal
support is nothing. So far I have lost about $58 thousand on the
property we believed would be a retirement cushion, an probably 80 or
90 thousand dollars on the house we live in, if we put it on the
market now. Our children are all living at a less affluent level than
we lived at their ages. Their children's education is going to
bankrupt them. I'm not saying that there are improvements, but even
such areas as women's rights are being whittled away. And I weep for
our Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transvestite citizens who are under
When I was a boy, I could hop a bus to down town Seattle at the age ofsafety.
9, take a several block walk to the YMCA for my weekly swimming
lesson, and return home well after 9:00 P.M. with never a thought for my
Today,right one.
little boys are as vulnerable as are little girls.
At 81, I am constantly receiving calls from scam artists trying to
sneak their hands into my bank account. My heart breaks for those who
are my age but no longer have the ability to understand when they are
being fleeced...until well after the fact.
I keep thinking that we should put as much effort into curbing the
Terrorists living here, as we are putting into drones and other tools
of murder. But then I think, "if we did as poorly at stopping
homeland terror, as we do overseas, we'd be better off not trying."
So Miriam, the bottom line for me is that this corporate capitalist
oligarchy is not going to get better. At some point we must stop
supporting the lesser of two evils and begin the hard work of building
a new system.
Look, if we think Trump is the nation's worst nightmare, what will the
next monster look like? Remember when we thought that George Bush the
Lesser was the ultimate bumbling evil one?
So, enough of this. You and I will each do what we believe is in the
best interest of our People. We each feel that we are on the right track.
Probably we could poll this list and find a whole bunch of different
positions, by people who are as committed to the working class as we are.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/12/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
OK. First, the point is, Is Washington in the Democratic column, thehave been radically diminished.
Republican column, or a swing state. If it traditionally votes for
one of the parties, all of its electoral votes will go to that party.
It doesn't matter that some folks may vote for the other party. Their
votes don't count. It doesn't matter. They may as well stay home or
vote for any alternative. All of the electoral votes will go to the
party for whom the majority of people always vote.
That being the case, we can all imagine the slide toward hell with
Hillary as President. But would you please, for just a few minutes,
try to imagine the consequences of Trump being President. Try reading
Never Enough which is on BARD or The Making of Trump which is on
Bookshare, because the usual socialist analysis which you are
applying to this situation is inapplicable in the case of Trump. It
isn't a question of his politics, nor of the stuff you hear on TV. If
you are still thinking that it doesn't make any difference because
the ruling class rules both parties, then you are still not
understanding what kind of a person Trump is and how he functions.
I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm saying that you have to stop
applying your usual analysis to this situation. I, personally, am
voting Green because I live in New York and have the luxury of voting
my conscience. I want to support any movement which has a chance of
challenging the status quo and moving us away from the two corporate
parties. But if I were living in a swing state as Joe is, I'd vote
for Clinton because if Trump wins the Presidency, life for us, and
particularly for people more vulnerable than you or I, will become
radically worse, very fast, plus, the opportunity to build a humane
alternative to what we have, will
cities, will be pie in the sky.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl ;
Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 11:07 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser
Evil
Voting)
Miriam,
Washington State currently has a Democratic governor an two Senators
who are both Democrats and Women. I think the state legislature is
still more Democrat than Republican. But I know of many folks who
plan to vote for Trump as a demonstration of their frustration over a
wide range of grievances. But all that being said, my decision to
not vote for Trump or Clinton is based on my belief that we are in
for hard times under either.
Voting for Clinton will only buy us eight more years of a slow
disintegration of our "middle class". I fully expect Clinton to walk
away with victory in her grubby little hands, and once in office I
expect to find her "agreeing" with her campaign promises, but
explaining why, "now is not the time". There will be no
15 dollar and hour minimum wage, no expansion of Medicare or Social
Security, TPP will probably pass, and very likely a new sudden
collapse of our struggling economy. And of course with her strong
love of Persons of Color, we can expect her to shed tears as she does
nothing to curb the growing Prison Slaves. With her bent toward an
even stronger military, her promise of rebuilding our bridges and
highways will, along with rebuilding our public education and our
inner
Clinton is pronounced as the candidate with proven experience. This
is absolutely the Gospel Truth. She knows how to survive within a
highly cutthroat system. And she knows how to look the Public in the
eye, and lie.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/12/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
I'm not voting for her either. But I live in New York, a state that
will vote Democratic. If your state always votes Democratic or
Republican, except in landslides, which this election won't be,
those points don't apply to you.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl ;
Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 1:09 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser
Evil
Voting)
Miriam,
My old clock just struck ten P.M. and I am feeling rather mindless.
So as I struggle off to bed I will pause long enough to thank you
for the points you made...or pointed out, and I will try hard to
think of how I will disagree with some of them. I believe that my
position of digging in my heels may not be the right one, but it is *MY
change.resistance.I simply can't vote for Hillary Clinton. I'll blame my father's
successful indoctrination when I was but a wee innocent lad.
For now, Good Night.
Carl Jarvis(Yawn!)
On 8/10/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,an individual.
The points in that article that I found useful were that:
1. They applied to people who live in states where the vote could
go either way, not to people in states where the majority of people
always votes for one party or the other because in those states,
all of the electoral votes go to the majority party, no matter what
you do as
2. But where your individual vote may have meaning, a Trump
presidency with all of its repercussions will do the most damage to
the most vulnerable people, minorities, the poor, LBGT people, and
the disabled. So it is incumbent on you to prevent a Republican
Presidency. In a swing state, making what feels like a moral choice
may make you feel comfortable, but its effects will have hurtful
consequences.
3. Voting for Hillary doesn't imply that you support her or what
she stands for, and it doesn't prevent you from allying yourself
with activists who are working toward the goals that are
meaningful. It is only a practdical step to take in order to allow
some space for the social movements in which you believe, to function.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl ;
Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:02 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser
Evil
Voting)
Hi Miriam,
I did read the earlier post. It does not help me, if by saying
"help me" I am suggesting I might see value in going with the
lesser of two evils. We are in this insane presidential race
exactly because we have continued to go with the Lesser of Two
Evils. At some point in time we will need to agree that this
method is not gaining us anything but a slower slide down the
Razor's Edge. I have come to a place that I cannot believe
Clinton's promises anymore than I do Trump's. Now I am at an age
where my energies are diminished to a point of ineffectiveness, my
only avenue open is
prefer, or not voting at all.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/10/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I posted a much more cogent article on this subject before this one.
It had to do with strategic voting for the lesser of two evils and
I think it's important to read it and not to dismiss its arguments
lightly.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl ;
Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 12:48 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: An Eight Point Brief for LEV
(Lesser Evil
Voting)
How long, oh Lord, how long do we continue voting for the lesser
of two evils, and ending up with Evil? Personally, I think we've
come too far down this gilded Freeway to turn it back into an old
country lane. But you know?
if folks want another attempt to work with the lessor of two
evils, then Hillary Clinton is your wish come true.
I know I'm getting old when 9:40 PM. Tuesday evening feels like
midnight Friday.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/9/16, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Excerpt: "Among the elements of the weak form of democracy
enshrined in the constitution, presidential elections continue to
pose a dilemma for the left in that any form of participation or
non participation appears to impose a significant cost on our
capacity to develop a serious opposition to the corporate agenda
served by establishment politicians."
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (photo: Getty Images)
An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser Evil Voting) By John Halle
and Noam Chomsky, Noam Chomsky's Website
09 August 16
Preamble:
Among the elements of the weak form of democracy enshrined in the
constitution, presidential elections continue to pose a dilemma
for the left in that any form of participation or non
participation appears to impose a significant cost on our
capacity to develop a serious opposition to the corporate agenda
served by establishment politicians. The position outlined below
is that which many regard as the most effective response to this
quadrennial Hobson's choice, namely the so-called "lesser evil"
voting strategy or LEV. Simply put, LEV involves, where you can,
i.e. in safe states, voting for the losing third party candidate
you
seriously.In competitive "swing" states, where you must, one votes for the
"lesser evil" Democrat.
Before fielding objections, it will be useful to make certain
background stipulations with respect to the points below. The
first is to note that since changes in the relevant facts require
changes in tactics, proposals having to do with our relationship
to the "electoral extravaganza" should be regarded as provisional.
This is most relevant with respect to point 3) which some will
challenge by citing the claim that Clinton's foreign policy could
pose a more serious menace than that of Trump.
In any case, while conceding as an outside possibility that
Trump's foreign policy is preferable, most of us not already
convinced that that is so will need more evidence than can be
aired in a discussion involving this statement. Furthermore,
insofar as this is the fact of the matter, following the logic
through seems to require a vote for Trump, though it's a bit hard
to know whether those making this suggestion are intending it
"moral"Another point of disagreement is not factual but involves theimportant consideration than feeling good about ourselves.
ethical/moral principle addressed in 1), sometimes referred to as
the "politics of moral witness." Generally associated with the
religious left, secular leftists implicitly invoke it when they
reject LEV on the grounds that "a lesser of two evils is still
evil." Leaving aside the obvious rejoinder that this is exactly
the point of lesser evil voting-i.e. to do less evil, what needs
to be challenged is the assumption that voting should be seen a
form of individual self-expression rather than as an act to be
judged on its likely consequences, specifically those outlined in
4). The basic moral principle at stake is simple: not only must
we take responsibility for our actions, but the consequences of
our actions for others are a far more
While some would suggest extending the critique by noting that
the politics of moral witness can become indistinguishable from
narcissistic self-agrandizement, this is substantially more harsh
than what was intended and harsher than what is merited. That
said, those reflexively denouncing advocates of LEV on a supposed
basis should consider that their footing on the high ground may
not be as secure as they often take for granted to be the case.
A third criticism of LEV equates it with a passive acquiescence
to the bipartisan status quo under the guise of pragmatism,
usually deriving from those who have lost the appetite for radical
decades to follow.protecting.It is surely the case that some of those endorsing LEV are doing
so in bad faith-cynical functionaries whose objective is to
promote capitulation to a system which they are invested in
Others supporting LEV, however, can hardly be reasonably accusedwith the establishment.
of having made their peace
Their concern, as alluded to in 6) and 7) inheres in the
awareness that frivolous and poorly considered electoral
decisions impose a cost, their memories extending to the
ultra-left faction of the peace movement having minimized the
comparative dangers of the Nixon presidency during the 1968
elections. The result was six years of senseless death and
destruction in Southeast Asia and also a predictable fracture of
the left setting it up for its ultimate collapse during the backlash
opposition can posture as the "reasonable"The broader lesson to be drawn is not to shy away from
confronting the dominance of the political system under the
management of the two major parties. Rather, challenges to it
need to be issued with a full awareness of their possible
consequences. This includes the recognition that far right
victories not only impose terrible suffering on the most
vulnerable segments of society but also function as a powerful
weapon in the hands of the establishment center, which, now in
materializing.posed by the far right.alternative. A Trump presidency, should it materialize, will
undermine the burgeoning movement centered around the Sanders
campaign, particularly if it is perceived as having minimized the
dangers
A more general conclusion to be derived from this recognition is
that this sort of cost/benefit strategic accounting is
fundamental to any politics which is serious about radical
change. Those on the left who ignore it, or dismiss it as
irrelevant are engaging in political fantasy and are an obstacle
to, rather than ally of, the movement which now seems to be
change.self-expressionFinally, it should be understood that the reigning doctrinalelectoral cycle.
system recognizes the role presidential elections perform in
diverting the left from actions which have the potential to be
effective in advancing its agenda. These include developing
organizations committed to extra-political means, most notably
street protest, but also competing for office in potentially
winnable races. The left should devote the minimum of time
necessary to exercise the LEV choice then immediately return to
pursuing goals which are not timed to the national
1. Voting should not be viewed as a form of personal
be (ifor
moral judgement directed in retaliation towards major party
candidates who fail to reflect our values, or of a corrupt system
designed to limit choices to those acceptable to corporate elites.
2. The exclusive consequence of the act of voting in 2016 will
globalin a contested "swing state") to marginally increase or decrease
the chance of one of the major party candidates winning.
3. One of these candidates, Trump, denies the existence of
policieswarming, calls for increasing use of fossil fuels, dismantling ofpretenses.
environmental regulations and refuses assistance to India and
other developing nations as called for in the Paris agreement,
the combination of which could, in four years, take us to a
catastrophic tipping point. Trump has also pledged to deport 11
million Mexican immigrants, offered to provide for the defense of
supporters who have assaulted African American protestors at his
rallies, stated his "openness to using nuclear weapons", supports
a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. and regards "the police in
this country as absolutely mistreated and misunderstood" while
having "done an unbelievable job of keeping law and order." Trump
has also pledged to increase military spending while cutting
taxes on the rich, hence shredding what remains of the social
welfare "safety net" despite
4. The suffering which these and other similarly extremist
where aand
attitudes will impose on marginalized and already oppressed
populations has a high probability of being significantly greater
than that which will result from a Clinton presidency.
5. Should constitute sufficient basis to voting for Clinton
winvote is potentially consequential-namely, in a contested, "swing"
state.
6. However, the left should also recognize that, should Trump
whobased
on its failure to support Clinton, it will repeatedly face the
accusation (based in fact), that it lacks concern for those sure
to be most victimized by a Trump administration.
7. Often this charge will emanate from establishment operatives
andwill use it as a bad faith justification for defeating challengeswith it, as they must.
to corporate hegemony either in the Democratic Party or outside
of it.
They will ensure that it will be widely circulated in mainstream
media channels with the result that many of those who would
otherwise be sympathetic to a left challenge will find it a
convincing reason to maintain their ties with the political
establishment rather than breaking
8. Conclusion: by dismissing a "lesser evil" electoral logic
prefer, or not voting at all.thereby increasing the potential for Clinton's defeat the left
will undermine what should be at the core of what it claims to be
attempting to achieve.
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Error! Hyperlink reference
not valid.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (photo: Getty Images)
https://chomsky.info/an-eight-point-brief-for-lev-lesser-evil-vot
i
n
g
/
h ttps:/
/chomsky.info/an-eight-point-brief-for-lev-lesser-evil-voting/
An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser Evil Voting) By John Halle
and Noam Chomsky, Noam Chomsky's Website
09 August 16
reamble:
Among the elements of the weak form of democracy enshrined in the
constitution, presidential elections continue to pose a dilemma
for the left in that any form of participation or non
participation appears to impose a significant cost on our
capacity to develop a serious opposition to the corporate agenda
served by establishment politicians. The position outlined below
is that which many regard as the most effective response to this
quadrennial Hobson's choice, namely the so-called "lesser evil"
voting strategy or LEV. Simply put, LEV involves, where you can,
i.e. in safe states, voting for the losing third party candidate
you
seriously.In competitive "swing" states, where you must, one votes for the
"lesser evil" Democrat.
Before fielding objections, it will be useful to make certain
background stipulations with respect to the points below. The
first is to note that since changes in the relevant facts require
changes in tactics, proposals having to do with our relationship
to the "electoral extravaganza" should be regarded as provisional.
This is most relevant with respect to point 3) which some will
challenge by citing the claim that Clinton's foreign policy could
pose a more serious menace than that of Trump.
In any case, while conceding as an outside possibility that
Trump's foreign policy is preferable, most of us not already
convinced that that is so will need more evidence than can be
aired in a discussion involving this statement. Furthermore,
insofar as this is the fact of the matter, following the logic
through seems to require a vote for Trump, though it's a bit hard
to know whether those making this suggestion are intending it
"moral"Another point of disagreement is not factual but involves theimportant consideration than feeling good about ourselves.
ethical/moral principle addressed in 1), sometimes referred to as
the "politics of moral witness." Generally associated with the
religious left, secular leftists implicitly invoke it when they
reject LEV on the grounds that "a lesser of two evils is still
evil." Leaving aside the obvious rejoinder that this is exactly
the point of lesser evil voting-i.e. to do less evil, what needs
to be challenged is the assumption that voting should be seen a
form of individual self-expression rather than as an act to be
judged on its likely consequences, specifically those outlined in
4). The basic moral principle at stake is simple: not only must
we take responsibility for our actions, but the consequences of
our actions for others are a far more
While some would suggest extending the critique by noting that
the politics of moral witness can become indistinguishable from
narcissistic self-agrandizement, this is substantially more harsh
than what was intended and harsher than what is merited. That
said, those reflexively denouncing advocates of LEV on a supposed
basis should consider that their footing on the high ground may
not be as secure as they often take for granted to be the case.
A third criticism of LEV equates it with a passive acquiescence
to the bipartisan status quo under the guise of pragmatism,
usually deriving from those who have lost the appetite for radical
decades to follow.protecting.It is surely the case that some of those endorsing LEV are doing
so in bad faith-cynical functionaries whose objective is to
promote capitulation to a system which they are invested in
Others supporting LEV, however, can hardly be reasonably accusedwith the establishment.
of having made their peace
Their concern, as alluded to in 6) and 7) inheres in the
awareness that frivolous and poorly considered electoral
decisions impose a cost, their memories extending to the
ultra-left faction of the peace movement having minimized the
comparative dangers of the Nixon presidency during the 1968
elections. The result was six years of senseless death and
destruction in Southeast Asia and also a predictable fracture of
the left setting it up for its ultimate collapse during the backlash
opposition can posture as the "reasonable"The broader lesson to be drawn is not to shy away from
confronting the dominance of the political system under the
management of the two major parties. Rather, challenges to it
need to be issued with a full awareness of their possible
consequences. This includes the recognition that far right
victories not only impose terrible suffering on the most
vulnerable segments of society but also function as a powerful
weapon in the hands of the establishment center, which, now in
materializing.posed by the far right.alternative. A Trump presidency, should it materialize, will
undermine the burgeoning movement centered around the Sanders
campaign, particularly if it is perceived as having minimized the
dangers
A more general conclusion to be derived from this recognition is
that this sort of cost/benefit strategic accounting is
fundamental to any politics which is serious about radical
change. Those on the left who ignore it, or dismiss it as
irrelevant are engaging in political fantasy and are an obstacle
to, rather than ally of, the movement which now seems to be
self-expressionFinally, it should be understood that the reigning doctrinalelectoral cycle.
system recognizes the role presidential elections perform in
diverting the left from actions which have the potential to be
effective in advancing its agenda. These include developing
organizations committed to extra-political means, most notably
street protest, but also competing for office in potentially
winnable races. The left should devote the minimum of time
necessary to exercise the LEV choice then immediately return to
pursuing goals which are not timed to the national
1. Voting should not be viewed as a form of personal
be (ifor
moral judgement directed in retaliation towards major party
candidates who fail to reflect our values, or of a corrupt system
designed to limit choices to those acceptable to corporate elites.
2. The exclusive consequence of the act of voting in 2016 will
globalin a contested "swing state") to marginally increase or decrease
the chance of one of the major party candidates winning.
3. One of these candidates, Trump, denies the existence of
policieswarming, calls for increasing use of fossil fuels, dismantling ofpretenses.
environmental regulations and refuses assistance to India and
other developing nations as called for in the Paris agreement,
the combination of which could, in four years, take us to a
catastrophic tipping point. Trump has also pledged to deport 11
million Mexican immigrants, offered to provide for the defense of
supporters who have assaulted African American protestors at his
rallies, stated his "openness to using nuclear weapons", supports
a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. and regards "the police in
this country as absolutely mistreated and misunderstood" while
having "done an unbelievable job of keeping law and order." Trump
has also pledged to increase military spending while cutting
taxes on the rich, hence shredding what remains of the social
welfare "safety net" despite
4. The suffering which these and other similarly extremist
where aand
attitudes will impose on marginalized and already oppressed
populations has a high probability of being significantly greater
than that which will result from a Clinton presidency.
5. Should constitute sufficient basis to voting for Clinton
winvote is potentially consequential-namely, in a contested, "swing"
state.
6. However, the left should also recognize that, should Trump
whobased
on its failure to support Clinton, it will repeatedly face the
accusation (based in fact), that it lacks concern for those sure
to be most victimized by a Trump administration.
7. Often this charge will emanate from establishment operatives
andwill use it as a bad faith justification for defeating challengeswith it, as they must.
to corporate hegemony either in the Democratic Party or outside
of it.
They will ensure that it will be widely circulated in mainstream
media channels with the result that many of those who would
otherwise be sympathetic to a left challenge will find it a
convincing reason to maintain their ties with the political
establishment rather than breaking
8. Conclusion: by dismissing a "lesser evil" electoral logic
thereby increasing the potential for Clinton's defeat the left
will undermine what should be at the core of what it claims to be
attempting to achieve.
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