Now what do I do???

@BohemianBabe One of these days I will have to give enough $h*ts to get a definition for that. But not this day..😷

@BohemianBabe Please keep conversations on my posts civil.

@sarabee1995 I'm trying!

@DeWayfarer I don't *want* three jobs. I just have three jobs.

The family business was my grandfather's before he passed (see my featured story if you want to know about me and him and our relationship). My dad and aunt's only other choice was to dismantle and sell off the business. So now I'm pretty much running things (from my phone!).

The Navy is a commitment I made back in 2017 and it runs eight years. No choice there.

I guess I don't need the DoD job anymore, except that it is the career path I worked really hard to get on for a long time and I'm finally just starting to get to where I can maybe make a difference.

Oh yeah... and somewhere in there I have a girlfriend too.

@sarabee1995 politics and social values is related. In fact politics often uses social values to gain positioning.

It's a tactic that few wish to corelate as being used against them. Psychological warfare is a real thing in politics. And why I hate being involved in politics.

Your values are the typical work related values. Traditional conservativism.

Yet those same values are hindering on the political end. Conservatives want you to be that busy! No time for anything else.

BTW I happy you have someone. That is more important than anything else. 🤗

@sarabee1995
As others have pointed out that message is going unheard and it's really not anyone's fault but the Founders: In a non-parliamentary, first past the post, winner take all Congressional system (with the Senate and Electoral College thrown in) the system itself simply is geared towards two parties. The only way that will ever change is 2/3 of Congress or 3/4 of the states.

I know for a fact that the difference between a conservative national administration and a moderate one has profound influence on people who are marginalized and not often seen. Not to mention on the working class.

One party is in essence a white, male-dominatedChristian, far-right nationalistic party that ultimately serves the interest of a moneyed class interested in pitting the populace against each other. I gather from your posts you don't fit into that in many ways. So choose accordingly 😎.

Sincere best of luck with all your life stressors.

@sarabee1995 I agree with you about the anti-American terrorists who attacked the Capitol. Every last one of them should be held accountable. The fact that Trump says he will pardon them disqualifies himself from running for President, in my view.

I disagree that the period following Biden's victory did not represent a serious threat to democracy. It held because of a few people like General Milley and Vice President Pence. Without those individuals in their positions, there might have been a successful coup. There are many military members and brass who would support Trump next time. We cannot take that chance.

@windinhishair Support him to vote for him? Sure. Just as there are many supporting Harris. Neither are doing anything wrong or anti-democratic in supporting the candidate they prefer.

But if you are implying that there are senior members of our military ... officers over me in my chain of command ... who would support a coup, I challenge you to name one. The US military has a very strong commitment to the Constitution; a commitment that I don't believe most civilians understand or are aware of.

@sarabee1995 People of course can and should vote their choice, but yes, I believe that there are senior members of the military who would support a coup in support of Trump (or more accurately, people who WOULD be senior members of the military under a Trump Presidency). We already know the Secretary of Defense will be someone loyal to Trump over country, and that person will do everything in their power to put lackeys in positions of power beneath him. Members of the US military were involved in the past coup, and it isn't much of a stretch to believe that there are people who would be senior military members who would also be willing to violate their oath to protect the Constitution. It also isn't much of a stretch to believe that appointments made by the Secretary of Defense will be made first on loyalty to Trump, and second on competence. This happened in the DOJ when Trump's actions became too much for even Bill Barr, resulting in his resignation and the appointment of the incompetent but fiercely loyal Jeffrey Clark as AG. The fact this was rescinded before it could become official, because others in DOJ threatened to resign en masse, just highlighted to Trump and his enablers how important it is to install loyalists up and down the line.

I admire your deep faith in the government to withstand an assault on democracy, and I wish I shared it. I've followed politics since the Johnson Administration, and I have little confidence democracy will survive the all-out assault of a Trump Presidency.

(I say "objectively bad," to make a rhetorical point. I have my disagreements with her, but I mostly like Harris' policies. I'm actually a bit curious why you think she's so bad.)

@ChipmunkErnie Thanks for the advice.

@Elessar Don't get me started on Bernie!!! I don't normally vote in primary elections basically because I am not a member of either party. But I momentarily joined the Democrat party (for 24 hours) in 2016 and voted for Bernie. And then the Democrats completely cheated in their own election to rob him and hand it to Clinton. 😤

@sarabee1995 I feel you, personally I'm very cynical with politics and I think the only time I got disappointed by a political party was when I was 18 (don't google Movement 5 stars, spare yourself some embarrassment), but admittedly back then I didn't really have much of a clue about the entire political system, let alone the intrigues and what's at stake in both domestic and international politics, and just fell for some populist cràp. At least you don't have yourself to blame for Bernie, he was solidly the best candidate back then, look at it this way.

That said, the illustration above makes it sound like Bernie is one of those politicians who'd use you as "cannon fodder", pushing you to the frontline of a revolution while he stays safe on the sideline, and I don't really think he's someone like that, all the opposite.

@Elessar Oh no.... I don't read the meme like that at all. So many of us heard Bernie and liked a lot of his message and felt like he was going to do it all. But in fact he was motivating a generation of people to be active in civics and to fight for justice. I don't think he viewed people as cannon fodder. We certainly have politicians who do, but not him (in my humble opinion).

@DeWayfarer Thank you! Way too many people do.

I don't necessarily disagree with this. But voting for the least bad candidate is just an awful place to be. 🤦‍♀

@whowasthatmaskedman the issue is related to everything else.

Domination on economics is domination on women is domination of religion is domination on ect., ect., ect.

It's all related. Therefore it's not a single issue.

@DeWayfarer OK. I guess that makes it a core issue you can work with..Once you start selecting groups or areas to remove the rights of any group its a slippery slope. You just cant allow it to start. 😷

@Frostcloud It's an ultra-fascist neo-conservative manifesto which Trump loves but does he actually endorse it?

@zonavar68 He absolutely will. Remember when the 3 trump appointees were being interviewed for scotus? Each of them stated that Roe v Wade was established law and they wouldn't do anything to overturn it?
See how far promises go in the GOP?

@Frostcloud I understand.

@daydeeo Lol, no, but there is an argument to be made that since climate change is contributing to more frequent and stronger storms and that the petroleum industry is a net polluter that they are part to blame for the storms. It's a stretch, but I get it.

@sarabee1995 In that case, I guess the only part that applies to you is how every state is now a swing state.

I'm in upstate, but I go to NYC a lot. I never minded the subways, but that could be because I think rats are cute.

@BohemianBabe It will be many election cycles before Massachusetts swings. We are solidly blue here.

Well ... my primary dislike of the subways likely comes from my height (5'1") and my dislike for heels which combine to place my nose roughly at armpit level. 🙄

@sarabee1995 Well we'll see how many Harris-Walz votes the Fascists get thrown out.

You need another short person whose shoulders you can stand on.

@badminton The quote doesn't hold up so well when only 20% of the population could vote in Athens.

@badminton I am quite far from indifferent to public affairs.

@sarabee1995 Have you been on Trump's lists of targets for money? I made the mistake of getting on one of his email lists prior to the 2020 election and I received many poorly-written emails as often as 8 or 10 times a day for months on end. lol

@windinhishair Forget the text of the email and whether it is poorly written or not. Look at the email header. This is spam from some Nigerian prince looking to make a few bucks off of unsuspecting Americans.

@sarabee1995 Could be. Or it could be Trump Campaign Officials. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and there is little difference between their efforts and those of purported Nigerian princes. Neither should be believed or trusted.

@sarabee1995 Keeping Russian assets out of Congress would be my priority if I lived over there, and we both know which party they infiltrated; it wouldn't even cross my mind to make that piece of paper fly 🙈

@Elessar Or it will take a major polarization of the population like when the Republicans made the Whig Party a footnote in history.

@sarabee1995 Well yes and no. The popular vote matters, just less so. And the electoral college exists largely to make sure it doesn't matter as much. Despite the high minded justifications it is more about "managing the rabble".

What I mean by the electoral college overruling the vote was something along the lines of what Trump tried to pull. Enough is left to interpretation to make that technically possible.

And I think it would be likely if one of the major parties was facing extinction.

@MistyCee And that's what I want to do: Use it the best way I can.

Look ... I live in Massachusetts ... I know who is going to get my state's Electors. That is a foregone conclusion.

But I want my vote to have a greater meaning. If I can express my dissatisfaction in my choices by casting another vote, then I'll do that.

@Handfull1 Yeah, I hear that from others, but I don't buy the whole sky is falling argument. 🤷‍♀

@sarabee1995 you’re young. It will be up to you to prevent it!

@Gangstress Thanks. We sure need it.

@VeronicaJane I also wrote in a choice of my own. Neither of the two majors deserve my precious vote.

@sarabee1995 Amen!

@sarabee1995 It's a pleasure meeting you, Lady Sara of Cape Cod. That's a much nicer part of the state than being a stone's throw from Boston. I'd be right there with you on the 3rd party candidate if it was obvious who that would be, so they could make a strong enough showing to *hopefully* make the two parties realize what dolts they are. It's clear a 3rd party can't possibly win and it would be fun to write "a frozen turkey" in the write-in slot, but I'm just afraid no one would notice.

My go-to magical source is unicorn farts, but maybe if we combined it with pixie dust we could get the politicians to pay attention? :)

@joe438 Hey! Keep your unicorn farts away from my pixie dust!! Lol

I don't think we need to worry about *which* third party candidate we vote for or if we write in "a frozen turkey" ... obviously none of them are going to win ... but if in aggregate they amount to a significant voting block then we will be heard. Our message is simply that the choices being offered by the two majors are unacceptable.

Now two cycles ago in 2016 (my first ever presidential vote) we had a third party (Libertarian) who actually had a chance to meet the minimum vote threshold to force the R's & D's to include them in following election cycles in debates and to qualify for funding, etc. So that year it was important to vote Libertarian and I did. Plus, a former Mass governor was the VP on the ticket.

@sarabee1995 it’s true that a lot of perfectly good pixie dust is blown away by unicorn farts. I’ll have my unicorn keep a cork in it.

There have been years where there was a strong 3rd party and they could get a large number of votes. I have voted for those to send the message.

@houseonfire Are you joking? VPs have had TV time since the invention of the TV! Never as much TV time as the President, of course, but they get TV time.

She was the "Border Queen" -- blah blah blah ...

Trump was the President of the United States, and he swore an oath to uphold the constitution, and then he constantly sought to undermine it, putting his own, personal interests ahead of those of the country. He tried to steal the 2020 election. He had the police use tear gas on peaceful protestors so he could get a photo of himself holding up a bible in front of a church. He brags about grabbing women by the p*$$y. He makes fun of people with disabilities, and made fun of John McCain (a Republican, and a hero) because he was caught. Trump is a terrible human being, a narcissist, and a scam artist. The guy has been found guilty of fraud numerous times.

But, yeah, let's talk about immigration and hear you all complain more about LEGAL immigrants from Haiti coming to Ohio, supporting the economy, and being good citizens, and claiming without any evidence that these people are stealing and eating people's pets.

Like I said before, we aren't going to change each other's minds. So, let's just pretend that you got the last word in, and I disagreed with it, and move on with our lives.

@KarateAaron Not much of a life if your candidate wins but you enjoy and remember who you voted for

@houseonfire Like I said. I am not going to respond any further. Best of luck to you.

@Penny That's one way of doing it.

@Mooed78 I think my state has more candidates than most. It is easier to get on the ballot here. Other than the two major parties, I don't think any party is running a national campaign. Here in Massachusetts we just believe more choice is better. 🤷‍♀

@zonavar68 Yes, most people in my state will vote Harris/Walz and so they will get our Electors (we are a winner-take-all state) ... and for me, they might be the least bad choice ... I just can't make my decision on least bad.

@Vin53 Yes, many people here on SW and in my real life have suggested I assess the candidates and vote for the one who is least bad.

I'm sorry, I can't do that. To do so would require stomping on the faith and trust I have in the government that I work for (yes, I work for the federal government).

@walabby I do know, as someone else here pointed out, that perfect can be the enemy of good ... but when it comes to my vote, especially for president, choosing the least bad candidate is something I've never been able to do. That write-in line looks better and better each year.

@sarabee1995 The write-in line is an interesting innovation that Australia doesn't have. Doing something like that here immediately disqualifies your vote. I have done this, to make a point.

@walabby I am very seriously considering it for this year. The ballot is still on my desk at home.

@Patriot96 Thanks for the advice.

@sarabee1995 YW

@vetguy1991 My conscience is having fits right now. 🙄

@sarabee1995 well i trust that you would make the most informed and thoughtful decision

@midnightrose Thank you for your considered response. Yes, I will do the research and cast the best vote for me. 😌

@TheGreatLeveler Nope. There is one more option.

@sarabee1995
A blank vote is on par with not voting.

@TheGreatLeveler I've made clear I will be voting. A blank vote or no vote is not in me.

@ArtieKat I might end up going that way.

@sarabee1995 I suspect that my political inclinations are not that different to yours (given our different backgrounds etc), in other words tending slightly to right-of-centre on many issues..... Given the state of the US at the moment I wouldn't have a problem in voting Harris/Walz just to ensure Trump doesn't get elected and that, in time, the Republican Party can return to its core values.

@ArtieKat

@Jenny1234 Yes. I will be out of the country on election day so I get an "Absentee Ballot".

It goes back to my local town Elections Commission in a double sealed envelope. The outside envelope is just for the postal service to get it to the elections commission.

The inside envelope is signed by me and left sealed until after the polls close on election day. Then they are brought in to my local polling precinct to be opened and counted along with the votes cast that day.

Remember the last time around *someone* made a big stink about boxes of ballots being brought in after the polls closed?? Yup, those are absentee ballots, mostly from American military from around the world.

@RedBaron I would never not vote.

@JohnS79
I'm a veteran (commissioned in the Navy after undergrad, served 5.5 years active, currently a Lieutenant [O-3] in the Navy Reserve).

Since the reserve is a part time gig, I needed a full time job. So I work as a civilian for DoD. And in my role there, I am issued a sidearm.

I am trained and qualified expert (by the Navy) on the M16/M14. I'm also qualified (by the Navy) on the M500, and my Sig 9mm.

I'm not a police officer and have no interest in hunting.

But ... and this is the important part ... I do love shooting as a sport. I live a life or precision. From my morning workouts to my taekwondo to my handling of a firearm, I pride myself in precision.

Laying on the ground and sighting in a target downrange, controlling my breathing and releasing that round, and then seeing it hit the target ... that is an adrenaline rush greater than jumping out the side door of a perfectly functional airplane in straight and level flight (another sport I enjoy).

Now you tell me I have no right to engage in what is an Olympic sport because some other guy did something horrible?? I think I need more from you on that.

So that was my sport argument. But that is not the reason why the 2nd Amendment exists.

You have certain rights as a natural person that pre-exist and supersede any government. The government didn't grant you the right to free thought or free expression. Those are things endowed in you the moment you took your first breath. And when we setup our government, we granted it certain powers and prohibited it from infringing on the pre-existing rights of the people. Another of those rights is the right to self-defense. You don't need to ask anyone's permission to defend yourself.

Now, I also love sailing and have sailed from the coast of Maine to Florida and back. You don't think there are self-defense needs sailing alone over great distances? What in the world would the police do for me if someone decided to challenge my freedom in our coastal waters? Maybe in your safe little bubble you can rely on the police. Great. That makes me very happy for you. Not everyone lives in your safe little bubble.