We have a very shitty two party system here in the US. 3rd party candidates don't receive screen time and anyone who gains momentum on their own that isn't sanctioned by either of the two parties are pressured into backing out of the race while simultaneously endorsing one of the "chosen" candidates.

When you can have a president sit for 4 years and the country has only gotten worse, there should be no question about them running again. They do though. It's not what the people want, it's which of the two candidates is going to be less shitty. It's far more important that we keep up the illusion of choice than actually give power to the people.

That sucks, sorry to hear it. My mom, of all people, who I don’t think has ever voted, asked me the other day if I was going to vote no on issue 1 in the upcoming special election in Ohio, in which a yes vote would prevent a ballot issue protecting women’s reproductive rights from being up for the vote in November. It’s gotten bad enough here that she is going to vote. There’s a red line for everyone, maybe you need to help yours find it.

Voting doesn't preclude direct action, and one of those options is still way worse than the other.

Just make sure to show up for the primaries too, and do more than voting.

We saw what happened when people didn't give enough of a shit to vote - you get Nazis in government and a supreme court fucked for generations.

People need to stop acting like electoral politics has no place, because not playing the game means all the rules are set against you going forward and they tell you to get fucked even harder than they would normally.

We've got a couple options change what we can, give up and revolution... two of those options are viable for me. ATM the best thing I can really do is talk with coworkers/acquaintances about their concerns in the world and how we can address them. The more I talk with maga folk about their concerns the more common ground I find with them... we all want a better life for our children/community we just get caught up in how to get there. Listen to concerns, find the common ground and come prepared with receipts... I cant say I've changed anyones mind but I will say the die hard liberal/left wing hating coworkers no longer have the direct hate and can see what folk like me are getting at... All this to say don't give up friend we can still do a lot at the community level, the institutional level will come with time.