“The fact that the Democrats are trying and getting shut down by Republicans is proof the Democrats aren’t doing anything and won’t stop talking about bathrooms!”
Feel free to keep ranting at clouds, but I’m still going to be pointing and laughing when you realize that isn’t rain falling on your face because “both sides are the same”.
This is a pretty naive take on the factors affecting the success of various liberal causes. It’s not that Democrats and liberals in general (especially the growing contingent of Democratic Socialists) haven’t been supporting worker-friendly and environment-friendly policies at least as strongly as so-called “identity politics” causes such as gay and trans rights.
No, it’s that the “cultural” causes like minority rights are the only ones that don’t get massive pushback from the American corporate establishment and other wealthy elites.
Modern plutocrats mostly don’t care about denying rights to minorities, but they care a great deal about not increasing the power and autonomy of workers, or social safety nets for the non-wealthy, because that might interfere with their undemocratic exercise of power. So the so-called “identity politics” causes are the ones where liberal support actually entails some genuine progress, because wealthy elites mostly have little interest in trying to sabotage them.
And naive people interpret that to mean that the “identity politics” causes are the only ones that Democrats/liberals are actually supporting, and blame Democrats/liberals for the lack of progess on the other types of causes. Open your eyes and take a look at who the opposition is.
That’s the sole good reason for party affiliation in my book.
In 2016 I changed my registration to Republican, making it possible to vote against Trump in the Ohio presidential primary. There was little downside, except now I’m getting fundraising letters from Ivana Trump. :smack:
Nitpick: I can think of another time, at least. It provides data to political campaigns (general or primary) as they decide whether and how to target you with ads, canvassing, etc.
The grand old party sends me a reminder to vote in the general election, although the supervisor of elections already sends me a reminder.
Oddly enough, the GOP only reminds me to vote in the general election while the supervisor of elections gives me dates for the primaries and instructions to obtain a sample ballot too.
I haven’t gotten any fundraising solicitations, but I’m sure it is just luck…
I get plenty of ads, direct mail, canvassing, email, etc. from both Democrats and Republicans. And the NRA. And I don’t even live in a swing state! Or own a gun.
I think all anyone needs is to show a passing interest in politics online, and we’re in everyone’s crosshairs.