Fears Over Fate of Democracy Leave Many Voters Frustrated and Resigned

[brooklynite]

New York Times

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Allyse Barba, a 34-year-old in the insurance industry, watched excitedly upstairs at Thrunie’s Classic Cocktails as Mandela Barnes, the youthful Democrat running for the Senate, tore through his stump speech just 19 days before the election.

Then Ms. Barba reflected on the politics of her state: the divide between the blue dot of downtown La Crosse and the surrounding red reaches of western Wisconsin, where she said she could not have a civil conversation; the Republican favored to win the seat in her congressional district, who was at the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021; and a Legislature so gerrymandered that her Democratic Party does not stand a chance.

“It is disheartening to live in a state where nothing happens,” she said glumly. “Voting isn’t making a difference right now.”

Seventy-one percent of all voters believe that democracy is at risk, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, but only 7 percent identified that as the most important problem facing the country. Americans face more immediate concerns: the worst inflation in 40 years, the loss of federal abortion rights after 50 years and a perception that crime is surging, if not in their communities then in cities nearby.

[dweller]

1. Who writes this shit ?

Every time I see a doom and gloom Democratic Party story, I try to recall the one written about the repug party in the same vein … and I can’t recall a single one 🤔

Why is that ?





✌🏻

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. There were some right after Jan 2021

I remember a lot about people changing parties from Republican to Independent.
But it’s probably because Republicans always fall in line eventually.

[Demsrule86]

6. I have to wonder what is going on with such posts.

[crickets]

8. Shaping public opinion about the outcome before the election takes place

seems to be the current role of many in media these days. The huge uptick in women voters this election cycle is going to play a role that many pundits are not bothering to ackowledge. Everyone just ignore the noise and vote. Vote early, cross your fingers, and ignore the doom and gloom. It serves no constructive purpose.

[gab13by13]

3. I understand where she is coming from.

I live among the Magats in central Pa. and my Rep. is Glenn Thompson, a man who drinks oil and breathes methane, that's all he does.

I looked at my ballot in the primary to see who was running against him and saw it was no one. I investigated and found out that Ronnie Ray Jenkins was running but didn't get on the ballot in time, so I write in his name, he lost.

What is frustrating is that the Magats have the state Reps locked in by gerymandering, a Democrat doesn't have a prayer in my district.

What we cannot do is get disheartened because we can elect state-wide Democrats. Just because I am going to have Magats for reps in my district I am going to make sure we have John Fetterman in the Senate and Josh Shapiro in the governor's mansion.

This election we cannot afford to get disheartened. Vote "because" our democracy depends on it.

[Deminpenn]

7. The house districts are less gerry-mandered now,

but where you live, there just aren't a lot of Dems. It's really good that you, and hopefully your fellow outnumbered Dems, understand that your votes matter for statewide elections.

[Chainfire]

4. I vote tomorrow morning as soon as the polls open.

After that I will try to learn to be resigned to the outcome.

[Demsrule86]

5. More Doom and Gloom I see...how many now?

Very odd.

[betsuni]

9. Oh, so what.