"#Hungary's opposition #Tisza party widens its lead ahead of #Orban's #Fidesz"

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@idahobucks

Do you vote?

If so good

That's what we need. Then we gradually iterate to better

Buy if you don't vote, go fuck yourself. You're the reason as much as MAGA why we are sliding to fascism

All these fucking lazy rationalizations do is serve various weaknesses and character failures that, in aggregate with other whiny losers, leads to fascism

That's it

VOTE

[jztusk@mastodon.social]

@benroyce

We disagree.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@jztusk of course we do

So you go out there and validate and soothe the precious feelings of lazy entitled assholes and let me know how it goes. Good luck

[moz@fosstodon.org]

@benroyce @idahobucks Pauline Hanson would like an explanation please.

The existence/election of Fraser Anning might be a salutary example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Anning

Australia has compulsory voting and a wider "universal" franchise than the US but still manages to elect and give power to utter bastards.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@moz @idahobucks

I don't understand what the point is

We should all vote, right?

PS: is this the guy who got an egg to the face from a teenager?

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@iju oof

[moz@fosstodon.org]

@benroyce @idahobucks Anning is widely hated, yes. But also voted in.

Assuming that if people who don't vote did they would all vote against fascists isn't a safe assumption. Hungary elected Orban and his government more than once, for example.

Anning is from a nice white English-speaking country so a lot of USA voters find it easier to understand. Plus Australia has compulsory voting and a wider "universal" franchise than the US does.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@jztusk

Right. And the question is what is effective to achieve that

Validating bad behavior doesn't achieve that

We're talking about adults here

The idea that there is someone who goes "well i'm not going to vote because someone was mean on social media" is not a serious proposition

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@moz @idahobucks

Currently we have trump specifically because not enough showed up

The general idea that fascists can still win elections doesn't mean anything

On the average, fascists have an easier time of it when less people vote

[moz@fosstodon.org]

@benroyce @idahobucks A lot of my caution comes from the US habit of letting governments pick their voters.

The strategy of yelling abuse at non-voters might get a useful outcome, I don't know your local situation well enough to know. But in general yelling abuse is a poor tactic.

[idahobucks@mastodon.social]

@benroyce @moz I have voted in every election I could since I was old enough to vote and have driven people to the polls that need transportation.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@idahobucks @moz

then BLESS YOU

you are my hero

so why the fuck would you ever downplay voting in premature capitulation, which only helps MAGA

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@moz @idahobucks

If we're at a place where people won't vote because someone was mean on social media, we're already doomed. Such immature people unable to advocate for their own needs and wants and are that emotionally addled, if they represent a large enough part of society, it speaks of such disgusting laziness and entitlement then just say good bye to it all now

And you certainly won't get such inept losers to vote by coddling their feelings

[francoisprague@mastodon.social]

@benroyce May 2026 be the year when they all fall like dominos... Spring: Orban -> Summer: Putin -> Autumn: Trump -> Winter: Netanyahu

[joepbc@mastodon.social]

@FrancoisPrague the world could really use some of that.

[illdisposed@mastodon.social]

@benroyce I presume Uncle Volodea will make sure he falls from a balcony in the meantime not to disturb his mate Viktor

[missqarnstein@eldritch.cafe]

@carbon_compound @benroyce there's really no need to paint just some nations with a broad brush. Stupidity is an ubiquitous human trait.

There's reasons why people in Eastern Germany, Hungary and Slovakia voted for hard right parties. But i feel like it is currently very visible demonstrated that hard right parties lead down a path that fails even harder on these reasons...

[missqarnstein@eldritch.cafe]

@carbon_compound @benroyce (hard agree on the Austrians thou hahaha)

[klegdixal@social.vivaldi.net]

@benroyce @moz @idahobucks

I find the idea of "iterating to better" somewhat naive. Even with perfectly proportional electoral system elected individuals tend to reflect the worldview and education level of the general population.

Turnaround at the recent elections was merely the last straw. Underlying economic and social issues combined with uselessness of the Dem leadership played a much bigger role.

Even if Harris would win the problem would return in 4 years.

[angelascholder@mastodon.energy]

@FrancoisPrague @benroyce We can at least hope so!