• TheFonz@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    They should milk it for PR purposes. That’s how politics works. Politicians need to pander to their electoral base. Eventually the pressure from Gaza will also influence policy. The issue is the youth protesting Gaza don’t understand politics and don’t engage politically beyond protests so Biden doesn’t have to pander to that base (yet)

    • DekesEnormous@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      The youth are more than capable of understanding politics, and that’s a large reason they don’t engage. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the system is flawed and their votes in gerrymandered districts aren’t going to have a significant impact on elections, policy, laws, or the illegitimate court that subverts the will of the people.

      If protesting is what needs to be done to get politicians attention and potential change then that already is the more effective option.

      • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        The system is flawed, for sure, but it works. A lot of policy has shaped or changed the course of American institutions in the past five decades and to pretend otherwise is simply ignorance or naivete. No, the youth are not engaged because they are apathetic and they expect to see quick results. The reality is that politics is not exciting but a slow and laborious process. It takes time and effort to move things. Protesting is nice and dandy, but how effective have they been lately? Where are all the occupy wall street folks now? Without a clear path to concrete policy it’s just misguided energy.

        • DekesEnormous@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          PrOtEsTiNg Is NiCe AnD dAnDy, BuT hOw EfFeCtIvE hAs It BeEn LaTeLy?

          https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4

          Looks pretty effective.

          Call me naive and ignorant, all you want. Many of the policies that have positively shaped anything over the past 50 years are being undone, in a quick and dramatic fashion like Roe v. Wade. We’re governed by chriso-fascists, anti-intellectuals, or the elderly in every branch of government. The only things that happen slowly are the things designed to benefit the many and are only passed because of concessions to benefit the few. It’s an open secret you can bribe congress and Supreme court justices without consequences. Appointing unqualified judges to supreme and federal courts gets you a get out of jail free card.

          How can the working class hope to influence policy if everyone they elect (by overcoming voter surpression and gerrandering) or who is appointed can be “lobbied”, bribed, blackmailed or given gifts to further their respective billionaires agendas?

          Given the results of the encampments and the results of our elected officials it looks like hitting the poles is > just misguided energy.

          One quick edit to say that everyone should still vote because we’re all fucked if that fascist mango colored felon gets elected.

          • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            I understand the frustration. Yes, sometimes protesting helps. But to expect major policy change with only a slim majority in house or senate betrays a lack of understanding of how politics works.