Voting does matter to build legitimacy for change (or undermine legitimacy of the corrupt), but it’s not the entire solution.
It’s an important step to cement the changes, once they have been achieved, by establishing and communicating public support. We shouldn’t underestimate the psychological and social value for the people who work to bring about that change: they need to see and feel that their efforts resonate with others.
However, I agree that it will not achieve that change on its own. There’s a circular problem, in that the courage to fight for it (whether violently or nonviolently, it is a battle of will and disruption of corrupt systems) is more easily gathered if there is public support, but the extent of that support is hard to see before the fight has started.
Unless and until enough people are willing to take the leap of faith to lead and participate in organised resistance, voting is the only realistic option for the majority. My faint hope is that the results will signal enough support to get the ball rolling, because honestly, I’m not sure how else to motivate people.
Voting does matter to build legitimacy for change (or undermine legitimacy of the corrupt), but it’s not the entire solution.
It’s an important step to cement the changes, once they have been achieved, by establishing and communicating public support. We shouldn’t underestimate the psychological and social value for the people who work to bring about that change: they need to see and feel that their efforts resonate with others.
However, I agree that it will not achieve that change on its own. There’s a circular problem, in that the courage to fight for it (whether violently or nonviolently, it is a battle of will and disruption of corrupt systems) is more easily gathered if there is public support, but the extent of that support is hard to see before the fight has started.
Unless and until enough people are willing to take the leap of faith to lead and participate in organised resistance, voting is the only realistic option for the majority. My faint hope is that the results will signal enough support to get the ball rolling, because honestly, I’m not sure how else to motivate people.