basically you’re voting for the ADMINISTRATION and the PARTY not the person. also: Biden is crummy. Trump is actively killing hundreds of thousands of people. There is a fucking difference. Not recognizing that difference is what got us Trump in the first place. It’s the difference between a landlord who refuses to perform repairs, and one who ACTIVELY SETS YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE. Do not let let the republican propaganda machine convince you they are the same. 

He won’t send anonymous stormtroopers to snatch people off the street and hold them for hours.

He won’t spend all his time every day on Twitter and react poorly to every single word that isn’t glowing with praise.

Biden has committed that he will appoint the first black woman to the Supreme Court

Trump appointed a rapist who wants to overturn Roe v Wade (among other things)

Y'all want a badass Justice like Sonia Sotomayor or another rapist who wants to destroy your rights?

Biden wasn't my first choice, but he is now my only choice. He will pick a female (most likely a WOC). And, he will pick decent Supreme Court Justices.) We're stuck with that rapist Kavanugh.

I don't want to go back in the closet.

I don't want to have my marriage invalidated.

I don't want the country to no longer be a world leader.

I'm begging you, vote Blue.

Vote for local Democrats.

Vote for Senator.

you can find someone aesthetically pleasing without being sexually or romantically attracted to them

You can be a gay man and still recognize a woman as attractive/beautiful.

you can be a heterosexual man and still recognize another man as attractive/handsome.

you can be a heterosexual woman and still recognize another woman as attractive/beautiful.

The former is more an aesthetic comment. I can recognize that Harrison Ford is an attractive man, without actually being attracted to him.

My therapist only recently understood that when I said, “I don’t know how to make this phone call or make this appointment.” I very literally meant I didn’t know what to do. I can dial the phone, but what do I say EXACTLY? What questions are going to be asked? What do I need to have on hand? What if they ask me something I don’t know the answer to?

FOR THE FIRST TIME

From an adult who has been doing this for about a decade now: 

Remember that about 10% of any office’s weekly call volume is from people just like you who have never done this in their life. 

The mass majority of people who run dentist offices, insurance claim call centers, whatever - remember what it’s like to be completely new, and are generally happy to explain the steps and re-phrase themselves if you let them know what you’re having trouble with, and are kind and patient with them. 

You’re not inconveniencing them. You’re not burdening them. Call center folks are 1000x happier to speak with someone who is earnestly trying and needs some basic help on super simple things, instead of a pissy long-time customer who demands free shit. 

You are a bright spot in their day. A chance to actually help. 

So! Here’s the steps: 

1) your problem isn’t even the dumbest or most pointless thing i’ve dealt with in the last hour

2) im much happier to rephrase and explain myself to someone who is honest with me about not understanding vs. someone who just pretends they understand in order to not embarrass themselves and then continue to screw stuff up through not knowing and then having to call again. save yourdelf the time spent listening to our annoying queue music and just tell me. i’m happy to help.

3) i swear the only customers i remember are either super rude or super sweet ones. i’ll probably forget our call within like 5 seconds after hanging up, so don’t worry about making a negative impression. we get so many calls that any embarrassing problems you might have have 100% come up before and we dont think about it twice.

Ecaterina Teodoroiu (1894-1917) is considered a heroine in Romania for her role during World War I. She fought and died on the battlefield, while leading an infantry division.

Edit the website I use is being funny but I’d recommend The “ Short Step ” from Love to Hypnosis: A Reconsideration of the Stockholm Syndrome by Celia Jameson and this

Stockholm Syndrome isn’t just about dv, it’s about maintaining state power by pathologizing empathy with oppressed people

Or this: 

Or this: 

You have get your name crossed off (if you don’t want to wear the fine), but you don’t have to make your vote counted if you’re opposed to it. 

And it is so, so easy to vote. Stuck at work or on holidays? That’s fine. Do a postal vote.  Stuck in hospital? That’s fine. They’ll go to you. Stuck in an old people’s home and can’t get around? Again, they’ll go to you. It’s amazing to me that it’s so hard for so many Americans to actually vote. If you make it compulsory, than at least the government is obligated to provide you with the means to vote. 

Our system certainly has some issues still, but I can show up to somewhere nearby, line up for a few minutes (if at all), vote exactly in line with my values (on paper, leaving a paper trail that can be recounted), and then buy a sausage and some home made cupcakes on my way out.

A country’s voting system matters a hell of a lot and every citizen deserves one that makes it easy to vote and results in a government that is representational and accountable.

It is compulsory to register to vote. It is compulsory to receive a ballot and have your name checked off.

You can tear it up or scribble all over it.

Because it is compulsory, the government is obliged to make sure everyone can, which means polling booths everywhere, accessible to all with any disability, usually multiple in every town.

They also have absentee voting provisions - if you’re away from your electorate you can go to ANY booth and receive a form for your area.

They also have voting booths open before Election Day if you wont be able to make it on that day.

They also have mail in voting if you are outside the country or for any other reason.

You don’t even have to prove why you can’t vote on the day. You can just attend the early polling booth and vote if you want.

they obviously didn’t know any better, voting in different countries is different, im assuming in their country its a hard thing to do, they even asked if medical conditions exempt you from it in a worry that people with chronic pain wouldn’t be able to, idk, stand in a 2 hour line or something

And wouldn’t you know the people this effects most is the poor and minorities.

It was created this way. It didn’t just happen. In Washington you can mail in ballot but only 2 states in America do that.

So remember kids.

Plus, there's the general consensus that politicians are all bad and it doesn't matter because the two parties are all the same. By disparaging the process and the people, we discourage voting.

Little felt plague doctor!  Because why not.  I make no claims about its medical effectiveness–I’d rather make claims about its medical ineffectiveness–but if you want a tiny soft plague doctor for your desk you can find it on Etsy.