Voting, values, preventing harm
Masked government agents shooting people in our streets. Livestreaming an execution … This administration’s brutality, corruption and authoritarianism continue.
During the primary, Southern New Hampshire Indivisible endorsed and campaigned for candidates who best represented our values, which remain unwavering.
We agree with voters who have legitimate grievances with BOTH parties, including complicity in Israel’s devastation of Gaza and acceptance of powerful-interest money. These are not minor disagreements. We’re all exhausted by “lesser of two evils” politics.
But we’re also deeply concerned that these sentiments may lead some to withhold their votes or disengage from GOTV efforts.
Abstaining has consequences. We cannot allow our anger to contribute to greater suffering or further consolidation of authoritarian power.
If our values are rooted in human rights, democracy and peace, then harm reduction is not a betrayal of those values. It is a moral imperative. We can reject elements of a candidate’s record while recognizing that withholding electoral support may produce a far worse outcome.
This November, we need an overwhelming rejection of authoritarianism and cruelty.
Our responsibility doesn’t end on Election Day. We’ll continue fighting.
We don’t abandon our principles by preventing greater harm. Preventing harm is one of the most important ways we put our principles into action.