,! ,CASE ,AGA9/ ,VOT+ 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,SO WE'VE SURVIV$ ANO!R ELECTION CYCLE & ! 9EVITABLE SURGE ( LIB]T>IAN SOCIALI/S LIKE ,*OMSKY LECTUR+ AN>*I/S AB\T \R AB/5TION FROM VOT+4 

,I WANT TO BE CLE>3 IT IS C]TA9LY TRUE ?AT ! RESULTS ( ELECTIONS CAN MATT]4 ,UNLESS Y\'RE GONNA ROLL ! V]Y LONG ODDS ON A TYPE ( ACCEL]ATIONISM1 A BUMBL+ C5TRI/ W\LD BE BETT] ?AN LIT]AL ,HITL]4 ,TODAY1 AS ! REPUBLICAN P>TY LUR*ES TO ! FUR!/ :ITE NATIONALI/ EXTREMES1 ! 0EH ! P>TIES >E ! SAME0 RHETORIC NO LONG] CUTS IT = MANY4 ,H[EV]4 ,JU/ BECAUSE ! RESULTS ( AN ELECTION MATT]1 DOESN'T REMOTELY MEAN ?AT Y\R 9DIVIDUAL VOTE MATT]S4 

,! ODDS ( Y\R S+LE VOTE SW++ AN IMPORTANT ELECTION >E A/RONOMICAL4 ,!RE IS NO GETT+ >\ND ?IS REALITY4 ,ELECTIONS 9 REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACIES >E ALL OR NO?+ AFFAIRS3 EI!R A POLITICIAN OR PIECE ( LEGISLATION W9S OR IT DOESN'T4 ,UP UNTIL Y\ CAN TIP ! BALANCE ONE WAY OR ANO!R Y\R VOTE IS ( NO CAUSAL CONSEQU5CE ON ! \TCOME4 ,A TYPICAL ELECTION 9 MY HOME /ATE IS SETTL$ BY VOT+ M>G9S 9 ! HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S4 ,VOT+ ) ! W9N+ OR LOS+ SIDE IS 9CONSEQU5TIAL 9 SU* CASES4 

,YES1 ! /AKES ( ! ELECTION'S RESULTS MAY BE HI< = MILLIONS1 BUT ! ODDS ( 9FLU5C+ ! FEW ELECTIONS ) SU* /AKES >E1 = MO/1 USUALLY SMALL] ?AN ONE 9 A TRILLION4 ,Y\ CAN DO F> MORE NET GOOD H&+ \T A TW5TY TO A HOMELESS P]SON1 C>+ = ?OSE 9 Y\R LIFE1 ORGANIZ+ MEAN+FUL ALT]NATIVE 9FRA/RUCTURE ?AT DIRECTLY HELPS O!RS1 OR JU/ DO+ ! DAILY WORK ( SU/A9+ Y\R [N M5TAL HEAL?4 

,VOT+ IS ?US F> MORE IRRATIONAL ?AN BUY+ A LOTT]Y TICKET4 ,AT LEA/ ) ! LOTT]Y TICKET !RE >E PLAUSIBLE UTILITY FUNCTIONS & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS = IMPOV]I%$ PEOPLE :]E ! ONE 9 A BILLION *ANCE IS A GOOD 9VE/M5T4 ,!RE >E EXCEPTIONS :]E HYP]-TI<T RACES ) HUGE /AKES >E KN[N AB\T 9 ADVANCE1 BUT ?IS IS ALMO/ NEV] ! CASE & C]TA9LY WASN'T ! CASE = ! VA/ MAJORITY ( BALLOTS CA/ ?IS YE>4 

,Y\R ACT ( VOT+ DOESN'T MATT]1 BUT ! FACT ?AT SO MANY LEFTI/S ?9K IT DOES REVEALS DEEP COLLECTIVI/ IRRATIONALITIES ?AT ,D,O MATT] & AFFECT O!R ACTUALLY RELEVANT =MS ( ACTIVISM & /RATEGY4 

,! >GUM5T = VOT+ IS V]Y ,KANTIAN3 0ACT SO ?AT IF EV]YONE ACT$ SO4440 & 0IF NO LIT]ALLY ONE VOT$ !N VOT+ W\LD MATT] AGA90 BUT IF LIT]ALLY NO ONE VOT$ ! GOV]NM5T W\LDN'T MA9TA9 LEGITIMACY4 ,& 9 ANY CASE ?IS IS NOT AN ACTUAL CAUSALITY4 ,:5 Y\ VOTE Y\ DON'T MAGICALLY CAUSE EV]YONE ELSE LIKE Y\ TO VOTE1 Y\ >E A DI/9CT AG5T ) DI/9CT 9T]NAL ?\<TS4 ,Y\R 9DIVIDUAL ACTIONS HAVE ONLY V]Y WEAK EXT]NALITIES BEYOND ! DIRECT CONSEQU5CES ( Y\R *OICE_/VOTE4 ,Y\ C\LD V]Y WELL CAMPAIGN TO 9FLU5CE H[ O!RS VOTE BY DELUD+ ?\S&S & !N NOT VOTE Y\RSELF S9CE Y\R P]SONAL VOTE W\LD /ILL BE IRRELEVANT1 9DE$ ,I KN[ SOME %>P-M9D$ LIB]ALS :O'VE DONE PRECISELY ?IS4 

,UN=TUNATELY ! DELUSIONAL ?9K+ BEH9D VOT+ CROPS UP 9 LEFTI/ 9CL9ATIONS 9 G5]AL4 ,!Y WANT TO BUILD GIANT ORGANIZATIONS1 GIANT >MIES1 ) 9DIVIDUALS ALL ACT+ 9 L[ RETURN-ON-9VE/M5T WAYS1 9 HOPES ( AGGREGATE IMPACT4 ,!Y DON'T SE>* = OPPORTUNITIES ( HI< IMPACT 9DIVIDUAL DIRECT ACTION4 ,?US1 LEFTI/S GRAVITATE T[>DS 0Y\ HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO %[ UP = A MEAN+LESS PROTE/0 TYPE /UFF4 ,SURE ! DEMON/RATION ONLY HAD A ?\S& SOME?+ PEOPLE MILL+ AB\T 9 HIDD5 EMB>RASSM5T1 BUT IF IT HAD A HUNDR$ ?\S& !N MAYBE !Y C\LD /ORM SOME BUILD+ & *ANGE SOME?+6 ,IF Y\ JU/ KEEP VOT+1 KEEP ATT5D+ DEMON/RATIONS1 KEEP BUY+ LOTT]Y TICKETS1 !N MAYBE JU/ MAYBE444 

,DEMOCRATIC ?9K+ SEEKS TO BUILD NUMB]S FIR/ & =EMO/4 ,IT CONSID]S 0HAV+0 MORE PEOPLE TO BE ! V]Y DEF9ITION ( SUCCESS4 ,:5 ?IS L5S GETS APPLI$ TO ORGANIZ+ IT DETA*ES ACTIVISM FROM A DIRECT EVALUATION ( CONSEQU5CES4 

,WE >E ASK$ TO KEEP %[+ UP = MEET+S 9 AN ORGANIZATION 9 HOPES ?AT ONE DAY ?IS RITUAL ( CIVIC P>TICIPATION WILL TRANSMUTE 9TO POT5CY & POSITIVE CONSEQU5CES4 ,BUT V]Y QUICKLY ! P>TICIPATION BECOMES ! 5D 9 & ( ITSELF4 ,! SIZE ( MEMB]%IP BECOMES ! SOLE METRIC ( SUCCESS4 ,! FEEL+ ( 0COMMUNITY0 SU/A9$ BY !SE RITUALS BECOMES \R REAL PAY(F4 

,JU/ AS DEMOCRACY TEA*ES US TO DEF] ACCOMPLI%+ ?+S UNTIL AFT] ,! ,ELECTION1 LEFTI/ POLITICS SLIDES 9TO DEF]R+ ACCOMPLI%+ ?+S UNTIL AFT] ,! ,REVOLUTION4 ,! P>TY IS TO BE BUILT UP UNTIL ONE BIG BREAK+ MOM5T :]E ! 9VE/M5T SUDD5LY PANS \T4 

,( C\RSE1 UNTIL ?AT MOM5T1 ONE MORE P]SON JO9+ DOESN'T REALLY ACCOMPLI% ANY?+4 ,& SO LEFTI/S BECOME OBSESS$ ) 9/ITUT+ ! SAME SUPPRESSION ( 9DIVIDUAL RATIONALITY AMONG !IR MEMB]S AS DEMOCRATIC GOV]NM5TS DO TO !IR CITIZ5S4 ,P>TICIPATION BECOMES A MORAL GOOD 9 & ( ITSELF1 ACTS >E POLIC$ & REW>D$ 9 WAYS 9CREAS+LY DIVORC$ FROM !IR CONSEQU5CES4 ,! RITUALS >E :AT MATT]1 ALL TALK ( GOALS OR EFFICI5CY BE DAMN$4 

,COLLECTIVE ACTION LIKE VOT+ (T5 REQUIRES TOP-D[N 5=CEM5T &_/OR PRECOMMITM5TS & SACRIFICE ( CONT9UAL 9DIVIDUAL AG5CY SO ?AT Y\ ALL M>* LOCK/EP 9TO ACTION4 

,BUT AN>*I/S -- AS OPPOS$ TO LEFTI/S -- DON'T ACCEPT GIV+ UP P]SONAL AG5CY & CON/ANT CLE>HEAD$ EVALUATIONS4 ,& WE REFUSE TO EMBRACE SY/EMS1 9/ITUTIONS1 OR /RATEGIES ?AT NECESSITATE ?AT4 

,9/EAD WE ADVOCATE DIRECT ACTION & F9D+ WAYS ( GETT+ ! GOODS )\T FIR/ HAV+ TO SCALE UP TO A GIANT MASS ( PEOPLE4 ,\R PROJECTS >E G5]ALLY GE>$ TO SLOPE UPW>DS 9 IMPACT RA!R ?AN BE+ ALL OR NO?+S1 SO ?AT EV]Y ADDITIONAL BIT ( 5]GY OR TIME PEOPLE 9VE/ DIRECTLY ACCOMPLI%ES SOME?+ REAL1 LIKE FE$+ ! HOMELESS OR >M+ TRANS WOM54 ,UNLIKE VOT+ -- :I* IS *ANNEL$ ?R\< A C5TRALIZ$ *OKEPO9T & MAKES Y\R 9VOLVEM5T MEAN+LESS UNTIL A V]Y SPECIFIC AM\NT ( PEOPLE >E 9VOLV$ -- ?IS APPROA* ALL[S SOMEONE'S 9VOLVEM5T TO DIRECTLY PAY (F 9 POSITIVE CONSEQU5CES4 ,RA!R ?AN P\R+ 5]GY 9TO FI<T+ SWEEP+ UNIV]SAL ABORTION LAWS1 WE CAN SIMPLY BUILD NETWORKS ( ABORTION PROVISION ?AT >E UNGOV]NABLE1 EV]Y NEW FACILITY OR CELL A W94 ,?IS GIVES 9DIVIDUALS GETT+ 9VOLV$ 9=M$ AG5CY 9 !IR P>TICIPATION1 9 ?AT !Y KN[ ! PAY\T FROM !IR 9VE/M5T1 & IT GIVES !M ACTUAL PAY\T EV]Y /EP ( ! WAY4 ,9 ?IS PROCESS \R /RATEGIES & PROJECTS CULTIVATE ACTIVE 5GAGEM5T EV]Y /EP ( ! WAY1 RA!R ?AN P]PETUAT+ A CULTURE ( PASSIVITY & COMPLICITY 9 L>G] 9/ITUTIONS & HABITS BEYOND REPROA*4 

,EV5 :5 WE DO WORK T[>DS V]Y DI/ANT GOALS LIKE SOCIAL TRANS=MATION1 ! WORK ?AT WE DO IDEALLY MOVES ?AT TRANSITION CLOS]1 SOON]4 ,WE MAY NOT YET HAVE SUFFICI5T NUMB]S TO NORMALIZE A NEW SOCIAL NORM OR LAUN* A PROJECT1 BUT WE HA/5 ! DAY IT WILL >RIVE & ?US M9IMIZE ! TIME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO LIVE UND] ! 9T]IM /ATE ( AFFAIRS4 ,9 \R DEMOCRACY A BALLOT MEASURE ISN'T PASS$ ! MOM5T 5\< NAMES SIGN A =M1 EV5 IF A MEASURE IS PUT ON A BALLOT YE>S LAT] A :OLE NEW ELECTION ) NEW ACTS ( VOT+ >E REQUIR$4 

,BUT MO/ IMPORTANTLY1 9 \R REJECTION ( ! DEMOCRATIC PSY*OLOGY1 AN>*I/S OP5 \RSELVES TO BE+ ON ! LOOK\T = OPPORTUNITIES ( 9DIVIDUAL ACTION4 ,:5 AG5CY IS CORRECTLY GR\ND$ BACK 9 ! 9DIVIDUAL M9DS ?AT CON/ITUTE ! ONLY TRUE AG5TS 9 ! WORLD1 AN>*ISM RE/ORES A P]SONAL RESPONSIBILITY (T5 OCCLUD$ OR AVOID$ BY DEMOCRATIC ?9K+4 ,AN>*ISM DEM&S ?AT WE ASK AT EV]Y MOM5T1 0:AT %\LD ,I DO TO BE/ LIB]ATE ALL80 ,IT REQUIRES CON/ANTLY REEVALUAT+ \R MODEL ( ! WORLD & \R P]SONAL CONTEXT )9 IT4 

,?IS IS :Y IT'S ALMO/ ALWAYS AN>*I/S :O SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES = HI<-IMPACT ACTION LIKE HACK+ CORPORATIONS1 COD+ TOOLS ?AT WILL BE US$ BY MILLIONS1 OR ASSASS9AT+ DICTATORS4 ,WE CONT9UALLY BUILD HI< IMPACT TOOLS1 >T1 & >E ! ONES HAPPY TO GO TO PRISON TO /OP A POGROM AFFECT+ HUNDR$S4 ,:5 IT COMES TO MAK+ A HUGE DIFF]5CE !RE'S A TON ( L[ HANG+ FRUIT1 AS A FRI5D ( M9E SAID1 09 ?IS BROK5 SOCIETY !RE'S NO EXCUSE = NOT P]SONALLY SAV+ ?\S&S40 

,IF DEMOCRATIC ?9K+ IS ,KANTIAN1 A BLUEPR9T ( HABITS & RITUALS TO BE UN?9K+LY /UCK TO REG>DLESS ( EFFECTIV5ESS1 9DOCTR9AT+ US TO OP]ATE LIKE A SLAVE ) A COP 9 \R HEAD1 AN>*ISM IS BY CONTRA/ ACT CONSEQU5TIALI/ -- DEM&+ ACTIVE CONSID]ATION ( CAUSES & IMPACT AT ALL MOM5TS1 & /AY+ OP5 TO UNIQUE CONTEXTS4 

,!RE >E ( C\RSE R>E SITUATIONS :]E A VOTE HAS SOME HI<] *ANCE ( BE+ MEAN+FUL4 ,& ! /AKES CAN BE QUITE HI<4 ,AN>*I/ PURITY POLICE >E NOT GO+ TO >RE/ Y\ = VOT+4 ,BUT SU* SITUATIONS >E />KLY R>E &1 = MO/ ( US 9 ,AM]ICA1 LIV+ 9 /ATES & C\NTIES SOLIDLY ONE COLOR OR ANO!R1 ALMO/ NEV] SOME?+ WE'LL SEE4 ,?IS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE C\NT]+ DEMOCRATIC ?9K+ IS CRITICAL TO TURN+ ! TIDE4 

,! APPEAL 0YES BUT IF EV]YONE ?\<T ! SAME AS Y\0 IS MEAN+LESS FIR/ ( ALL BECAUSE \R 9DIVIDUAL DECISION TO VOTE OR NOT HAS NO MAGICAL CASUAL IMPACT ON O!RS' DECISIONS4 ,AT BE/ BY OBJECT+ TO ! DEMOCRATIC PSY*OLOGY & IRRATIONAL >GUM5TS WE CAN C>VE \T SOME CULTURAL SPACE = PEOPLE TO GA9 MORE AG5CY & CLE>HEAD$ EVALUATIONS1 MAYBE P]SUADE A FEW4 ,BUT SECOND ( ALL1 IF MORE PEOPLE ?\<T LIKE US !Y'D HELP PLUCK ! REMA9+ L[-HANG+ FRUIT4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,! ,CASE ,AGA9/ ,VOT+ -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,! ,CASE ,AGA9/ ,VOT+ -- ,UPDAT$4 

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