"Progressives should not make the same mistake that Ernst ThƤlmann made in 1932. The leader of the German Communist Party, ThƤlmann saw mainstream liberals as his enemies, and so the center and left never joined forces against the Nazis. ThƤlmann famously said that āsome Nazi trees must not be allowed to overshadow a forestā of social democrats, whom he sneeringly called āsocial fascists.ā
After Adolf Hitler gained power in 1933, ThƤlmann was arrested. He was shot on Hitlerās orders in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944."
Voting absolutely should be compulsory, it would be such a moderating force on US politics if you couldnāt get more votes just by stirring up your base.
Unfortunately, I donāt think it will happen in the States within my lifetime. Too much identity tied up in the idea of freedom.
Iāve been shocked by the amount of pushback I get when I talk about compulsory voting. I suspect it has less to do with freedom and more to do with how classist US society is.
Many people here seem to have internalized the idea that itās better for the country if āapatheticā and āstupidā people donāt vote. Of course the bulk of non voters are working people, the poor and those who benefit most from an increased voice in society.