[orthecreedence]

> votes for people who represent the majority of your beliefs

This is currently very close to impossible in the US. We have a two-party system, solidified by our First Past the Post voting system. I am forced to cast one vote for the candidate who represents my views the most, which ends up being about 10-20% of my views.

On top of this, once someone does get elected, our political system is such that politicians listen to the highest payers first, constituents at a distant second.

Going out and voting does very little. Yes, we should still do it, and not give up, but until we fix our broken voting system such that citizens can vote for people who actually represent them without the spoiler effect and until we fix our political system so politicians are accountable to their constituents again, internet activism, public shaming, and what comes down to basically pestering the hell out of these people is a perfectly good line of defense.

[nhayden]

This is why when I vote, I put a lot of weight on those who advocate campaign reform and voting reform.