This American Election Day all Americans should vote their video game conscience

This American election day there's a lot on the line. I think we generally stay away from talking straight politics here even though it's pretty clear what direction the Giant Bomb crew leans and I don't really hide my political preferences (which align with theirs.) But whatever your personal politics it's important to vote. Even if you live in a "safe" presidential state there are likely local elections that are very important. In my home state of New York there's a ballot proposition that protects reproductive rights and the rights of people in disfavored classes.

As disillusioned as everyone can get with our choices and our government, and often with good reason, the right to vote is incredibly important and should be cherished and exercised, even when the choices are not ideal. There's been a lot of democratic backsliding in recent years and we've seen in countries like Russia that if you don't use your vote wisely it can be effectively taken from you. That can happen anywhere. No place is immune. Germany was a legitimate democracy before...the unpleasantness happened.

So people should vote. Vote for whoever your conscience tells you to vote for. Talk to your friends and family and make sure they're voting. Give people a ride to the polls if you can. Blah blah we've all heard it, but it's important to remember and put into practice.

And remember this too. Only one candidate truly cares about the most important thing to cherish on this most important of political days. Only one candidate loves the Dreamcast.

The Mountain Dew in shot might be the best part of that.

The American Dream(cast) still lives on. o7

One way or the other, I'm going to be so happy when the campaigning is done.

Edit: I take it back. I don't feel better.

Wow. Did not think it would go this way. I knew Trump might win, but didn't think it would be by this much... looking like he'll possibly win all seven swing states, and maybe even the popular vote, which basically no one saw coming. Also seems like Dems will lose a number of Senate seats they'd hoped to keep, the Senate is clearly in GOP control now. What a depressing result. As I write this (10:30pm Pacific) it appears the only realistic prospect for keeping Trump even vaguely in check is if the Dems win the House, but with the way the rest of it has gone, I wouldn't bet on that happening. GOP will likely have full control of everything. Not a scary prospect at all...

Well... shit.

On a more serious note, this result has me more than ever wanting to focus on the people around me that need someone. I sometimes wonder why they might need me. I also need to find out how they'll need me.

Nonetheless, I want people to know I want to make everything around me a little bit better for them.

I don't know if I can walk during protests; 2016 me doesn't exist physically or psychologically. But I can invest in making slices of calm and comfort where it seems they shouldn't exist.

Though I don't like Trump, I can give several reasons why he won. But I don't like to talk about politics in spaces I enjoy. Too many strong feelings and heated arguments, I'd rather avoid.

With that said, poor Dreamcast. The dream might be truly dead.

A devastating result that will only look more devastating as time goes on. Spare a thought for the people of Ukraine. And a lot of vulnerable people in the US, including some people on this very forum who are going to suffer mightily over that. As @zombiepie said I intend to do what I am able to for my country and the people around me but...

This is not a place to get into deep political discussions. There is value in spaces where things are light and focused on what unites people and silliness and pleasures. There are things we fundamentally disagree on but we can all enjoy arguing about whether Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a mainline Mario game (it is) because it's not something that matters. It's not something that's going to kill anyone or make them miserable. Nobody ever got sent back to a hostile country to be dismembered by their family over their sexual identity because they had a bad take on Super Mario Bros. Wonder. To my knowledge.

So yeah there's value in keeping politics away from certain spaces, even though they can feel all encompassing.

But in retrospect maybe I should have seen Walz's love of the Dreamcast as a bit of a prophetic omen. I was just too caught up in our shared love of Crazy Taxi to think it through.

Only single silver lining for me personally is I have close family in North Carolina and Stein was elected as the new governor.

They are in shock, but at least that is some sort of barrier in place.

Feel terrible for all the American duders on here and the world in general. Another four years of... This. JFC.

I’d say this was the perfect opportunity for my party to take stock and learn vital lessons but I don’t actually believe they can, we’ll just move Right more.

I'm already having nightmares about Thomas and Alito being replaced by Cannon and Kacsmaryk.

Gosh, IDK what you're talking about, clearly Harris just didn't hug Liz Cheney hard enough.

Sorry, I'll stop. Because I do agree with @bigsocrates that we should try to avoid a lot of politics talk around here. But I'm too distressed not to snark at the situation a little, simply in mental self-defense at the absurdity. Gallows humor is a thing.

Good morning to everyone who can look their daughters, mothers, and sisters in the eye and say "I tried."

Fear, money, and hatred are powerful tools. I don't know what kind of hell the next four years are going to bring or if we come back from this as a recognizable democracy, but I hope for better days someday.

Great. More measles. Awesome.