political endorsements are backwards and a disappointment
Updated 1 month, 1 week ago
Political endorsements revert the relationship between voters and candidates. That's why I feel disappointed at people I respect when they endorse a political candidate. It's not about who they endorse, it's about the act of endorsement.
It's OK to say who you'll be voting for. Even better if you explain why. Extra points for highlighting the cons as well as the pros. All that encourages debate and helps other voters. When you share political opinions, you enrich the public conversation and help fellow citizens. When you endorse a politician, you help the politician.
A few instances when I've been disappointed by endorsements are Joe Rogan and Dave Smith when they endorsed Republican Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential campaign and Scott Galloway when he endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the same election.