This is something anyone with self awareness has been wrestling with our whole lives. The problem is the debate is bogged down by factionalism and thus the death of nuance. The answer is always “team ____!” Anything straying from that, like questioning the role in geopolitics or capitalism/neoliberalism, is seen as “being for the other side.” Which is so. Incredibly. Insane.

And that void is taken up by “well then don’t vote” people. And that…can’t be the answer either when vulnerable populations hang in the balance. It really is a no-win situation.

And that is because you’re either submitting to an oppressive, unfair, unjust system, or you’re holding your own “purity” of being above it up as more important than the people who’d be hurt by the more harmful option if you don’t sacrifice that “purity” for people others’ well-being.

Modern life does not lend itself to simple answers without caveats and sacrifices and, unfortunately, siding with people you really don’t agree with. But being “above it” only to be able to say you’re above it is so incredibly selfish and a decision that only people privileged enough to not be oppressed or have their existence be up for debate can make. You’re either the manipulated or the oppressed. The trick is to be as aware and informed as possible, weigh the ramifications of any and all decisions—as well as the entire cascading flowchart of repurcussions from any and all decisions—and do the best you can. Casting stones at people trying to navigate this supremely unjust and undesirable position doesn’t make any sense. We are all trying to do what we think is best for the most people—those of us that care enough to think of others. Every decision is going to come with a slate of distasteful knock-on effects. That’s just the bitter pill of modern life.