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[+] -45 points 2 years ago (10 children)

I am emphatically in favor of supporting Ukraine but you should be aware that Zelensky has suspended elections. I wouldn't call Ukraine totalitarian but a true democracy never suspends elections, even when they're inconvenient. The United States has never done it despite always being at war and I don't think we should give a pass to other nations just because they're at war.

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  • [–] 34 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    Zelensky didn't suspend elections. The Ukrainian constitution suspended elections--the country is under martial law due to invasion, and their constitution disallows elections under martial law. In order to hold elections, Zelensky would have to disregard the constitution.

    Assuming every nation's constitution is the same as the United States and then judging actions based on that error is some high-level cultural arrogance.

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  • [–] 28 points 2 years ago*

    'At war' is not the same as defending yourself from an invasion, which the US has not had to do since it has existed in it's current form. Also, governments have suspended elections in the past when necessary. For instance, the UK suspended elections during WW2 via the 'Prolongation of parliament' bill, while they were defending themselves from a German invasion.

    https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1944/oct/31/prolongation-of-parliament-bill

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  • [–] 22 points 2 years ago

    America has never been invaded to the level that its existence as an independent country has been threatened, at least not since the war of independence.

    During WWII the UK postponed elections. We even have explicit rules for how this can be done, when required. Wartime is one of the situations where it can be required. The complexity of holding an election under wartime conditions is huge. It is also a serious distraction from actually winning the war, and so costs lives. Finally, changing leadership, mid war is risky at best. The time for a new leader to settle in is paid for in lives lost.

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  • [–] 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    US has never been at war in the homeland. That would make a huge difference. Plus it would probably be much easier during the chaos for Russia to subvert the Ukrainian elections. But that's just me talking out my ass. Definitely good to be aware though. If the US did it, it would at least be through congressional action.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Considering that out of 3 posts, 2 have been pro-russia...maybe you should just STFU

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  • [+] -20 points 2 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Hey, you deleted your comment! Don't be shy about your opinions, just know if they are pro-russia you won't get a lot of support

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