this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2026
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You do realize that the powers of the president have been growing for some time now? That the militarization of the police took several decades? That the US has been involved in forever wars under both parties? That the working class has been on the decline for 50 years?
Just ask yourself: why would Biden increase the ICE budget after the first Trump presidency. Democrats told us to vote for them but they never addressed the precursors to fascism. There is a massive overlap between Establishment Dems and MAGA, the Dems are just more polite about serving their billionaire donors.
You are mostly correct. And that's the crucial bit. Because basically you, like OP, are saying "Dems are almost as bad as Reps, and therefore ~~nothing matters anymore~~ one shouldn't even vote" and that's where I disagree.
I'm not preaching nihilism. To the contrary, we need to be more involved in grassroots organizations now more than ever. Anyone who hasn't done so should join a leftist org. Look for a PSL, DSA, FRSO, or CPUSA chapter near you.
Literally no one said not to vote. You can check. Y'all have yourselves in a group think so hard that you've made up some shit.
I even clarified that fact. Expecting more from your government is not nihilism, and y'all assuming someone criticizing the US duopoly as being nothing but nihilism is a problem, duder.
You're just straight up lying. We're on Lemmy dude. Posts and comments constantly saying not to vote. You're not a serious person
Sorry, allow me to clarify AGAIN.
I didn't tell you not to vote. Grow up and stop taking out your frustrations on me when you apparently have a problem with all of Lemmy.
Lying liar can't stop lying
The null hypothesis here would be with "inflation", and simpler explanations than yours would be "because Trump cut the funds" and "COVID lockdowns"
You may be right, but if you want anyone to accept your theory you need to provide sufficient evidence to overcome the simple answers.
The growth outpaces inflation.
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/the-cost-of-immigration-enforcement-and-border-security/
Truthfully, the entire agency should be abolished. Any Democrat politician who tells you this can be reformed is continuing the American police state.
Did the growth outpace inflation under Biden?. The only thing I found in your link was a graph that ends with Biden's first year that showed flat funding for ICE, plus some assertions about its total decades-long growth.
You're absolutely right that ICE should be replaced with a few hundred bureaucratic functionaries to stamp passports. But I don't think we get there without clear partisan blame.
If you scroll down there is a graph showing an increase of 760 million dollars. Here's the graph for your convenience:
Note that the ICE budget is now over 9 billions dollars. (Even before Trump's massive increase in 2025.) Inflation in 2023 was 4%. An increase to keep up with inflation would be about half of the increase that we see from 2023 to 2024.
The point is that there is no one to vote for that will abolish ICE because both parties agree that it should continue. And there are many such examples of bi-partisan agreement that supports the wealthy, fascism, or both. I'd be happy to list them for you if you'd like more concrete examples.