In plain English, harm reduction is action taken to minimize harm.
It is a term used in situation where harm, either real or perceived, IS going to take place. The goal, however, is to reduce the amount of harm.
Harm reduction techniques are often things that are seen as potentially problematic or unpalatable. They may not seem logical at first. A prime example is Portugal’s choice to decriminalize drugs as a whole, and provide treatment for addiction.
The end result is that not only are there fewer people in their prisons, but the rate of addiction has gone down.
In a political context, I have seen people state that Voting is a matter of harm reduction.
Quite often, this results in a thread full of arguments about how both parties suck and the state sucks, and no one should legitimize the system as it stands.
Again, harm reduction rarely looks palatable from a distance.
Yes, both the Republicans and the Democrats suck. They are both corporate shills. They both answer to the same bosses in many situations.
Only one party has actively started to roll back the rights of American citizens. Only one part has declared war on immigrants. Only one party has been kissing the asses of every totalitarian regime they can find. Only one party is pushing forward flat out Fascists an in some cases literal Nazis as their political candidates.
We have to stop the bleeding.
As to the issue of foreign policy: Yes, both parties suck. It is going to be hard to organize people however if they are themselves starving or in fear for their lives.
I forget who posted it, but I saw a quote that summed up the situation very well:
“Vote because the Republicans suck. Organize because the Democrats also suck.”
Voting is harm reduction. It is not the final answer, but it is a tool in the toolbox to help us staunch the bleeding while we organize for more.