I haven’t posted on this site in probably 8 years. I was a new voter and I (of course) understood that Barack Obama was the candidate I should support. So I did, voted for him twice. I have disagreed with some things but mostly I’d say nearly entirely supportive of everything. I was very progressive in ‘08 and I remain that way. I remember the nastiness of the primaries in that election, and on the republican side in ‘12 — so I’m not thrown off by what I’ve been reading here. It is still a little sad to read the belittling and judgmental attitudes. With all that said I’d like to talk about how this nomination should not have been decided for me, before I have a chance to vote. And that we have proof of an establishment that does not want to. and actively discourages representing me, their supporter. It is reflected in the media and current elected officials. I’d also like to talk about this rally I just went to.
So Lawrence is kinda weird. I say kinda cause it’s a liberal city inside of a super republican state. So we have conservative families sending their children here for school and watching the Jayhawks play basketball. We have yoga studios, bars, and music venues, hipsters who play kickball, art studios, (coming soon an art district) etc. You will find it’s culturally a very liberal and progressive place when you stick around. But we also have Gov. Sam Brownback. So kinda weird.
The rally tonight was great, I have been a Sanders supporter for about 4 months now and I have been itching to volunteer, and donate so this was a great opportunity! The speakers were great, they told us what issues made Bernie the candidate they supported, and they turned to us for winning in Kansas. A local celebrity representative, Boog Highberger was the final speaker and he was so passionately voicing his want for a politician that fought for income inequality, for universal healthcare, and for campaign finance reform. He told us the only candidate he trusts to tackle these issues is Bernie Sanders. He asked us to help him win in Kansas, and not only Sanders but to take Kansas back from extreme right wing politicians. He is a wonderful guy, and my representative in the Kansas legislature, and I respect his endorsement.
I don’t want to get preachy and I don’t want to get condescending. I support Bernie Sanders because of the issues he supports and his record of executing what he believes to be right. I do not support other candidates because of many reasons, but the fact is that this is who I choose to support. Isn’t that how this is supposed to work? Why then am I told that this decision was locked up before I had a chance to decide for myself? Why are so many parts of the nominating process (for the democrats especially) unrepresentative of the votes, or the people? I believe that Sanders will prevail despite the obstruction from the established powers; but if he doesn’t, and regardless, this should be the LAST election with such a mess of a nominating process! I’m supposed to believe that after this information boom, this technological revolution we’re gonna stick to some archaic, paper, coin-flipping, one arbitrary state at a time, caucus/primary/non-cauces/whatever? We can do better and we deserve better. If a body of government wanted around half of the country to voice their opinion in who leads them - they’d create something so ridiculous as the American primaries.
I will read any disagreement with an open mind; and I will respect the opinions anyone who wants to respectfully disagree. Thank you for reading!
