I took an online survey and found out that my political philosophy matches Bernie Sander’s more closely than Hillary Clinton’s. I think he and I agree on 90% of issues, and she and I agree on 80%. However, I still support Hillary because she is a realist, who is willing to compromise and be flexible.
I grew up in South Dakota, where most people are politically conservative, not because they are uninformed or stupid, but because they see the world differently. Therefore, I believe the ability to compromise is a virtue.
For example, philosophically, I support single-payer health care. Some polls show a majority of Americans agree with me and with Bernie Sanders. The problem is those people are clustered in the north east, the west coast and in large cities. Because of population distribution liberals tend to be clustered in these areas. Because the Republican Party controls the US House and the Senate, it will be nearly impossible to pass single-payer healthcare. Presidents can propose laws but only Congress can pass them.
Our system of national government was designed so that rural states have a disproportionate say in our political process. For example, South Dakota, where I grew up has approximately 850,000 residents. They have the same number of Senators as New York or California. The US House has 435 seats; liberals tend to be clustered in areas with a high population density. Because the number of US Representatives stays the same, and all states must have at least 1 representative, high density, liberal population areas are essentially underrepresented in Congress. Also, after the 2010 census, Republican State legislatures across the country redrew Congressional districts to be even more in their favor.
The reality is there are many people in the US who consider themselves conservative and they are more equally distributed throughout the US. These people are fundamentally opposed to single-payer health care because they believe it is an individual responsibility not a government responsibility. We need to find a way to work with these people or we will continue to have gridlock in Washington. I think that is what Obama tried to do with The Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately he ran into a brick wall of covert Republican racism.
I know it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of Bernie’s ‘revolution’, but in order for change to really occur, this revolution needs to take place everywhere in the United States, not just liberal cities, states, and college campuses. I hate to say it, but the only revolution taking place in red states and rural areas is the Trump revolution. Donald Trump has figured out a way to ditch ideological purity, and still win the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, Bernie Democrats are demanding even greater ideological purity and threatening to “teach us all a lesson” and stay home in November or vote for a third party candidate.
I read a blog from a woman who really though that all Sanders supporters should switch to Jill Stein of the Green Party in November. She thought then maybe Jill Stein would have a chance to win. Jill Stein will never win the general election, because of the population distribution of liberals and the make-up of the Electoral College.
A three-way race might cause no candidate to reach 270 electoral votes. If this occurs, the House of Representatives decides the election. The Republicans control the House. They are not going to elect Jill Stein! Voting for a third party candidate with no chance to win might make you feel superior, or like you are sending a protest vote, but it does nothing more than that. It doesn’t change the way we elect our president, which requires a constitutional amendment. It just gives the party in power even more reason to ignore your views.
The Sander’s campaign has spent the whole primary vilifying Hillary Clinton for not being liberal enough. They have questioned her integrity and her morals and have made this campaign bitter and divisive. I am sorry but I believe that compromise and finding common ground are virtues. I believe changing your position if you realize the electorate has changed is a virtue.
Just because Hillary Clinton chose to work within our current campaign finance system, rather than risk “unilateral disarmament” doesn’t make her a tool of the establishment. Barack Obama did the same thing. She didn’t want to risk going into the general election against the Republicans without as much money as possible. Not because she is a tool of Wall Street, but because she knows we can’t risk letting a Republican appoint the next Supreme Court Justice. There is absolutely no evidence that shows her voting record changed in order to please large donors. Just because Bernie Sander’s makes that accusations doesn’t make it true. He is not perfect, nor is he above playing politics to win.
Some Sanders supporters fail to accept the reality of the political situation in the United States. Democrats will need to win in some red states and districts to take back the House and Senate. This is going to require compromise and fielding moderate Democratic candidates in these areas. We must learn to accept the CURRENT reality. In order for a revolution to happen, a majority of people, throughout the US must join it.
The US has a different history and political make-up than the small European countries with Democratic Socialist systems. Hopefully, this will change as the millennials become more engaged. At this moment in time we are not there yet. The conservatives are just as committed to their cause. That is why I support Hillary. I am a realist, not a tool of the establishment, not a sell-out, not a DINO. I hold my beliefs just as strongly as you do, but I also believe compromise is necessary due to the unique political make-up of our country.