A rebuttal to a front page diary I had the pleasure of reading this morning. I am a young (30, so maybe not that young :[ ), enthusiastic Bernie Sanders supporter. I want ya’ll to understand how I see this political moment and other like minded Bernie supporters.
It’s not that Bernie supporters don’t understand the need to elect anyone besides Trump. We aren’t fools, we see the clear and present danger. But here’s the rub: It’s the understanding that politicians like Biden and Clinton are in fact center-right in a sane political spectrum. It’s the corporate nucleus of our party. It’s generations of these politicians that has poisoned the collective well. The betrayal of the working class, and its resulting disillusionment. Why only half this country actually votes.
Bernie is a new deal Democrat. His positions are reasonable. They are simply the righteous continuation of the new deal policies and reforms laid out generations ago. It is our party that has become unreasonable. AOC articulated this just the other day when she remarked that there really isn’t a left wing party in this country. She’s right. It’s dead. Died along time ago. The last time a politician like Bernie was president, he was so popular they needed to institute term limits, and his coat tails ensured Democratic victories for decades to follow.
So you have to forgive us when we see a chance to revive the soul of our party. No more getting elected and appointing Goldman Sachs CEOs to your cabinet. No more revolving door. To you older Dem voters, I am incredibly sorry you had to have swallowed this pill so many times, truly I am. That would leave anyone jaded. But you are wrong if you believe this has made you wise, pragmatists. See the cause and effect. It is precisely the lack of representation coming out of our party, the cozying up to the Banks, big Oil, big Pharma, this degradation of it’s values, that creates the culture of political apathy and cynicism that oppresses this country. And it is this culture, this vacuum, that allows for a two bit autocrat like Trump to rise.
The Democratic party needs to return to it’s values. And by doing so inoculate ourselves from the rising fascism on the right. Healthcare is a right. Living wages are a right. War only ever as a last resort. Break up the monopolies. End the special interests and corruption infecting our Government. Take back the wealth from the parasites at the top. You have to fight, be passionate. Don’t cast your vote in fear; that the same old same old will save us. Don’t fool yourself into thinking ‘anyone but Trump’ is really the long-term solution. Don’t kick that can down the road again.
Sanders is surging and it’s because millions of everyday Americans believe in him, and believe in the true Democratic party and the ideals it represents. So please, please join us! It’s exactly the right time to keep the momentum up. Don’t give into the fear. We will beat Trump, together.
Thanks :].
Edit: Thanks for the feedback. I realize Sanders is a polarizing figure, but I want to make clear that I am not ‘Bernie or bust’ and I don’t think anyone should be so foolish. After the primary, whoever is the winner, we have to be unified behind them. If there is one lesson from 2016, it is that.