This is about November.
Short of some unexpected dramatic development, there is a high potential for Joe Biden’s nomination. I want Bernie to win, but the delegate numbers are not just media hype. It is real.
I see a lot of non-voting, 3rd party and write- in sentiment. I have no idea if this is widespread or just a feature of a few websites or bots out to suppress the vote. Either way, I find it alarming. I hope it is in-the-moment anger and disappointment rather than long-term resolve.
I have supported Bernie. I’m furious and frustrated too. So, I’m writing to persuade, not condemn.
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven ….
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late (Peter Seeger)
Now is not the time to count on an alternative progressive 3rd party win, never done before in a substantive way at the national level. That takes years of grassroots organizing at the local level. It cannot be done in time to prevent Trump from being elected.
Now is not the time for a symbolic protest vote. Stopping Trump’s reelection is essential. Lives depend on it.
For me, a lifelong progressive, that means that anyone who cares about human and political rights must vote for whoever is the Democratic nominee. There is no moral equivalence between Trump and Biden. Even if Bernie wins the nomination, that organizing would be essential for him to implement his agenda. That is what "political revolution" means. If Trump wins– the assured result of non-voting, 3rd party, or write-in votes– his authoritarian impulses will be unleashed and uncontrolled.
Think about life under Hitler, Mussolini, Pinochet, etc. Demagogic authoritarians with poplar support make necessary organizing far more difficult, if not very dangerous. It would cause the death of many innocent people. The denials and delays in the pandemic have already happened. Death is the result. Caging innocent people has already happened. Voter suppression has already happened.
Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barrack Obama were centrists. I strongly disagreed with and tried to fight against many of their policies and compromises with Republicans, corporate lobbyists, and wealthy campaign contributors. In many ways, centrist policies facilitated Trump’s rise because they failed to mediate the precariousness in people’s lives brought on by globalization, technological job-replacement, a challenge to U.S. domination, and migration. That said, none of these Democratic presidents were remotely like Trump. Responsibility, yes. Moral or political impact equivalence, no!
When Nixon was elected, we thought, "Oh, my God! Things can't get any worse." But they did. Reagan was worse. And then, the Bushes were even worse. And now Trump, worse still. It can always get worse.
Of course, empowered Democrats will fight to preserve their power. But there are times when a united front against tyranny is essential. Now is that time. Want the possibility of a future based on progressive values? Organize. However, vote for the Democratic nominee to preserve your ability to do so. Lives are at stake.
For whom you vote is not just a matter of personal conscience. It is a social impact decision, especially for those most vulnerable, but also for democracy. Please think about this.