"It is important to think about how to continue our efforts to build momentum for a political revolution after the Democratic convention. At some point we must move beyond protesting the coronation of the Darling of Wall Street in order to reach out to her followers.
There is one act of defiance that we can do immediately after the convention that might help them understand that we are not just revolted by their choice of Clinton, but that we are no longer going to tolerate the continued shift to the right that started with Bill and his "third way" brand of Democratic Republicanism.
If you are a registered Democrat, please join this mass walk out from the party the day after the convention. If you are not a member, please share it with others who are by posting it on your wall and inviting from the event page people you know."
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By Rick Staggenborg, MD
Okay, I'll admit it. I have often lost patience with long-time friends support Clinton. I have been impatient and said disrespectful things that I regret. I don't want to make excuses for my behavior, but in my defense I have to say that it is very frustrating that so few of them seem to be willing to take a look at why "Bernie bros" are so adamant in their support of Sanders. It seems obvious to us that we have an historic opportunity to decisively reject the assumption that a person can only be elected President if they are backed by powerful economic players. How could anyone choose Wall Street's golden girl over a champion of campaign finance reform and all the progressive battles we will never win until it is achieved? To paraphrase the unofficial motto of the first Clinton's campaign: "It's the corruption, stupid! That's not meant to be personal, of course. It's just that the seemingly willful blindness of Clinton supporters is maddening to those of us who recognize the need for a real political revolution to end control of the political process by the narrow economic elite she represents. However, the idea that they are willing to stay with a candidate who has done nothing but abuse them and sweet talk them with broken promises should inspire pity, not wrath. Their passion for Clinton may be irrational, but isn't that the nature of love? It is not helpful to lash out at them for seeing the best in her, even when what they see is not there. That is, after all, a frequent feature of the battered spouse syndrome. Democrats who support Clinton show all the signs of this depressingly common condition. We Sanders supporters are not helping our case by lashing out at the very people we should be trying to reach. We need to take a deep breath, remember that these are people we care about, and realize that self-destructive behaviors are common in people who have been abused. We may be surprised that they are not acting like the people we thought they were, but these are our friends! We have been through so much with them over the years that we cannot abandon them when they most need understanding. It is no doubt this emotional bond that makes us so angry when we see them debase themselves by asking for more abuse from the Democratic Party. We are only angry at them because we care. Despite a long history of abusive relationships with past Democratic politicians, those who have fallen victim to Clinton's wiles fail to recognize that the party they have sworn not to forsake is not what they thought it was. Like victims of other forms of abuse, they seem to be attracted to those very characteristics which prevent a healthy relationship. While the dysfunctional nature of the relationship is obvious to those of us who can view the situation objectively, to the star-crossed hopefuls who desperately want to believe that they have found true love, the party can do no wrong. Every time they think they have found someone who understands them and who shares their interests, they find out too late (if ever) that they are understood all too well, and have fallen for another politician who will exploit their weakness for their own purposes. READ MORE ... We discuss a strategic approach on how to beat the corrupt American political system. This is first in a series of continuing podcasts where we will be following the 2016 US Primaries and electoral process in an effort to open up an informative and genuine conversation in order to Take Back America from the corporatocracy that is destroying our world. OUR MISSION IS TO JOIN INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WORKING IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN LIVE IN A RATIONAL, SUSTAINABLE WORLD. WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE ABANDON THE BELIEF THAT WAR IS INEVITABLE,IT WILL BECOME UNTHINKABLE. WAR IS CONDUCTED FOR CORPORATE EMPIRE. THEREFORE,THE FIRST STEP TO ENDING WAR IS ENDING CORPORATE CONTROL OF THE US GOVERNMENT. ALL SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS LEAD TO THE END OF WAR, THE ULTIMATE INJUSTICE. THOSE WHO WORK FOR JUSTICE ARE SOLDIERS FOR PEACE.
WHICH WAY TO THE REVOLUTION?
It’s fascinating to follow the discussion about the “Sanders revolution,” a vague phrase that lends itself to a variety of interpretations. Depending on your point of view, the term may be one of hope or derision. For others, it just provokes blank stares. The idea of a political revolution inspires those who can see that today’s Democratic Party is the captive of a system in which special interest money finances increasingly expensive campaigns. In the post-Citizens United era, these people recognize the historic significance of a candidate making a serious run for President without the backing of corporations or wealthy individuals, and despite the efforts of well-connected party leaders aghast that he is challenging one of their own. Beyond setting an example of how to beat this corrupt system, Sanders is out to change it. He is increasingly making campaign finance reform a centerpiece of his campaign. To many of his supporters, the “revolution” is defined as ending a system where the wealthy determine who are viable candidates to ostensibly represent us, while at the same time protecting their interests. |
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