2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWe can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. -A.Einstein
Thought provoking article posted since we have a couple of weeks to get our ya-ya's out.
https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/4h6eb0/to_those_of_you_liberals_who_dont_understand_the/
To those of you liberals who don't understand the Bernie or Bust movement, allow me to explain it in a way that may be clearer and more detailed than what you are used to hearing.
What you are seeing is a group of people who hit their breaking point -- and some day, you will hit yours too. It may be a month from now, it may be eight years from now. The injustices that have been allowed to thrive in our country have resulted in the death and suffering of millions of people. We have a climate crisis, we have lead in our water, we have massive income and wealth inequality, and we have millions of people in prison for petty "crimes" who are being used as slave laborers. These are just a small fraction of the injustices which permeate through every aspect of our government.
The people of this movement have come to the realization that our current system is broken beyond repair and the time for incremental change is over. This is worth repeating. The system under no circumstances can be fixed with establishment politics; it can only be fixed by a progressive political revolution that sends a message loud and clear that we the people are setting a new standard for our elected representatives.
Bernie Sanders understands the urgency to navigate our way out the whirlpool of injustice and impending disasters that inevitably await us and he has a voting record that proves he has the wisdom required to make the right decisions for the country.
When he saw the candidates running for the democratic nominee, he hit his breaking point. Despite never having any aspirations to be president, he knew he had a moral obligation to run. He knows that a Clinton presidency will only prolong the stagnation of our broken system. He knows if she becomes president, in four to eight years from now, our elected representatives will still be reduced to nothing more than a glorified telemarketer begging for money.
He knows we can not afford to compromise on taking aggressive action to address climate change or other necessary regulations that are needed to prevent the death or suffering of millions or even billions of people.
He knows we don't have time for incremental change, especially when that incremental change is going to be led by a centrist candidate with a history of voting blunders that resulted in a diminished middle class and an unstable middle east -- by a candidate who has amassed her personal wealth from the same special interests who fund her campaign -- and by candidate who is basically campaigning on fixing the damage from the legislation she voted for in the first place -- the same legislations that Bernie Sanders passionately spoke out against to anybody who would listen.
For these reasons, Bernie Sanders stepped up and took on the establishment. Progressives finally had a candidate who was something so much more than the stereotypical politician. Sanders has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he has by far the best judgment and the strongest principles of any candidate to run for office in a very long time.
He built up an unprecedented grassroots moment with a very popular platform among democrats and independents. The progressive movement finally had a leader with a vision and a strategy to wrestle our government back from the wealthy few. He inspired millions of people who have long been disengaged from politics to start caring and participating in the system -- which is exactly what needs to happen for progressives to take control of the house and senate and end the gridlock we see today.
I'm well aware of most of the scandals Hillary Clinton has been involved in -- both the real ones and the fake ones -- but out of all of the unethical things she has done, I think the worst was her intentional sabotage of the progressive revolution.
For years, democrats and liberals have blamed republicans for the problems that plague our country. MSNBC regularly issued scathing reports about republican corruption and obstructionism. Progressives rallied behind the "liberal media" and the democratic party (some reluctantly) who were doing what little they could do given the republican opposition.
Democrats have always defended raising money from special interests because it was a necessity. They had to do it because the republicans were doing it. But, Bernie Sanders proved that his platform combined with his refreshing honesty and consistency was so popular that he could raise massive amounts money without relying on any special interests.
This is something Hillary Clinton could not do if her life depended on it. This is not a phenomenon that can be manufactured by anyone with money and power. This is a phenomenon that can only be created by a candidate with an impeccable track record marked by a commitment to altruism and reason.
Hillary should have dropped out early and supported him. The democratic party would have had an incredibly strong candidate with a scandal-free past. The vast majority of her supporters would have accepted him with open arms and been just as passionate about him as his current supporters are. He would be virtually guaranteed to win in a landslide victory against any candidate the republicans could put forward.
But, Hillary Clinton had different plans. She wanted more than anything to be president -- and in the course of this campaign, she has revealed the truth about the democratic party and the "liberal media."
When Bernie Sanders' generated a massive amount of momentum for the progressive revolution and the progressive principles that the democratic party and liberal media claim to want, he and his movement were not accepted by the media nor the democratic party. Instead, he was seen as a threat and the democratic party and the Clinton campaign sought to extinguish his momentum.
They could have embraced Bernie's revolution and doubled its support. They would have been able to launch a fierce campaign uniting enough people to win majorities in every branch of government.
But instead, they sabotaged his campaign through the use of propaganda. Sometimes the propaganda was blatant, sometimes is was subtle, but there is no doubt it was there and there is no doubt it was effective.
Bernie was painted as a pie in the sky idealist with no chance of winning and no concept of reality. But this is not the case and it is not what the Clinton campaign and the media believe. They knew that Bernie Sanders could win and the progressive revolution could build support. That is why the DNC had to hide Clinton and schedule debates at times when people wouldn't see them. If Bernie couldn't win, then the DNC and the media wouldn't have to resort to protecting Hillary and vilifying Sanders.
The republicans are extreme and their policy is worse than Clinton's center-right policy agenda. But at least the republicans don't pretend to be on our side. The Clintons and the liberal media are not stupid. They know what they did and Sanders supporters know what they did -- and it was nothing short of a betrayal....
JI7
(89,182 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)offered by our current money-driven system.
Response to JI7 (Reply #2)
cyberpj This message was self-deleted by its author.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)n/t
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)of your support for a corporatist candidate who, in may respects, is to the right of Nixon.
How does this square with your desire to "deal in the facts of the situation"?
Hmmm?
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)delegates than they saw fit to award the guy you were trumpeting in your OP. Insults won't change that reality.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Buster of trust (is not equal to) supporting the corporatocracy.
Do you feel that exposing hypocrisy is an insult? If so, introspection may be the best course.
Discuss...no insults...and kindly "just deal in the facts of the situation."
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Here's some stuff to believe in that may help you find your center. (warning- harsh language and frank speech)
seekthetruth
(504 posts)JOIN THE GOP.
Response to Trust Buster (Reply #6)
cyberpj This message was self-deleted by its author.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)n/w
Herman4747
(1,825 posts)But you knew that, as well as the fact that lack of membership in the Democratic Party does not render one a flawed individual.
Tellingly, Abraham Lincoln was renowned for his honesty.
Mary Todd Lincoln once wrote to a friend that "Mr. Lincoln . . . is almost monomaniac on the subject of honesty." (from http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/honesty.htm )
Hillary? Not so much:
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Was Lieberman a Democrat? How about Zell Miller? Hillary Clinto-Sachs jumped at the chance to help the Republicons in our hour of need. Is she a Democrat? Sen Sanders meets the criteria of following Democratic Values way more than Hillary Clinton-Sachs.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)supporters argue, then why can't a corporation run for VP? The ticket would be Clinton/Goldman-Sachs. They paid for the honor.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Blankfein will be a fine proxy for now and then maybe we can be cowed into accepting a 2024 Goldman-Sachs/Monsanto ticket.
I can almost hear the clarion call of the rallys "Big biz, big ag, big biz, big ag", should be easy for the dolts to chant with relative ease.
Kind of has a hypnotic tone that will make everyone feel a part of a movement and everything feel alright.
Hmmm...hmmm....hmmm...hmmm (test-humming out my post-lobotomy mantra)
Skink
(10,122 posts)Genius
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)DookDook
(166 posts)"The people of this movement have come to the realization that our current system is broken beyond repair and the time for incremental change is over. This is worth repeating."
Yup.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Politicians got us where we are.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)big money in our political system. To reframe, politicians who are corrupted by money got us where we are.
Maybe I'm a starry-eyed optimist, but I want elected official to act in the best interest of our country first and their carbon-life-based constituents second.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)I think under the current system it's not possible for any of them to escape corrupted money. They're addicted to it... the lot of them.
I'd institute term limits to prevent that. Not popular I know, but there it is.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)My daughter...after my own attorney emailed me a Sachs & Bain goon warning me to "back off" or Else.
Issues that were compounded when - after I continued to whistleblow, upon finding more crimes - then the public corruption task force shut down
Upon my getting proof the U.S. Attorney over the case was actually a Goldman Sachs & Bain Capital law firm partner
Which the judge said ...doesn't matter ...because she had to get back to Tweeter
https://shadowproof.com/2015/01/01/the-unending-etoys-com-bankruptcy/
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Keep up the good fight and keep us up to date on your battles against these destroyers of value.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Cayse it ain't easy..to take down big sleazy...
But moi has a surpruse coming....
Please stay tuned?
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Awaiting the next chink in the armor.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)and kiss the ground he walks on.
Real organizers would be talking about what they could learn from their mistakes to keep building.
Instead the Reddit armchair revolutionaries wallow in adolescent self-pity because they got their ass kicked.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)It's not about Bernie, it's about restoring democracy and pushing back against the monied interests.
Hillary "I...I...I...I..."
Bernie "We...we...we...we"
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)They are whining that Hillary ran for President and asked voters for their support.
They wanted a coronation for their King.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)I'm for the winning Democratic team (even if it's to the right of Nixon), yay!
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)tend to produce very ordinary and unoriginal discourse.
Tedious.
Bye.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Bernie is too good to have to persuade voters. So unfair that Hillary got more votes than him.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)Let's continue to enshrine corporate power over our political system.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)failed to connect with the key constituencies of the Democratic Party and resolve to learn from the mistakes of the Sanders campaign.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)are undermining our democracy. Flooding the info-space with cash and empty slogans is not enough to ensnare those with critical thinking skills.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)corporate drones and that Bernie Sanders and his followers have a monopoly on truth and wisdom indicates critical thinking is not what you think it is.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)n/t
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)I can count on one hand the number of Bernie supporters--anywhere-that have conceded that maybe Clinton supporters have valid reasons for their choice and know what they are doing. This hyper sanctimonious screed from Reddit is part of that dynamic.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)"My political beliefs are rooted in the conservatism I was raised with..."
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)Thanks for the thread, Snarkoleptic.
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)I have a hard time worshiping at any altar, least of all one constructed by corporations and their sycophants for the purpose of oppressing the populace.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.
I think it definitely applies to Bernie and the Democratic Establishment.
Herman4747
(1,825 posts)...who do you think he would prefer?
Before you answer, please do read this:
Why Socialism?