My view from north of your border [View all]

[floppyboo]

First, I hope this is still okay. I did not vote for Hillary. That would be illegal. I am Canadian. I joined this site Dec. 2014 when following Elizabeth Warren at a time when there seemed to be a real push to change US politics towards a more social democratic platform.

I haven't been posting here much lately, as I don't see that promising push much at all. It makes me kinda sad to read the reactionary comments and fear-based rationale for moving more towards the centre. (That's how we spell center up here also throw in a 'u' whenever you can honour neighbour colour etc.)

By definition, I would be an independent: I am a member of the NDP, but won't hesitate to vote strategically. I'm also kind of a nerd and like to look at stats. I have looked at registration numbers for both dems and gop over the years. GOP seems pretty steady. Dems get a huge spike before every general election. And then it drops off considerably after every election that I have studied. (I haven't gone back that far, admittedly)

The Democratic party sits, between elections, at 28% [edit -27]. or thereabouts, and the GOP at 35% [edit -31]- with the majority of Americans withholding their allegiance at around 43%. If you look at when party membership peaks for the Dems, it is at primary time. And then it drops off, considerably after the election. My guess? independents that didn't get their candidate.

Why am I mentioning any of this?

It is really time to stop blaming Bernie Sanders for Hillary's loss. Those 'democrats' only became 'democrats' to vote for him in the primary. When he didn't get the nomination, they were free. Bernie stood by Hillary after his defeat, but to think that he can bully his followers into changing their real concerns - the reason they joined the democratic party in order to vote for him - is to not understand the real shift in the majority opinion. Unlike Hillary - he was able to sway that disenfranchised majority of American voters. By continuing to insinuate that Bernie stole Hillary's victory, you are alienating the largest voting block.