General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So Sanders is going back to running as an Indy for his senate seat. [View all]Gore1FL
(21,151 posts)He has been a Democratic Socialist for a long time. He only joined the Democratic Party for the presidential run because the electoral college creates a 2-party system for that race, and he is a member of the Democratic Party coalition.
In the United States, our elections are different than parliamentary systems. We build our coalitions prior to the election rather than afterwards. I prefer that, myself. Does that mean that we have to be a big tent? Yes it does. Does it mean that we need to join together as a leftward coalition prior to an election? Yes it does. Does it mean that, should a person who isn't normally a Democrat win the nomination that they will run under the Democratic flag? Yes it does.
The alternative is to have the left splinter and run numerous third party candidates in a two-party race and basically concede every election to the GOP.
We need a left coalition and we need all of the people on the left to vote for it. Then we win. It's really that simple.