Convince me to stay a liberal.

[BainsBane]

66. You don't need to be a liberal to vote for Sanders or any other Dem

I see voting as something I do, not who I am. The ballot does not capture or define my political consciousness. You can vote for who you think best, or least objectionable, and still work outside the system. Many people do. I see no virtue in, as you indicate a desire to do, "believing." He's a politician. They are all politicians. You can vote for them and hope for the best--more importantly work for the best--but to put faith in him (or any of them) is folly. Even if a candidate were entirely well intentioned, the system is set up to resist profound change.

I myself believe Sanders has some good intentions but too readily misleads the public as to what he can do. Seeing comments by him about, for example, single payer being a non-starter in 2010, I do not believe he thinks it a viable option in the current GOP House and Senate majority climate. I resent being bullshited to that extent, and I resent a pol pretending that voting for him is a revolution. If you, however, see him as the best or least worst alternative, vote for him. Voting takes maybe an hour. It doesn't need to define your life. Leave the voting booth and go about doing the things that you think have an impact on society. It doesn't have to be an either/or choice.