2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Party loyalty is a means of control. I vote for those who will represent me, period. [View all]BainsBane
(53,031 posts)before you signed up. There is a massive hint in the name, Democratic Underground. I realize that means nothing here anymore given the fact the Democratic party has moved to the left quite recently and so-called "progressives" hearken back to the past, defend drones when in the "right hands," advance NRA positions on gun control and immunity for the corporate gun industry, scapegoat the mentally ill, attack movements for black Lives. By all means, support the candidate who gives $800 Billion in corporate welfare to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 and votes to enable the Minutemen to police the borders. Far be in from me to stand in the way of such firmly held principles.
It's unfortunate that you haven't bothered to examine Clinton's policy positions, since they do none of what you suggest. I have found in general the loathing for Clinton involves completely ignoring her policies and voting record and instead projecting on her a load of shit. You blame Hillary Clinton for the police state, why? Because her husband was president when those policies were enacted? How is it that the fact that Bernie voted for both of the crime bills not enter into your thinking? What kind of political worldview allows someone to fault a woman because of her husband's actions yet claim someone who voted for those policies is the only possible cure? I don't see how that makes any sense, but it is widespread in certain circles.
And if you truly think a vote for the leader of the capitalist state challenges capitalism, that's just sad. I thought you said you knew better than that?
Emotion and projection, in my opinion, is a poor basis for voting. I actually think policies the candidates actually propose matter. I think voting records matter. Both candidates have been in the Senate, and their voting records and relative success in advancing legislation can be examined online through Senate records. If you took the time to actually look at them, I don't believe they would hold up to this GOP created meme that you have bought into. I understand actual policy and votes in congress matter less to some than rhetoric. I don't share that view, particularly when fact checking demonstrates statements to be false.
Everyone is entitled, of course, to base their vote on any reason or emotion they want. When I see them making claims that the Senate record shows to be false, however, I am going to speak out.
I also believe it a bit disingenuous to pretend the awful Hillary Clinton drove you to not voting for the Democrats, when you disclosed to me some time ago that you have never been a Democrat but instead believe in working outside the system. Again, that is entirely your prerogative, but when you pretend it is the doing of the likely Democratic nominee, I will say something.
Lastly, polls demonstrate that Sanders supporters are predominantly white, male, and average $80k+ a year. That, I submit, is not an accident. Those voters see him as representative of their interests in ways that Americans of color, women, and voters of lower incomes do not. And I absolutely reject the notion that people of color, the working class, and the poor are too ignorant to know their own interests.