Why I voted Sanders

[cab67]

114. Many of us who oppose Sanders are progressive.

I'm an aging gen-X'er who also saw the boomers ahead of me have more of a cushion when they fell. My father was out of work from time to time and was able to rely on unemployment. So I completely get what you say.

There are two possible outcomes to a Sanders nomination - either he will win, or he will lose. And I would argue that either would be bad for progressive causes in the USA.

It is HIGHLY unlikely that he will win. His record of accomplishment is rather thin, and he carries baggage that even his supporters often seem unaware of, but which Republicans would use like a hammer. He'd lose big. And we wouldn't see a progressive candidate this close to the nomination for a generation.

But even if he wins, he'd very likely be a one-termer. Some people wonder how he'd pay for his agenda, but I wonder how he'd turn any of it into reality. He hasn't gotten any of it through Congress during his 20+ years in the institution. He'd get no help at all from Republicans, but his ability to denigrate Democrats - notice I don't say "fellow Democrats" - would weaken his hand with the House, assuming it stays in Democratic hands. He's not a uniter when it comes to Congress. He'd be seen as weak and would be easy prey to a Republican who sounds more rational than Trump does (e.g. Romney). And we'd end up right where we started, with progressive causes out in the political wilderness.

I get that we have to vote according to our values, but we also have to be realistic. At this point, I'm the one thing I always swore I'd never be - a one-issue voter. For me, it's all about electability. We have to get Trump out of the White House. Sanders gives inspiring speeches, and he espouses policies I like, but I really don't think he's electable.