I support Bernie 100% - but a few of my fellow supporters are not being realistic
Last edited Thu Dec 31, 2015, 03:29 PM - Edit history (2)
This is either concern trolling or an appeal to reason depending on how one wants to take it..First of all I am not talking particularly about Bernie's chance of winning the nomination or the Presidency. BERNIE CAN WIN!! But it is not going to be easy and there is simply no denying that as of this moment - Hillary is the front runner and significantly the front runner. That can change and I hope it will. If it does not change and Hillary goes on to win the nomination - This campaign has still not been in vain - we will have made a real difference in altering the parameters of debate, changing the political paradigm and brought back social-democracy or at least the New Deal into the mainstream of discussion.
What I am primarily talking about is the question of, what if Bernie does win and becomes President of the United States?
First of all not even FDR or Ronald Reagan came close to achieving all or even most of their goals. What they did was put the country on a whole new course and direction. They established a whole new body politic that dominated the whole nation's body politic and to an extent most of the world's body politic for at least a generation. They made their agenda the dominant political force for a long, long time after they were gone.
I have lived and spent a great deal of time in Europe and observed first hand how social-democracy operates. I'm convinced that it works better than any other system. In fact I would say that nothing else works and social-democracy is the last best hope for humanity.
However, ordinary people do pay higher taxes - including ordinary middle-income and perhaps even lower middle income people do in fact pay higher taxes. It is certain in my mind and in the minds of the overwhelming majority of people who live under more social-democratic systems that it is well worth the price. Even the most conservative of people who live under social-democracy would not want to trade their system or reduce it to U.S. levels. Even Margaret Thatcher promised the British public that the National Health Service and their socialized health care system would be safe under them.
But, again I must mention that even ordinary middle class people do pay higher taxes. Is Bernie being dishonest for not emphasizing this more? NO, I don't think so. I think he understands what many leading Democrats don't seem to understand and that is you must always start negotiations at the maximum one might get - not the minimum. But, the point remains that like with FDR or Reagan - compromises will be made including some very significant compromises. I hope that if Bernie does become President people here are not calling him a sell-out when he has to compromise as he did when he was mayor of Burlington.
Even on foreign policy and military issues - most of us on the progressive end of the spectrum and many others as well would like to see the United States get out of the imperialism business. An unsustainable global military empire is simply not a viable option - realistically. However, as things currently stand almost the entire global security system and even the guarantee of borders and nation/state legitimacy is largely in American hands. We absolutely must try to reduce this to viable and sustainable levels. But it is not going to be easy. We all saw the chaos that came when Soviet power came to an end. In other words, yes we can greatly reduce U.S. interventionism - But it is going to be a very difficult and one might say a very "tricky" process.
Anyway, Rome was not built in a day nor was Rome overthrown in a day. I just hope that none us put our hopes for a better future for our country and our world to such lofty levels that disappoint that cries of "sell out" will be inevitable. Again, take this as either concern trolling or an appeal to reason. For me it is simply a matter of being realistic.
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You aren't giving us credit for paying attention, for listening to what Sanders is actually saying. Or for paying attention to his record, and to how he gets things done.
From the HRC camp, we've got people throwing everything, including their kitchen sinks at him, hoping something will stick so that HRC gets her "turn." Among the rubbish they are throwing are the suggestions that he "can't win," that he hasn't accomplished anything, that he can't handle the job, that he'd never be able to accomplish his goals in the WH, as if we should simply pack up, go home, and accept the inevitability of HRC, since SHE would of course be able to accomplish what Sanders supposedly couldn't. As if the things we want to accomplish would even be allowed at her table.
Now you are skipping right past the "revolution" part of his campaign to suggest that we're assuming pie in the sky...kind of like reflecting the HRC propaganda camp. I've heard this argument from them repeatedly. Please don't. 
FWIW, if you need me to, I'll clearly state:
1. The most important part of supporting Sanders, campaigning for Sanders, electing Sanders, is the change in the national conversation and direction, which will get us started on the very long road to where we want to be.
2. In office, Sanders will continue, inexorably, to work for the changes we all want. He has said repeatedly, and I know, we know, that he can't do it alone. That's why we're going to have to use our votes to elect people to Congress who will work with him, and we're going to have to be in constant contact of all kinds with our Senators and Reps, keeping the pressure on them. How much gets done will reflect whether or not WE stay the course, stay active, and stay involved.
And, just for me, a third:
3. I'm old enough to know it would be foolish to suggest that one man, or one presidency, could make all of the worst characteristics of our nation just disappear. It's a long, long road, and even if we win, right the ship, and head down a better course, the fascists, the neo-cons and neo-libs will still be there, waiting and scheming and working to grab power again. It will take generations of steadfast determination to make a long-term difference. I hope the millenials, the generation Zs, and the generation to come after will do so. As a late baby boomer, I don't expect to live to see it, and I don't think Sanders does, either. The best we can hope for is to see the beginning of the process. That's what I want, and if it doesn't happen with Sanders, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime.
